The $45 application fee is for examination applicants; endorsement applicants pay $60.
School route: 1,500 hours in a South Carolina Board-approved cosmetology school. Other routes apply to out-of-state licensees and South Carolina Master Hair Care Specialists.
Pass NIC theory and practical examinations.
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.
4 hours
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
South Carolina Board of Cosmetology
Cosmetologist Licensure RequirementsOfficial source
16 years old
Be at least 16 years of age or olderOfficial source
Tenth-grade education or equivalent.
Have completed a 10th grade education or equivalent as establish by the U.S. public school system.Official source
School route: 1,500 hours in a South Carolina Board-approved cosmetology school. Other routes apply to out-of-state licensees and South Carolina Master Hair Care Specialists.
Have completed one of the following: • 1,500 hours in a SC Board approved cosmetology school, or • Actively licensed in another state, less than two (2) years, • Actively licensed as a S.C. Master Hair Care Specialist (MHCS) with the following work and education experience: i. Five (5) years work experience as MHCS, ii. Four (4) years work experience and 100 hours of Board approved cosmetology school training, iii. Three (3) years work experience and 200 hours of Board approved cosmetology school training, iv. Work experience less than three (3) years and 350 hours of Board approved cosmetology school trainingOfficial source
Pass NIC theory and practical examinations.
Successfully pass the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) theory and practical examinationOfficial source
Endorsement requires an active out-of-state license and either passing NIC theory and practical exams or at least two years of licensure plus four hours of board-approved CE.
A person is qualified to receive a cosmetologist license by endorsement when the following requirements are met: 1. Meet one of the following requirements: • Actively licensed in another state and passed the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) theory and practical examination, or • Actively licensed, for at least two (2) years, in another state and completed four (4) hours of Board-approved Continuing Education.Official source
Review the official instructions for your situation before applying.
Open the official agency pageThe $45 application fee is for examination applicants; endorsement applicants pay $60.
An application by examination is $45. An application by endorsement is $60.Official source
Online renewal: https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/.
You may renew your license online at https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/Official source
The four-hour biennial CE requirement applies to active SC licensees after their first renewal.
Licensees are required to obtain (4) hours of Board-approved continuing education (CE) biennially if you have an active SC license and it is not your first time renewing the SC license.Official source
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.Official source
4 hours
All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education specific to Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control to include sanitation and disinfection during the licensing period.Official source
Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control including sanitation and disinfection; four contact hours per licensing period.
All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education specific to Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control to include sanitation and disinfection during the licensing period.Official source
Have a license or permit? Use the expiration date printed on it to set up your calendar and reminders.
$45
An application by examination is $45.Official source
Confirm the charges and conditions for your application with the official agency.
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Last verified Oct 25, 2026. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
16 years old
16
Be at least 16 years of age or olderOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Tenth-grade education or equivalent.
Tenth-grade education or equivalent.
Have completed a 10th grade education or equivalent as establish by the U.S. public school system.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
School route: 1,500 hours in a South Carolina Board-approved cosmetology school. Other routes apply to out-of-state licensees and South Carolina Master Hair Care Specialists.
School route: 1,500 hours in a South Carolina Board-approved cosmetology school. Other routes apply to out-of-state licensees and South Carolina Master Hair Care Specialists.
Have completed one of the following: • 1,500 hours in a SC Board approved cosmetology school, or • Actively licensed in another state, less than two (2) years, • Actively licensed as a S.C. Master Hair Care Specialist (MHCS) with the following work and education experience: i. Five (5) years work experience as MHCS, ii. Four (4) years work experience and 100 hours of Board approved cosmetology school training, iii. Three (3) years work experience and 200 hours of Board approved cosmetology school training, iv. Work experience less than three (3) years and 350 hours of Board approved cosmetology school trainingOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Pass NIC theory and practical examinations.
Pass NIC theory and practical examinations.
Successfully pass the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) theory and practical examinationOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
$45
45
An application by examination is $45.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
The $45 application fee is for examination applicants; endorsement applicants pay $60.
The $45 application fee is for examination applicants; endorsement applicants pay $60.
An application by examination is $45. An application by endorsement is $60.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Online renewal: https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/.
Online renewal: https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/.
You may renew your license online at https://eservice.llr.sc.gov/Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
The four-hour biennial CE requirement applies to active SC licensees after their first renewal.
The four-hour biennial CE requirement applies to active SC licensees after their first renewal.
Licensees are required to obtain (4) hours of Board-approved continuing education (CE) biennially if you have an active SC license and it is not your first time renewing the SC license.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
South Carolina Board of Cosmetology
South Carolina Board of Cosmetology
SC Board of CosmetologyOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
https://www.llr.sc.gov/cosmo/forms/Cosmo%20License%20Requirements%20and%20Application%20Overview.pdf
Cosmetologist Licensure RequirementsOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
https://www.llr.sc.gov/cosmo/forms/Cosmo%20License%20Requirements%20and%20Application%20Overview.pdf
Application Process:Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
4 hours
4
All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education specific to Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control to include sanitation and disinfection during the licensing period.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control including sanitation and disinfection; four contact hours per licensing period.
Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control including sanitation and disinfection; four contact hours per licensing period.
All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education specific to Board laws and regulations, client safety, and/or infection control to include sanitation and disinfection during the licensing period.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Endorsement requires an active out-of-state license and either passing NIC theory and practical exams or at least two years of licensure plus four hours of board-approved CE.
Endorsement requires an active out-of-state license and either passing NIC theory and practical exams or at least two years of licensure plus four hours of board-approved CE.
A person is qualified to receive a cosmetologist license by endorsement when the following requirements are met: 1. Meet one of the following requirements: • Actively licensed in another state and passed the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) theory and practical examination, or • Actively licensed, for at least two (2) years, in another state and completed four (4) hours of Board-approved Continuing Education.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm. Applies to: Cosmetologist license renewal
License renewal for cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians and instructors are every odd year ending on March 10th at 11:59 pm.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Not yet verified: license fee — see the official agency.
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Last verified Oct 25, 2026.
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