California beauty licenses
California cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in California you need a Cosmetologist license from the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 1,000 hours of school and $125 in state fees. Exams: written exam only. 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
- 1,000
- Barber hours
- 1,000
Licensed by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
California cosmetology license
- License
- Cosmetologist
- Issued by
- The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 1,000 hours1,000 school hours, or 3,200 hours as an apprentice. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 3,200 hours
- Exams
- Written exam only
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, completed the 10th grade in public schools or its equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $125
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $50
- Continuing education
- None required
California's 1,000 hours are fewer than the 1,500 hours of the middle state, tied for the fewest of any state that publishes them.
Barber
California barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 1,000 hours1,000 school hours, or 3,200 hours as an apprentice. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 3,200 hours
- Exams
- Written exam only
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, completed the 10th grade in public schools or its equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $125
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $50
- Continuing education
- None required
California's 1,000 hours are fewer than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.
Nail technician
California nail technician license
California calls it the Manicurist license.
- License
- Manicurist
- Issued by
- The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 400 hoursAbout 3 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written exam only
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, completed the 10th grade in public schools or its equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $110
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $50
- Continuing education
- None required
California's 400 hours are more than the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
California esthetician license
- License
- Esthetician
- Issued by
- The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written exam only
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, completed the 10th grade in public schools or its equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $115
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $50
- Continuing education
- None required
California's 600 hours are the same as the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license California requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what California requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in California.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By reciprocity: a current license from another state that is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted, with no California written exam.
Good to know in California
- The Board does not issue temporary licenses.
- Working without a license can bring a citation and a $1,000 fine.
- You cannot enter the exam until you have completed all required training hours.
Sources
What California'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
“Cosmetologist Application for Examination and Initial License Fee $125.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Cosmetologist: training hours
“A course in barbering or cosmetology established by a school shall consist of not less than 1,000 hours of practical and technical instruction”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Cosmetologist: apprenticeship
“Apprentice are required to complete a minimum of 3200 OJT”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“Candidates only need to pass the written exam to become licensed.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“Is not less than 17 years of age.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov “Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“Cosmetologist Application for Examination and Initial License Fee $125.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Cosmetologist: renewal
“Your license will be good for 2 years from the date it is issued and will need to be renewed every 2 years thereafter.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “The renewal fee is $50.00.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “No. The Board does not require continuing education credits to maintain a license.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Barber: license
“Barber Application for Examination and Initial License Fee $125.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Barber: training hours
“A course in barbering or cosmetology established by a school shall consist of not less than 1,000 hours of practical and technical instruction”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Barber: apprenticeship
“Apprentice are required to complete a minimum of 3200 OJT”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Barber: exams
“Candidates only need to pass the written exam to become licensed.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Barber: who can apply
“Is not less than 17 years of age.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov “Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Barber: fees
“Barber Application for Examination and Initial License Fee $125.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Barber: renewal
“Your license will be good for 2 years from the date it is issued and will need to be renewed every 2 years thereafter.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “The renewal fee is $50.00.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “No. The Board does not require continuing education credits to maintain a license.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Nail technician: license
“Manicurist Application for Examination and Initial License Fee $110.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Nail technician: training hours
“A nail care course established by a school shall consist of not less than 400 hours of practical and technical instruction.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Nail technician: exams
“Candidates only need to pass the written exam to become licensed.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Nail technician: who can apply
“Is not less than 17 years of age.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov “Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Nail technician: fees
“Manicurist Application for Examination and Initial License Fee $110.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Nail technician: renewal
“Your license will be good for 2 years from the date it is issued and will need to be renewed every 2 years thereafter.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “The renewal fee is $50.00.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “No. The Board does not require continuing education credits to maintain a license.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Esthetician: license
“Esthetician Application for Examination And Initial License Fee $115.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Esthetician: training hours
“A course in skin care course established by a school shall consist of not less than 600 hours of practical and technical instruction.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Esthetician: exams
“Candidates only need to pass the written exam to become licensed.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Esthetician: who can apply
“Is not less than 17 years of age.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov “Has completed the 10th grade in the public schools of this state or its equivalent.”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov - Esthetician: fees
“Esthetician Application for Examination And Initial License Fee $115.00 Fee (non-refundable)”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Esthetician: renewal
“Your license will be good for 2 years from the date it is issued and will need to be renewed every 2 years thereafter.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “The renewal fee is $50.00.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “No. The Board does not require continuing education credits to maintain a license.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Licensed in another state
“The Board issues out of state licensees a California license through reciprocity without taking the”
barbercosmo.ca.gov “It is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Also good to know
“No, the Board does not issue temporary licenses.”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Also good to know
“You will be cited for unlicensed activity and subject to a $1,000 fine if you are working”
barbercosmo.ca.gov - Also good to know
“No one is allowed entry to the examination until they have completed all the required hours”
barbercosmo.ca.gov
Questions
California beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in California?
1,000 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license, or 3,200 hours as an apprentice. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). California's 1,000 hours are fewer than the 1,500 hours of the middle state, tied for the fewest of any state that publishes them.
How much does a cosmetology license cost in California?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $125, and it renews every 2 years, $50. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in California?
The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $50. The official pages say no continuing education is required. Renew with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in California?
California calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 400 hours of training, written exam only, $110 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $50.
How do you get an esthetician license in California?
California calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 600 hours of training, written exam only, $115 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $50.
How do you get a barber license in California?
California calls it a Barber license, issued by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 1,000 hours of training, written exam only, $125 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $50.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to California?
By reciprocity: a current license from another state that is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted, with no California written exam. Apply with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in California?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what California 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 California requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in California, as a checklist
- Commission or booth rent? Compare what you would take home
- Renting a chair? Start from a booth rental agreement
Beauty licenses in other states
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