Florida beauty licenses
Florida cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in Florida you need a Cosmetologist license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). It takes 1,200 hours of school and $40 in state fees. Exams: written theory exam; the board may also offer clinical or performance 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 22, 2026.
- Cosmetology hours
- 1,200
- Barber hours
- 900
Licensed by DBPR.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
Florida cosmetology license
- License
- Cosmetologist
- Issued by
- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Training
- 1,200 hoursAbout 8 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written theory exam; the board may also offer clinical or performance exams
- Who can apply
- At least 16 years old, or a high school diploma
- State fees, first license
- $40
- Exam fees to the testing company
- cosmetologist examination fee $49.50Paid to the company that runs the exam, as stated on the state's own pages.
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $45
- Continuing education
- 10 hours per renewal
Florida's 1,200 hours are fewer than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
Barber
Florida barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The Barbers' Board
- Training
- 900 hoursAbout 6 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written exam
- Who can apply
- At least 16 years old
- State fees, first license
- $250 (original barber license fee $100 plus barber examination application fee $150)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $70
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Florida's 900 hours are fewer than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.
Nail technician
Florida nail technician license
Florida calls it the Nail Specialist license.
- License
- Nail Specialist
- Issued by
- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Training
- 180 hoursAbout 1 month of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Not stated
- Who can apply
- At least 16 years old, or a high school diploma
- State fees, first license
- $70 (initial specialist registration fee $40 plus specialist registration application fee $30)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $45
- Continuing education
- 10 hours per renewal
Florida's 180 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
Florida esthetician license
Florida calls it the Facial Specialist license.
- License
- Facial Specialist
- Issued by
- The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)
- Training
- 220 hoursAbout 1 month of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Not stated
- Who can apply
- At least 16 years old, or a high school diploma
- State fees, first license
- $70 (initial specialist registration fee $40 plus specialist registration application fee $30)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $45
- Continuing education
- 10 hours per renewal
Florida's 220 hours are fewer than the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Florida requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Florida requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Florida.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By endorsement: a current active license to practice in another state. Cosmetologist endorsement application fee is $50; barber endorsement application fee is $150.
Good to know in Florida
- A cosmetologist who passes all parts of the exam may practice under a licensed cosmetologist in a licensed salon until the physical license is received.
- A barber applicant may practice under a licensed barber in a licensed barbershop while the first exam results are pending, once the application and fees are submitted.
- A nail or facial specialist may practice while registration is pending, after submitting a registration application, under a registered specialist in a licensed salon.
Sources
What Florida'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” means a person who is licensed to engage in the practice of cosmetology in this state under the authority of this chapter.”
leg.state.fl.us - Cosmetologist: training hours
“Has received a minimum of 1,200 hours of training as established by the board”
leg.state.fl.us - Cosmetologist: exams
“The board may offer a written clinical examination or a performance examination, or both, in addition to a written theory examination.”
leg.state.fl.us - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“Is at least 16 years of age or has received a high school diploma”
leg.state.fl.us - Cosmetologist: fees
“(a) The fee for original licensure as a cosmetologist shall be forty dollars ($40.00)”
flrules.org “When the examination is conducted by a professional testing service pursuant to Section 455.2171, F.S., forty-nine dollars and fifty cents ($49.50) shall be payable to the professional testing service.”
flrules.org - Cosmetologist: renewal
“| Cosmetologist | 10 hours of CE – minimum of 1 hour HIV/AIDS”
myfloridalicense.com “1 hour of any subject related to the practice of cosmetology. | $45.00 | Group 1: 10/31/ODD Year Group 2: 10/31/EVEN Year”
myfloridalicense.com “not to exceed 10 hours biennially”
leg.state.fl.us - Barber: license
““Barber” means a person who is licensed to engage in the practice of barbering in this state under the authority of this chapter.”
leg.state.fl.us - Barber: issued by
“There is created within the department the Barbers’ Board”
leg.state.fl.us - Barber: training hours
“Has received a minimum of 900 hours of training in sanitation, safety, and laws and rules”
leg.state.fl.us - Barber: exams
“The examination of applicants for licenses as barbers shall include a written test.”
