Alabama beauty licenses
Alabama cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in Alabama you need a Cosmetologist license from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 1,500 hours of school and $255 in state fees. Exams: written exam and practical exam. Barbers, nail technicians and estheticians each need a license of their own, below. Every figure is quoted from the state's official pages, read on October 22, 2026.
- Cosmetology hours
- 1,500
- Barber hours
- 1,000
- Esthetics hours
- 1,000
Licensed by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
Alabama cosmetology license
- License
- Cosmetologist
- Issued by
- The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Training
- 1,500 hours1,500 clock hours in school, or 3,000 hours as an apprentice; school and apprentice hours may not be combined. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 3,000 hours
- Exams
- Written exam and practical exam
- Who can apply
- 16 years old, 10th grade or equivalent, legally permitted to work in the United States
- State fees, first license
- $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $100
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Alabama's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
Barber
Alabama barber license
Alabama calls it the Class 2 Barber license.
- License
- Class 2 Barber
- Issued by
- The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Training
- 1,000 hours1,000 clock hours in school, or 2,000 hours as an apprentice; school and apprentice hours may not be combined. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 2,000 hours
- Exams
- Written exam and practical exam
- Who can apply
- 16 years old, 10th grade or equivalent, legally permitted to work in the United States
- State fees, first license
- $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $100
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Alabama's 1,000 hours are fewer than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.
Nail technician
Alabama nail technician license
Alabama calls it the Manicurist license.
- License
- Manicurist
- Issued by
- The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Training
- 750 hours750 clock hours in school, or 1,200 hours as an apprentice over two years; school and apprentice hours may not be combined. About 5 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,200 hours
- Exams
- Written exam and practical exam
- Who can apply
- 16 years old, 10th grade or equivalent, legally permitted to work in the United States
- State fees, first license
- $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $100
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Alabama's 750 hours are more than the 350 hours of the middle state, the most of any state.
Esthetician
Alabama esthetician license
- License
- Esthetician
- Issued by
- The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Training
- 1,000 hours1,000 clock hours in school, or 2,000 hours as an apprentice over three years; school and apprentice hours may not be combined. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 2,000 hours
- Exams
- Written exam and practical exam
- Who can apply
- 16 years old, 10th grade or equivalent, legally permitted to work in the United States
- State fees, first license
- $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $100
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Alabama's 1,000 hours are more than the 600 hours of the middle state, tied for the most of any state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Alabama requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Alabama requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Alabama.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By endorsement: an active license in good standing from another state that required a board-approved exam, or five years' practice as a licensee there, plus the out-of-state reciprocity fee.
Good to know in Alabama
- School hours and apprentice hours may not be combined.
- Candidates have 2 years from completing their program to pass both the written and practical exams.
- Renewals postmarked after the last day of the birth month owe a $54 late fee.
Sources
What Alabama's official pages say
Each figure above, in the words of the state's own pages, rules or statutes, read on October 22, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the board before you enroll or apply.
- Cosmetologist: license
“Section 34-7B-18 Qualifications of Applicants for Examination or Licensure - Cosmetologist.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Cosmetologist: training hours
“Has successfully completed at least 1,500 clock hours in a licensed or registered school of cosmetology”
aboc.alabama.gov “School hours and apprentice hours MAY NOT BE COMBINED.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Cosmetologist: apprenticeship
“b. In lieu of the requirements in paragraph a., has completed 3,000 hours under the immediate supervision of a cosmetologist continuously licensed”
aboc.alabama.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“Test Candidates will have 2 years to complete both the Written and Practical exams from the date they completed their program.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“To obtain a license in any discipline from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, you must be at least 16 years old, have completed at least 10 grades in secondary school (or the equivalent), and be legally permitted to work in the United States.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“Written Examination or Reexamination: $75”
aboc.alabama.gov “Practical Examination or Reexamination: $130”
aboc.alabama.gov “Original License: $50”
aboc.alabama.gov - Cosmetologist: renewal
“Once you have an original license, you then renew every two (2) years during your birth month.”
aboc.alabama.gov “Personal Renewal: $100”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: license
“(5) CLASS 2 BARBER. Any person, other than a student or apprentice, who performs barbering on the general public for compensation, and who shall”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: training hours
“Has successfully completed at least 1,000 clock hours in a licensed or registered school of barbering”
aboc.alabama.gov “School hours and apprentice hours MAY NOT BE COMBINED.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: apprenticeship
“Has successfully completed at least 1,000 clock hours in a licensed or registered school of barbering or 2,000 clock hours under the immediate”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: exams
“Test Candidates will have 2 years to complete both the Written and Practical exams from the date they completed their program.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: who can apply
“To obtain a license in any discipline from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, you must be at least 16 years old, have completed at least 10 grades in secondary school (or the equivalent), and be legally permitted to work in the United States.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: fees
“Written Examination or Reexamination: $75”
aboc.alabama.gov “Practical Examination or Reexamination: $130”
aboc.alabama.gov “Original License: $50”
aboc.alabama.gov - Barber: renewal
“Once you have an original license, you then renew every two (2) years during your birth month.”
