Cosmetology

Apply for a License

Military Resources: If you are a military member or military spouse, please review our Military Resources page before applying.

If you are currently licensed in another state, territory, or district of the United States you may qualify for licensure by endorsement. Please email [email protected] for additional information.

Apply Online

(opens in a new tab)

General qualifications for licensure and permitting

These apply to every credential on this page. See § 58-11a-302.

Submit an application in a form the Division approves and pay the fee the Division determines under Section 63J-1-504.
Provide satisfactory documentation of completion of required minimum service counts, certified by your school or, under an apprenticeship, your supervisor.
Show compliance with the educational requirements of the credential you are seeking, or completion of an approved apprenticeship.
Pass an examination as the Division requires by rule.

Applying hours from one credential to another

The Division establishes by rule how many hours from an existing license or permit may be credited toward the hours required for an additional credential. An individual holding a legacy cosmetology/barbering license may count 600 hours as a cosmetologist toward the 1,200 total hours required for a master esthetics license. See § 58-11a-302(2).

Online curriculum

A school licensed under this chapter may offer up to 50% of the school’s total per program curriculum online, in accordance with standards adopted by an applicable nationally recognized accrediting organization. See § 58-11a-302.5.

License transitions

Beginning January 1, 2026, prior credentials convert on renewal as follows. See § 58-11a-302.25.

A cosmetology/barbering license shall be renewed as a legacy cosmetology/barbering license.
A master-level esthetics license shall be renewed as a master esthetics license.
A hair design license shall be renewed as a master hair design license or a master barbering license.
An individual with a barbering license may renew the license as a legacy barbering license.
An individual with an esthetics license may renew the license as a legacy esthetics license.

Every applicant must also meet the general requirements of § 58-11a-302 — application and fee, documented service counts, education or an approved apprenticeship, and the Division’s examination. See the General Information tab.

Credential	Training Requirements	Statute	Scope of practice
Barbering permit	130 school hours or 130 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.10	Cutting, clipping, or trimming hair of the head; draping, shampooing, scalp treatments, basic wet styling, blow drying; wigs and hairpieces; shaving equipment on the face or neck.
Basic esthetics permit	200 school hours or 200 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.11	Cleansing, stimulating, manipulating, applying oils, antiseptics, clays or masks, manual extraction; manual hair removal.
Chemical hair services permit	260 school hours or 260 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.12	Bleaching, tinting, coloring, relaxing, permanent waving, or similarly treating hair of the head.
Facial hair removal permit	50 school hours or 50 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.16	Cleansing, applying oil and antiseptics, and manual hair removal on the face.
Haircutting permit	150 school hours or 150 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.17	Cutting, clipping, or trimming hair of the head; draping, shampooing, scalp treatments, basic wet styling, blow drying; hair fusing and extensions.

Every applicant must also meet the general requirements of § 58-11a-302 - application and fee, documented service counts, education or an approved apprenticeship, and the Division’s examination. See the General Information tab.

Credential	Training Required	Statute	Scope of practice
Cosmetology license	1,250 school hours or 1,250 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.13	Full hair, skin, and nail scope. Curriculum must cover barbering, haircutting, chemical hair services, manual hair removal, eyelash and eyebrow technology, basic esthetics, and nail technology.
Electrology license	600 school hours or 600 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.14	Removing superfluous hair by electricity, waxing, shaving, or tweezing, and by laser under § 58-1-506. Curriculum covers laser hair removal, electrolysis, and waxing.
Eyelash and eyebrow technology license	270 school hours or 270 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.15	Arching eyebrows by tweezing or waxing, tinting, facial waxing, perming, and applying eyelash or eyebrow extensions.
Master esthetics license	1,200 school hours or 1,200 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.18	Advanced skincare: body wraps, hydrotherapy, chemical exfoliation, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, advanced extraction, lymphatic massage, and nonablative cosmetic medical devices under § 58-1-506.
Master hair design license and master barbering license	1,000 school hours or 1,000 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.19	Full hair scope including styling, cutting, chemical services, hair weaving and fusing, wigs, and shaving.
Nail technology license	300 school hours or 300 apprenticeship hours	§ 58-11a-302.20	Manicuring, pedicuring, shaping, massaging hands to elbows and feet to knees; sculptured and artificial nails; callus smoothing.
Instructor license	75 clock hours of instructor or on-the-job training, plus 6 months of work experience	§ 58-11a-302.21	Teaching a discipline licensed under this chapter. The Division sets by rule which disciplines each instructor license may teach. Requires a current license or permit in the discipline taught. No fee if already a licensed instructor in another discipline.
School license	See statute — facility, staff, curriculum, and accreditation standards	§ 58-11a-302.22	Operating a licensed school of cosmetology or barbering. Registration with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, municipal business license, compliant physical facilities, and Division standards for staff, curriculum, and accreditation. Must maintain recognition as an institution of postsecondary study.

How an approved apprenticeship works

An apprenticeship is an alternative to school hours for every permit and most licenses under this chapter. It is governed by § 58-11a-306.

The supervisor must be licensed under this chapter as an instructor in the discipline of the apprenticeship and must provide one-on-one direct supervision.
A supervisor may not supervise more than two apprentices at a time.
You must register with the Division before beginning the training, on a Division form naming your licensed instructor supervisor, and pay the fee set under Section 63J-1-504.
You must complete the apprenticeship within two years of the date the Division approves the registration.
You must notify the Division within 30 days if your licensed instructor supervisor changes.

Minimum apprenticeship hours by credential

Credential sought	Minimum Apprenticeship Hours
Cosmetology license	1,250 hours
Master esthetics license	1,200 hours
Master barber license or master hair design license	1,000 hours
Electrology license	600 hours
Nail technology license	300 hours
Eyelash and eyebrow technology license	270 hours
Chemical hair services permit	260 hours
Basic esthetics permit	200 hours
Haircutting permit	150 hours
Barbering permit	130 hours
Facial hair removal permit	50 hours

The Division may not issue these credentials after January 1, 2026. They are shown here because existing holders continue to renew under these sections, and because applicants who registered an apprenticeship or started a school program on or before that date may still be granted one.

Section § 58-11a-302.25 sets out how each prior credential converts on renewal:

A cosmetology/barbering license shall be renewed as a legacy cosmetology/barbering license.
A master-level esthetics license shall be renewed as a master esthetics license.
A hair design license shall be renewed as a master hair design license or a master barbering license.
An individual with a barbering license may renew the license as a legacy barbering license.
An individual with an esthetics license may renew the license as a legacy esthetics license.

Credential	Training Required	Statute	Scope of practice
Legacy cosmetology/barbering license LEGACY	2,500 apprenticeship hours, or graduation from a licensed school with a minimum of 1,600 hours	§ 58-11a-302.26	Scope of a cosmetology license under § 58-11a-302.13(1) plus a legacy esthetics license under § 58-11a-302.23(2).
Legacy barbering license	1,250 apprenticeship hours, or graduation from a licensed school with a minimum of 1,000 hours	§ 58-11a-302.24	Cutting, clipping, or trimming hair of the head; draping, shampooing, scalp treatments, basic wet styling, blow drying; wigs and hairpieces; shaving equipment on the face or neck.
Legacy esthetics license	800 apprenticeship hours, or graduation from a licensed school with a minimum of 600 hours	§ 58-11a-302.23	Skincare procedures for cosmetic purposes, limited chemical exfoliation, manual hair removal, eyelash and eyebrow services, and laser hair removal, anti-aging resurfacing, and photo rejuvenation under § 58-1-506.

Statutory requirements are set by the Legislature and can change each session. The Division’s implementing rules are in Laws and Rules.