leg.state.fl.us - Barber: who can apply
“Is at least 16 years of age;”
leg.state.fl.us - Barber: fees
“The fee for the issuance of an original Barber license shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00)”
flrules.org “One hundred, fifty dollars and zero cents ($150.00).”
flrules.org - Barber: renewal
“shall renew her or his license biennially and pay the required fee”
leg.state.fl.us “The barber license biennial renewal fee shall be $70.00.”
flrules.org - Nail technician: license
“**FV** – A “nail specialist” means a person registered to engage in the practice of manicuring and pedicuring in the State of Florida.”
myfloridalicense.com - Nail technician: training hours
“One hundred and eighty hours of training, as established by the board”
leg.state.fl.us - Nail technician: who can apply
“Is at least 16 years of age or has received a high school diploma”
leg.state.fl.us - Nail technician: fees
“(d) The fee for initial registration as a specialist shall be forty dollars ($40.00)”
flrules.org “(e) The application fee for registration as a specialist shall be thirty dollars ($30.00).”
flrules.org - Nail technician: renewal
“| Nail Specialist | 10 hours of CE – minimum of 1 hour HIV/AIDS”
myfloridalicense.com “1 hour of any subject related to the practice of cosmetology. | $45.00 | Group 1: 10/31/ODD Year Group 2: 10/31/EVEN Year”
myfloridalicense.com - Esthetician: license
“**FB** – A “facial specialist” means a person registered to do facials in the State of Florida.”
myfloridalicense.com - Esthetician: training hours
“Two hundred and twenty hours of training, as established by the board, which shall focus primarily on sanitation and safety, to practice the specialty as defined in s. 477.013(6)(c)”
leg.state.fl.us - Esthetician: who can apply
“Is at least 16 years of age or has received a high school diploma”
leg.state.fl.us - Esthetician: fees
“(d) The fee for initial registration as a specialist shall be forty dollars ($40.00)”
flrules.org “(e) The application fee for registration as a specialist shall be thirty dollars ($30.00).”
flrules.org - Esthetician: renewal
“| Facial Specialist | 10 hours of CE – minimum of 1 hour HIV/AIDS”
myfloridalicense.com “1 hour of any subject related to the practice of cosmetology. | $45.00 | Group 1: 10/31/ODD Year Group 2: 10/31/EVEN Year”
myfloridalicense.com - Licensed in another state
“The board shall certify as qualified for licensure by endorsement as a cosmetologist in this state an applicant who holds a current active license to practice cosmetology in another state.”
leg.state.fl.us “The board shall certify as qualified for licensure by endorsement as a barber in this state an applicant who holds a current active license to practice barbering in another state.”
leg.state.fl.us “The application fee for licensure as a cosmetologist by endorsement shall be fifty dollars ($50.00).”
flrules.org “The application fee for licensure by endorsement shall be one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00).”
flrules.org - Also good to know
“may practice in the time between passing the examination and receiving a physical copy of his or her license”
leg.state.fl.us - Also good to know
“a person is eligible to practice as a barber, provided such person practices under the supervision of a licensed barber in a licensed barbershop”
leg.state.fl.us - Also good to know
“Pending issuance of registration, a person is eligible to practice as a specialist upon submission of a registration application”
leg.state.fl.us
Questions
Florida beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Florida?
1,200 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license. About 8 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Florida's 1,200 hours are fewer than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
How much does a cosmetology license cost in Florida?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $40, and it renews every 2 years, $45. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in Florida?
The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $45. Each renewal needs 10 hours of continuing education. Renew with DBPR before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in Florida?
Florida calls it a Nail Specialist license, issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). It takes 180 hours of training, $70 (initial specialist registration fee $40 plus specialist registration application fee $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $45.
How do you get an esthetician license in Florida?
Florida calls it a Facial Specialist license, issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). It takes 220 hours of training, $70 (initial specialist registration fee $40 plus specialist registration application fee $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $45.
How do you get a barber license in Florida?
Florida calls it a Barber license, issued by the Barbers' Board. It takes 900 hours of training, written exam, $250 (original barber license fee $100 plus barber examination application fee $150) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $70.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Florida?
By endorsement: a current active license to practice in another state. Cosmetologist endorsement application fee is $50; barber endorsement application fee is $150. Apply with DBPR.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Florida?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Florida 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 Florida requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in Florida, 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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