Colorado beauty licenses

Colorado cosmetology license requirements

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

Colorado calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 600 hours of training, written and practical exams.

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

Colorado calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 600 hours of training, written and practical exams.

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

Colorado calls it a Barber license, issued by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 1,500 hours of training, written and practical exams.

To work as a cosmetologist in Colorado you need a Cosmetologist license from the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 1,500 hours of school. Exams: written and practical exams. 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 23, 2026.

Cosmetology hours: 1,500
Barber hours: 1,500
Nail tech hours: 600
Esthetics hours: 600

Licensed by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

Colorado cosmetology license

License: Cosmetologist
Issued by: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure
Training: 1,500 hours50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours; the rules accept either. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; proof of graduation from an approved barber or beauty school
State fees, first license: Not stated
Renewal: Not stated
Continuing education: Not stated

Colorado's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

Barber

Colorado barber license

License: Barber
Issued by: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure
Training: 1,500 hours50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours; the rules accept either. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; proof of graduation from an approved barber or beauty school
State fees, first license: Not stated
Renewal: Not stated
Continuing education: Not stated

Colorado's 1,500 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

Colorado nail technician license

License: Nail Technician
Issued by: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure
Training: 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; proof of graduation from an approved barber or beauty school
State fees, first license: Not stated
Renewal: Not stated
Continuing education: Not stated

Colorado's 600 hours are more than the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

Colorado esthetician license

License: Esthetician
Issued by: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure
Training: 600 hours20 credit hours or 600 contact hours; the rules accept either. About 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; proof of graduation from an approved barber or beauty school
State fees, first license: Not stated
Renewal: Not stated
Continuing education: Not stated

Colorado's 600 hours are the same as the 600 hours of the middle state.

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

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

By endorsement: an unrestricted license in good standing from another state or U.S. territory, plus substantially equivalent training and a written exam, and a practical exam or 1,000 hours of work experience within the two years before applying.

Good to know in Colorado

Barber, esthetician and nail technician licenses expire March 31 of even-numbered years; cosmetologist licenses expire April 30 every year.
First-time applicants must schedule the exam through PSI.
Applicants who fail the written exam must wait at least 30 days before rescheduling.

Sources

What Colorado's official pages say

Each figure above, in the words of the state's own pages, rules or statutes, read on October 23, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the board before you enroll or apply.

Cosmetologist: license: “Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Hair Stylist and Nail Technician”
dpo.colorado.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “Cosmetologist: fifty credit hours or 1500 contact hours, covering at least the”
sos.state.co.us
Cosmetologist: exams: “beauty or barber school, pass written and practical”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Cosmetologist: who can apply: “Be at least 16 years old”
coprrr.colorado.gov
“Provide proof of graduation from a barber or beauty school approved by the”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Barber: license: “Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Hair Stylist and Nail Technician”
dpo.colorado.gov
Barber: training hours: “Barber: fifty credit hours or 1500 contact hours, covering at least the following”
sos.state.co.us
Barber: exams: “beauty or barber school, pass written and practical”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Barber: who can apply: “Be at least 16 years old”
coprrr.colorado.gov
“Provide proof of graduation from a barber or beauty school approved by the”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Nail technician: license: “Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Hair Stylist and Nail Technician”
dpo.colorado.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “Nail Technician: twenty credit hours or 600 contact hours, covering at least the”
sos.state.co.us
Nail technician: exams: “beauty or barber school, pass written and practical”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Nail technician: who can apply: “Be at least 16 years old”
coprrr.colorado.gov
“Provide proof of graduation from a barber or beauty school approved by the”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Esthetician: license: “Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Hair Stylist and Nail Technician”
dpo.colorado.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “Esthetician: twenty credit hours or 600 contact hours, covering at least the”
sos.state.co.us
Esthetician: exams: “beauty or barber school, pass written and practical”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Esthetician: who can apply: “Be at least 16 years old”
coprrr.colorado.gov
“Provide proof of graduation from a barber or beauty school approved by the”
coprrr.colorado.gov
Licensed in another state: “An applicant who possesses a current and unrestricted license in good standing in another state or”
sos.state.co.us
“1,000 hours of work experience for the type of license being sought, within the”
sos.state.co.us
Also good to know: “All Barber, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Nail Technician licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years.”
dpo.colorado.gov
Also good to know: “Exam applicants must apply and schedule their examinations with PSI.”
dpo.colorado.gov
Also good to know: “Candidates who fail the written examination shall wait at least thirty (30) days before they may reschedule”
sos.state.co.us

Questions

Colorado beauty licenses, answered

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

1,500 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Colorado's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in Colorado?

The official pages we read do not state the fee. Check the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure's fee schedule before you apply.

How do you get a nail technician license in Colorado?

Colorado calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 600 hours of training, written and practical exams.

How do you get an esthetician license in Colorado?

Colorado calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 600 hours of training, written and practical exams.

How do you get a barber license in Colorado?

Colorado calls it a Barber license, issued by the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. It takes 1,500 hours of training, written and practical exams.

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

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

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

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