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Cosmetology and Beauty Services license requirements by state

Cosmetology and Beauty Services licensing requirements can vary by state and by the services your company provides. Use this guide to compare possible requirements across jurisdictions, then confirm applicability, fees, and renewal timing with the issuing regulator.

Compare all 50 states and DC

Estimated entries are not human-approved evidence. How to read these statuses

Jurisdiction overview

A research starting point for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Industry license information by state and District of Columbia
StateLicense or requirementRegulator listedEstimated feeRenewalStatus
AlabamaALCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityAlabama state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
AlaskaAKCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityAlaska state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ArizonaAZCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityArizona state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ArkansasARCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityArkansas state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
CaliforniaCACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityCalifornia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ColoradoCOCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityColorado state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
ConnecticutCTCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityConnecticut state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
DelawareDECosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityDelaware state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
FloridaFLCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityFlorida state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
GeorgiaGACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityGeorgia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
HawaiiHICosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityHawaii state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IdahoIDCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityIdaho state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IllinoisILCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityIllinois state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IndianaINCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityIndiana state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
IowaIACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityIowa state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
KansasKSCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityKansas state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
KentuckyKYCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityKentucky state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
LouisianaLACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityLouisiana state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MaineMECosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMaine state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MarylandMDCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMaryland state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MassachusettsMACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMassachusetts state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MichiganMICosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMichigan state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MinnesotaMNCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMinnesota state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MississippiMSCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMississippi state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MissouriMOCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMissouri state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
MontanaMTCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityMontana state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
NebraskaNECosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNebraska state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
NevadaNVCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNevada state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New HampshireNHCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNew Hampshire state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New JerseyNJCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNew Jersey state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New MexicoNMCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNew Mexico state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
New YorkNYCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNew York state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
North CarolinaNCCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNorth Carolina state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
North DakotaNDCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityNorth Dakota state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
OhioOHCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityOhio state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
OklahomaOKCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityOklahoma state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
OregonORCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityOregon state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
PennsylvaniaPACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityPennsylvania state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
Rhode IslandRICosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityRhode Island state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
South CarolinaSCCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activitySouth Carolina state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
South DakotaSDCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activitySouth Dakota state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
TennesseeTNCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityTennessee state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
TexasTXCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityTexas state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
UtahUTCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityUtah state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
VermontVTCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityVermont state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
VirginiaVACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityVirginia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
WashingtonWACosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityWashington state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
West VirginiaWVCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityWest Virginia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
WisconsinWICosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityWisconsin state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
WyomingWYCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityWyoming state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02
District of ColumbiaDCCosmetology and Beauty Services licensing varies by activityDistrict of Columbia state licensing agencyEstimated range: $50 to $500Confirm with regulatorEstimatedLast reviewed: 2026-11-02

Frequently asked questions

Do licensing requirements vary by state?

Yes. State rules can differ, and cities or counties may add permits or registrations. A license in one state does not automatically authorize work in another.

Does every business in this industry need the same license?

No. Requirements depend on the services offered, business structure, location, employees, and sometimes the credentials held by individual workers.

Who issues industry licenses?

The issuing office depends on the license. It may be a state licensing board or agency, a local government department, or a federal agency for a specific regulated activity.

How much does a business license cost?

Fees vary by license, jurisdiction, and application type. Check the issuing regulator’s current fee schedule for the applicable amount.

How often do licenses need to be renewed?

Renewal schedules vary. Check the license record and regulator instructions for the renewal period, due date, continuing education, and any required forms.

What should I do after finding a possible requirement?

Open the issuing regulator’s guidance and confirm that the requirement applies to your services and location. Then review the current eligibility rules, filing steps, fees, and renewal instructions before taking action.

Want it filed for you? Talk to a licensing expert