Cosmetologist
rankings by state.
Use the figures to narrow your reading, then check the state’s license level, pathway and qualifications. A low issuance fee does not establish the cheapest overall route to licensure.
Lowest license fee
Ranked only by the recorded license issuance fee. Application, exam, training and other costs are not included. This is not a ranking of total cost to qualify.
14 of 51 jurisdictions ranked. Equal values share a rank; the next rank skips tied places. Calculations use unrounded values. Source scope may differ between states.
| 1 | Wisconsin | $11.00Source and scope82 Cosmetologist Individual $11 $11 03/31/OddOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Maryland | $28.00 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $35.00Source and scopeFor each initial certificate of registration and each annual renewal of such certificate: (a) Cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, teacher/instructor, or manager $35.00Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 3 | Washington | $35.00 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $48.00Source and scopePersonal license fee to include: Cosmetologist, Nail Technician, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Instructors $ 48.00 per yearOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 6 | Alabama | $50.00 |
| 6 | California | $50.00Source and scope(b) Cosmetologists: (3) Initial license fee 50Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $50.00Source and scopeIndividual License - Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Nail Technician, and Shampoo Stylist $50.00Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $55.00Source and scopeBarber, cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, or master barber personal license application processing and licensing: Initial, renewal, or reinstatement after expiration of license 2 years $55Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 10 | Idaho | $60.00Source and scopeOriginal License Barber; Barber Stylist; Cosmetologist; Electrologist; Esthetician; Nail Technician $60Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 10 | Kansas | $60.00Source and scopePractitioner License....................................................................................................$60.00Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 12 | Oklahoma | $80.00 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $110.00 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $155.00 |
37 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Fewest required hours
Ranked only where the required-hours field is a single verified number. Conditional text and alternative pathways are excluded. Hours are not elapsed time to licensure.
11 of 51 jurisdictions ranked. Equal values share a rank; the next rank skips tied places. Calculations use unrounded values. Source scope may differ between states.
| 1 | California | 1,000 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 1,000 hoursSource and scopeCosmetologist Complete a 1,000-hour course in a licensed schoolOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 1 | New York | 1,000 hoursSource and scopeComplete a 1,000 hour approved course of studyOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 1 | Texas | 1,000 hoursSource and scopea Cosmetology Operator course consisting of 1,000 hours of instruction at a licensed school.Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 1,500 hours |
| 5 | Illinois | 1,500 hoursSource and scopeComplete 1500 clock hours of instruction of a cosmetology curriculum from a licensed cosmetology school that is approved by the Department.Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 5 | Kentucky | 1,500 hours |
| 5 | Mississippi | 1,500 hours |
| 5 | South Dakota | 1,500 hoursSource and scopeComplete 1,500 hours of cosmetology education, as shown by transcript from a South Dakota school.Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 10 | Minnesota | 1,550 hours |
| 11 | Nebraska | 1,800 hoursSource and scopeFor licensure as a cosmetologist, the program of studies shall consist of a minimum of one thousand eight hundred hoursOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
40 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Fastest time to get licensed
Requires a verified total time-to-license figure in days for the cited pathway. Training hours, experience requirements and agency processing estimates cannot establish that total.
Not verified yet
The current records do not establish total time to get licensed. No fastest state is named.
Read the verified state requirements and official sources51 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Renewal cost per year
Calculated as the verified renewal fee divided by its verified renewal period in years. This is an annualized fee, not an annual bill; CE and other costs are not included. An initial fee or initial license term is never substituted.
Not verified yet
A separate renewal fee and its matching renewal period are needed. Initial license fees cannot fill that gap.
Read the verified state requirements and official sources51 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Read before you choose a route
Last verified Oct 25, 2026.
Official sources (24)
- https://dsps.wi.gov/credentialing/credential-fees-and-renewal-dates/
- https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/09.22.01.14
- https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=94349
- https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/cosmetology/fees-cosmetologists
- https://rules.wyo.gov/AjaxHandler.ashx?RULE_VERSION_ID=24040&handler=GetRuleVersionHTML
- https://www.aboc.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/Rules%20and%20Regs%20Document%205.15.2026.pdf
- https://barbercosmo.ca.gov/laws_regs/art12.shtml
- https://kbc.ky.gov/Fees/Pages/default.aspx
- https://www.gc.nh.gov/rules/state_agencies/plc1000.html
- https://dopl.idaho.gov/bcb/
- https://www.kansas.gov/kboc/public-documents/docs/COS-PRO/law-book.pdf
- https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/cosmo/documents/rules-and-regulations/NEWER%202025.rule.book.print.effective.12.1.2025.pdf
- https://dlcp.dc.gov/page/board-barber-and-cosmetology
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/155A.25
- https://www.barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/publications/faqs.shtml
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/how-can-i-become-a-cosmetologist-electrologist-manicurist-aesthetician-or-barber
- https://dos.ny.gov/node/64686
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/apply-cosmetologist.htm
- https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/core/dpr/011-qualifications-for-licensure.pdf
- https://kbc.ky.gov/Licensure/Pages/License-Requirements.aspx
- https://www.msbcb.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Board-Approved-Curriculum-V5.2026-1.pdf
- https://dlr.sd.gov/cosmetology/licensing_requirements.aspx
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/2105.0145/
- https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=38-1062
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.