Colorado license renewal and continuing education
How to renew a cosmetology license in Colorado
What it takes to renew a cosmetology, barber, nail technician or esthetician license in Colorado: when each expires, the renewal fee, the continuing education it needs, and what to do if you renew late or the license has lapsed. Every answer comes from the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure's own pages, rules and fee schedules, read on October 28, 2026.
| License | Continuing education | Fee | Renews | Late fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | See the rule |
| Barber | Not stated | Not stated | Every 2 years | See the rule |
| Nail technician | Not stated | Not stated | Every 2 years | See the rule |
| Esthetician | Not stated | Not stated | Every 2 years | See the rule |
Renew on the board's site Check your license status The board's own words
Cosmetologist
Colorado cosmetology license renewal
Renewed through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.
- When it expires
- Not statedOn April 30; which year depends on when the license was issued.
- Renewal fee
- Not stated
- Continuing education
- Not statedThe official pages we read do not say whether renewal needs continuing education; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before you renew.
- Late renewal
- See the ruleA licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.
- If it has expired
- See the ruleA license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
Barber
Colorado barber license renewal
Renewed through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.
- When it expires
- Every 2 yearsOn March 31 of even-numbered years.
- Renewal fee
- Not stated
- Continuing education
- Not statedThe official pages we read do not say whether renewal needs continuing education; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before you renew.
- Late renewal
- See the ruleA licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.
- If it has expired
- See the ruleA license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
Nail technician
Colorado nail technician license renewal
Renewed through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.
- When it expires
- Every 2 yearsOn March 31 of even-numbered years.
- Renewal fee
- Not stated
- Continuing education
- Not statedThe official pages we read do not say whether renewal needs continuing education; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before you renew.
- Late renewal
- See the ruleA licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.
- If it has expired
- See the ruleA license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
Esthetician
Colorado esthetician license renewal
Renewed through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.
- When it expires
- Every 2 yearsOn March 31 of even-numbered years.
- Renewal fee
- Not stated
- Continuing education
- Not statedThe official pages we read do not say whether renewal needs continuing education; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before you renew.
- Late renewal
- See the ruleA licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.
- If it has expired
- See the ruleA license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
Good to know
What else Colorado says about renewing
- All licenses, certificates and registrations must be renewed to continue practicing.
- A license that is not renewed within the sixty-day grace period is treated as expired, and the licensee may not practice until the license is reinstated.
- New applicants issued a license within 120 days of the upcoming renewal expiration date receive a license with the next expiration date.
Sources
What Colorado's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure's own pages, rules and fee schedules, read on October 28, 2026. Fees and deadlines change: confirm with the board before you renew.
- Cosmetologist: renewal period
“All Cosmetologist licenses expire on April 30 of every year and are dependent upon the issuance date.”
dpo.colorado.gov - Cosmetologist: late renewal
“A licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has a sixty-day grace period after the expiration of his or her license, certification, or registration to renew the license, certification, or registration without the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by the regulator for”
leg.colorado.gov “shall pay a delinquency fee in an amount determined pursuant to sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.”
leg.colorado.gov “All licenses issued pursuant to this article 105 are subject to the renewal, expiration, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202 (1) and (2).”
leg.colorado.gov - Cosmetologist: expired license
“If you have ever held a Colorado license to practice as a barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, hairstylist or nail technician, you must apply for a license by reinstatement.”
dpo.colorado.gov “completion of 16 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov “completion of 24 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov - Barber: renewal period
“All Barber, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Nail Technician licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years.”
dpo.colorado.gov - Barber: late renewal
“A licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has a sixty-day grace period after the expiration of his or her license, certification, or registration to renew the license, certification, or registration without the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by the regulator for”
leg.colorado.gov “shall pay a delinquency fee in an amount determined pursuant to sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.”
leg.colorado.gov “All licenses issued pursuant to this article 105 are subject to the renewal, expiration, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202 (1) and (2).”
leg.colorado.gov - Barber: expired license
“If you have ever held a Colorado license to practice as a barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, hairstylist or nail technician, you must apply for a license by reinstatement.”
