Alaska beauty licenses

Alaska cosmetology license requirements

Q: How do you get a nail technician license in Alaska?

Alaska calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 12 hours of training, no exam required, $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $180.

Q: How do you get an esthetician license in Alaska?

Alaska calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 350 hours of training, written exam (National Esthetician Test), $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $180.

Q: How do you get a barber license in Alaska?

Alaska calls it a Barber license, issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 1,650 hours of training, written exam (National Barber-Stylist Test), $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $180.

To work as a cosmetologist in Alaska you need a Hairdresser license from the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 1,650 hours of school and $330 in state fees. Exams: written exam (National Hair Design Test). 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: 1,650
Barber hours: 1,650
Nail tech hours: 12
Esthetics hours: 350

Licensed by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

Alaska cosmetology license

Alaska calls it the Hairdresser license.

License: Hairdresser
Issued by: The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Training: 1,650 hours1,650 hours in a licensed school, or 2,000 hours as an apprentice About 11 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Apprenticeship route: 2,000 hours
Exams: Written exam (National Hair Design Test)
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $180
Continuing education: Not stated

Alaska's 1,650 hours are more than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

Barber

Alaska barber license

License: Barber
Issued by: The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Training: 1,650 hours1,650 hours in a licensed school, or 2,000 hours as an apprentice About 11 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Apprenticeship route: 2,000 hours
Exams: Written exam (National Barber-Stylist Test)
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $180
Continuing education: Not stated

Alaska's 1,650 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

Alaska nail technician license

Alaska calls it the Manicurist license.

License: Manicurist
Issued by: The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Training: 12 hoursA 12-hour health, safety and hygiene course; no board exam is required About 1 month of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: No exam required
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $180
Continuing education: Not stated

Alaska's 12 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state, the fewest of any state that publishes them.

Esthetician

Alaska esthetician license

License: Esthetician
Issued by: The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers
Training: 350 hours350 hours in a licensed school, or 350 hours as an apprentice About 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Apprenticeship route: 350 hours
Exams: Written exam (National Esthetician Test)
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $180
Continuing education: Not stated

Alaska's 350 hours are fewer than the 600 hours of the middle state.

Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Alaska requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Alaska requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Alaska.

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

A person with a current valid license from another state's barbering, hairdressing, manicuring or esthetics board can be licensed here without an examination or new training, after showing proof of that license and that its training, testing and work experience meet Alaska's minimums.

Good to know in Alaska

A temporary license is valid for 120 days and cannot be renewed.
A student permit for barbering or hairdressing is valid for two years.
A lapsed license can be reinstated if it has not been lapsed for more than three years.

Sources

What Alaska'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: “(1) barber, non-chemical barber, or hairdresser, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “student monthly records verifying that the applicant has successfully completed 1,650 hours of training”
commerce.alaska.gov
Cosmetologist: apprenticeship: “student monthly records verifying that the applicant has successfully completed 2,000 hours of training”
commerce.alaska.gov
“The period of apprenticeship required to qualify an applicant for a license to practice hairdressing is 2,000 hours.”
akleg.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “examination for a hairdresser license consists of the written examination entitled the National Hair Design Test”
commerce.alaska.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “(A) initial license, $150;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“(1) barber, non-chemical barber, or hairdresser, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “(1) barber, non-chemical barber, or hairdresser, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“Licenses are issued for a two-year period and expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years”
commerce.alaska.gov
Barber: license: “(1) barber, non-chemical barber, or hairdresser, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Barber: training hours: “(i) 1,650 hours of training for a barber license; or”
commerce.alaska.gov
Barber: apprenticeship: “The period of apprenticeship required to qualify an applicant for a license to practice barbering is 2,000 hours.”
akleg.gov
Barber: exams: “the National Barber-Stylist Test, sponsored by the National Interstate Council”
commerce.alaska.gov
Barber: fees: “(A) initial license, $150;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“(1) barber, non-chemical barber, or hairdresser, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Barber: renewal: “(1) barber, non-chemical barber, or hairdresser, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“Licenses are issued for a two-year period and expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years”
commerce.alaska.gov
Nail technician: license: “(6) manicurist, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “a course of 12 hours of instruction or training approved by the board”
akleg.gov
Nail technician: exams: “The board may not require an applicant for licensure as a manicurist to take or pass an examination conducted by the board for the field of manicuring”
akleg.gov
Nail technician: fees: “(A) initial license, $150;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“(6) manicurist, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “(6) manicurist, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“Licenses are issued for a two-year period and expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years”
commerce.alaska.gov
“(6) manicurist and advanced manicurist endorsement, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Esthetician: license: “(2) esthetician, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “student monthly records verifying that the applicant has successfully completed 350 hours of training in”
commerce.alaska.gov
Esthetician: apprenticeship: “The period of apprenticeship required to qualify an applicant for a license to practice esthetics is 350 hours.”
akleg.gov
Esthetician: exams: “examination for an esthetician consists of the written examination entitled the National Esthetician Test”
commerce.alaska.gov
Esthetician: fees: “(A) initial license, $150;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“(2) esthetician, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “(2) esthetician, $180;”
commerce.alaska.gov
“Licenses are issued for a two-year period and expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years”
commerce.alaska.gov
Licensed in another state: “is entitled to a license or endorsement under this chapter without examination or a new period of training in this state”
akleg.gov
Also good to know: “A temporary license issued under this section is valid for 120 days and is nonrenewable.”
akleg.gov
Also good to know: “A student permit to practice barbering or hairdressing is valid for two years.”
akleg.gov
Also good to know: “A lapsed license may be reinstated if the license has not been lapsed for a period of more than three years”
akleg.gov

Questions

Alaska beauty licenses, answered

How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Alaska?

1,650 hours of training for a Hairdresser license, or 2,000 hours as an apprentice. About 11 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Alaska's 1,650 hours are more than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in Alaska?

The state's fees for a first Hairdresser license are $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180), and it renews every 2 years, $180. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in Alaska?

The Hairdresser license renews every 2 years for $180. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in Alaska?

Alaska calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 12 hours of training, no exam required, $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $180.

How do you get an esthetician license in Alaska?

Alaska calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 350 hours of training, written exam (National Esthetician Test), $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $180.

How do you get a barber license in Alaska?

Alaska calls it a Barber license, issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers. It takes 1,650 hours of training, written exam (National Barber-Stylist Test), $330 (nonrefundable application fee (initial license) $150 plus initial biennial license fee $180) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $180.

Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Alaska?

Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Alaska?

Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Alaska requires to open a salon, with its fees, inspection and booth rental rules.

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