aboc.alabama.gov “Personal Renewal: $100”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: license
“Section 34-7B-21 Qualifications of Applicants for Examination or Licensure - Manicurist.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: training hours
“Has successfully completed at least 750 clock hours of manicure instruction in a school licensed or registered under the provisions of this chapter”
aboc.alabama.gov “School hours and apprentice hours MAY NOT BE COMBINED.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: apprenticeship
“b. In lieu of the requirements in paragraph a., has completed 1,200 hours under the immediate supervision of a manicurist continuously licensed”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: exams
“Test Candidates will have 2 years to complete both the Written and Practical exams from the date they completed their program.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: who can apply
“To obtain a license in any discipline from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, you must be at least 16 years old, have completed at least 10 grades in secondary school (or the equivalent), and be legally permitted to work in the United States.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: fees
“Written Examination or Reexamination: $75”
aboc.alabama.gov “Practical Examination or Reexamination: $130”
aboc.alabama.gov “Original License: $50”
aboc.alabama.gov - Nail technician: renewal
“Once you have an original license, you then renew every two (2) years during your birth month.”
aboc.alabama.gov “Personal Renewal: $100”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: license
“Section 34-7B-19 Qualifications of Applicants for Examination or Licensure - Esthetician.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: training hours
“Has successfully completed at least 1,000 clock hours of skin care instruction in a licensed or registered school of esthetics”
aboc.alabama.gov “School hours and apprentice hours MAY NOT BE COMBINED.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: apprenticeship
“or on courses reported in credit hours or 2,000 hours under the immediate supervision of an esthetician continuously licensed under the provisions of”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: exams
“Test Candidates will have 2 years to complete both the Written and Practical exams from the date they completed their program.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: who can apply
“To obtain a license in any discipline from the Alabama Board of Cosmetology, you must be at least 16 years old, have completed at least 10 grades in secondary school (or the equivalent), and be legally permitted to work in the United States.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: fees
“Written Examination or Reexamination: $75”
aboc.alabama.gov “Practical Examination or Reexamination: $130”
aboc.alabama.gov “Original License: $50”
aboc.alabama.gov - Esthetician: renewal
“Once you have an original license, you then renew every two (2) years during your birth month.”
aboc.alabama.gov “Personal Renewal: $100”
aboc.alabama.gov - Licensed in another state
“b. Be currently licensed in good standing in another state or jurisdiction, with documentation of having passed a board-approved examination, and”
aboc.alabama.gov “c. Be currently licensed in good standing in another state or jurisdiction, with documentation of having practiced as a licensee for at least five years”
aboc.alabama.gov “Reciprocity (Out of State): $100”
aboc.alabama.gov - Also good to know
“School hours and apprentice hours MAY NOT BE COMBINED.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Also good to know
“Test Candidates will have 2 years to complete both the Written and Practical exams from the date they completed their program.”
aboc.alabama.gov - Also good to know
“Renewals postmarked after the last day of your birth month will be assessed a late fee of $54.”
aboc.alabama.gov
Questions
Alabama beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Alabama?
1,500 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license, or 3,000 hours as an apprentice. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Alabama's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
How much does a cosmetology license cost in Alabama?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50), and it renews every 2 years, $100. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in Alabama?
The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $100. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in Alabama?
Alabama calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 750 hours of training, written exam and practical exam, $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $100.
How do you get an esthetician license in Alabama?
Alabama calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 1,000 hours of training, written exam and practical exam, $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $100.
How do you get a barber license in Alabama?
Alabama calls it a Class 2 Barber license, issued by the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 1,000 hours of training, written exam and practical exam, $255 (written examination $75 plus practical examination $130 plus original license $50) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $100.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Alabama?
By endorsement: an active license in good standing from another state that required a board-approved exam, or five years' practice as a licensee there, plus the out-of-state reciprocity fee. The fee is $100. Apply with the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Alabama?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Alabama requires to open a salon, with its fees, inspection and booth rental rules.
Once you are licensed
Working for yourself, or opening a salon
- What Alabama requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in Alabama, as a checklist
- Commission or booth rent? Compare what you would take home
- Renting a chair? Start from a booth rental agreement
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