dpo.colorado.gov “completion of 16 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov “completion of 24 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov - Nail technician: renewal period
“All Barber, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Nail Technician licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years.”
dpo.colorado.gov - Nail technician: late renewal
“A licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has a sixty-day grace period after the expiration of his or her license, certification, or registration to renew the license, certification, or registration without the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by the regulator for”
leg.colorado.gov “shall pay a delinquency fee in an amount determined pursuant to sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.”
leg.colorado.gov “All licenses issued pursuant to this article 105 are subject to the renewal, expiration, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202 (1) and (2).”
leg.colorado.gov - Nail technician: expired license
“If you have ever held a Colorado license to practice as a barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, hairstylist or nail technician, you must apply for a license by reinstatement.”
dpo.colorado.gov “completion of 16 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov “completion of 24 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov - Esthetician: renewal period
“All Barber, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Nail Technician licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years.”
dpo.colorado.gov - Esthetician: late renewal
“A licensee, certificate holder, or registrant has a sixty-day grace period after the expiration of his or her license, certification, or registration to renew the license, certification, or registration without the imposition of a disciplinary sanction by the regulator for”
leg.colorado.gov “shall pay a delinquency fee in an amount determined pursuant to sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102.”
leg.colorado.gov “All licenses issued pursuant to this article 105 are subject to the renewal, expiration, reinstatement, and delinquency fee provisions specified in section 12-20-202 (1) and (2).”
leg.colorado.gov - Esthetician: expired license
“If you have ever held a Colorado license to practice as a barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, hairstylist or nail technician, you must apply for a license by reinstatement.”
dpo.colorado.gov “completion of 16 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov “completion of 24 hours of continuing education or pass the written examination.”
coprrr.colorado.gov - Also good to know
“All licenses, certificates and registrations must be renewed to continue practicing.”
dpo.colorado.gov - Also good to know
“the licensee, registrant, or certificate holder is ineligible to practice until the license, registration, or certificate is reinstated.”
leg.colorado.gov - Also good to know
“All new applicants who are issued a license within 120 days of the upcoming renewal expiration date will be issued a license with the next expiration date.”
dpo.colorado.gov
Questions
Colorado license renewal, answered
How do I renew my cosmetology license in Colorado?
The Colorado Cosmetologist license renews through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. When it expires: On April 30; which year depends on when the license was issued. The official pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement for it; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before your renewal date. Renew on the board's own site, linked on this page.
How many continuing education hours do I need to renew a Colorado cosmetology license?
The official pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement for it; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before your renewal date.
What happens if my Colorado cosmetology license expires?
A licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102. A license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
How do I renew my barber license in Colorado?
The Colorado Barber license renews every 2 years, through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. When it expires: On March 31 of even-numbered years. The official pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement for it; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before your renewal date. Renew on the board's own site, linked on this page.
What happens if my Colorado barber license expires?
A licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102. A license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
How do I renew my nail technician license in Colorado?
The Colorado Nail Technician license renews every 2 years, through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. When it expires: On March 31 of even-numbered years. The official pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement for it; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before your renewal date. Renew on the board's own site, linked on this page.
What happens if my Colorado nail technician license expires?
A licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102. A license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
How do I renew my esthetician license in Colorado?
The Colorado Esthetician license renews every 2 years, through the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. When it expires: On March 31 of even-numbered years. The official pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement for it; ask the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure before your renewal date. Renew on the board's own site, linked on this page.
What happens if my Colorado esthetician license expires?
A licensee has a sixty-day grace period after the license expires to renew without a disciplinary sanction for practicing on an expired license, and must pay a delinquency fee set under sections 12-20-105 and 24-79.5-102. A license not renewed within the sixty-day grace period expires, and the licensee may not practice until it is reinstated. Reinstatement after two to five years of expiration requires verification of an active license from another state, 16 hours of continuing education, or a passed written examination; after more than five years the continuing education requirement is 24 hours.
Plan the rest
Licensed, renewed, and fully booked
- Getting a first license in Colorado: training hours, exams and fees
- What a licensed esthetician may do in Colorado
- Running your own salon in Colorado: the salon license
- What Colorado inspectors check in a salon
License renewal in other states
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