Hawaii beauty licenses
Hawaii cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in Hawaii you need a Beauty Operator (Cosmetologist category) license from the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 1,800 hours of school. Exams: board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC. 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
- 1,800
- Barber hours
- 1,500
Licensed by the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
Hawaii cosmetology license
Hawaii calls it the Beauty Operator (Cosmetologist category) license.
- License
- Beauty Operator (Cosmetologist category)
- Issued by
- The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 1,800 hoursCosmetologist category: 1800 beauty school hours, or 3600 apprenticeship hours. About 12 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 3,600 hours
- Exams
- Board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC
- Who can apply
- 16 years old; high school education or equivalent
- State fees, first license
- Not stated
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $146
- Continuing education
- None required
Hawaii's 1,800 hours are more than the 1,500 hours of the middle state, tied for the most of any state.
Barber
Hawaii barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 1,500 hours1500 hours of barber school, or 3000 hours of apprenticeship training. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 3,000 hours
- Exams
- Board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC
- Who can apply
- 16 years old
- State fees, first license
- Not stated
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $146
- Continuing education
- None required
Hawaii's 1,500 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.
Nail technician
Hawaii nail technician license
Hawaii calls it the Beauty Operator (Nail Technician category) license.
- License
- Beauty Operator (Nail Technician category)
- Issued by
- The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 350 hoursNail Technician category: 350 beauty school hours, or 700 apprenticeship hours. About 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 700 hours
- Exams
- Board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC
- Who can apply
- 16 years old; high school education or equivalent
- State fees, first license
- Not stated
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $146
- Continuing education
- None required
Hawaii's 350 hours are the same as the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
Hawaii esthetician license
Hawaii calls it the Beauty Operator (Esthetician category) license.
- License
- Beauty Operator (Esthetician category)
- Issued by
- The Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
- Training
- 600 hoursEsthetician category: 600 beauty school hours, or 1200 apprenticeship hours. About 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,200 hours
- Exams
- Board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC
- Who can apply
- 16 years old; high school education or equivalent
- State fees, first license
- Not stated
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $146
- Continuing education
- None required
Hawaii's 600 hours are the same as the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Hawaii requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Hawaii requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Hawaii.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
No reciprocity: licensees from other states must qualify and apply for a Hawaii license; at least 1 year of experience as a licensed beauty operator in the applicable category in another state can be used to qualify, but only for the training hours that state recognizes.
Good to know in Hawaii
- After the Board approves your application for the exam, it can grant a temporary permit so you can work and train under a supervising licensee while you wait to take the exam. You must apply for it with your license application.
- The Barbering and Cosmetology examinations are offered by PSI Services, LLC. You register for the exam only after the Board approves you and sends an approval letter.
- Your exam eligibility lasts 12 months from the date of the exam approval letter.
- Hawaii publishes a $20 application fee; the license fees themselves are listed on a Fees Due notice sent after you pass the exam.
Sources
What Hawaii'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
“The Beauty Operator license has 4 licensure categories.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Cosmetologist: training hours
“1800 beauty school training hours or”
cca.hawaii.gov - Cosmetologist: apprenticeship
“3600 apprenticeship hours”
cca.hawaii.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“A passing score on a Board approved examination is required to obtain a Hawaii Barber, Beauty Operator, or Beauty Instructor license.”
cca.hawaii.gov “The Barbering and Cosmetology examinations are offered by PSI Services, LLC.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a beauty”
cca.hawaii.gov “education equivalent to the completion of high school.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“non-refundable application fee of $20 to the license application.”
cca.hawaii.gov “temporary permit application fee of $37 to the application.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Cosmetologist: renewal
“Beauty Operator (BEO) – active status - $146.00”
cca.hawaii.gov “(Renew by December 31, of every odd-numbered year)”
cca.hawaii.gov “does not have to take any continuing education in”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: license
“Barber (BAR) – active status”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: training hours
“You must have at least 1500 hours of barber school or 3000”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: apprenticeship
“You must have at least 1500 hours of barber school or 3000”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: exams
“A passing score on a Board approved examination is required to obtain a Hawaii Barber, Beauty Operator, or Beauty Instructor license.”
cca.hawaii.gov “The Barbering and Cosmetology examinations are offered by PSI Services, LLC.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: who can apply
“you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a barber”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: fees
“non-refundable application fee of $20 to the license application.”
cca.hawaii.gov “temporary permit application fee of $37 to the application.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Barber: renewal
“Barber (BAR) – active status - $146.00”
cca.hawaii.gov “(Renew by December 31, of every odd-numbered year)”
cca.hawaii.gov “No, a barber does not have to take any continuing education in”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: license
“The Beauty Operator license has 4 licensure categories.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: training hours
“350 beauty school training hours or”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: apprenticeship
“700 apprenticeship hours”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: exams
“A passing score on a Board approved examination is required to obtain a Hawaii Barber, Beauty Operator, or Beauty Instructor license.”
cca.hawaii.gov “The Barbering and Cosmetology examinations are offered by PSI Services, LLC.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: who can apply
“you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a beauty”
cca.hawaii.gov “education equivalent to the completion of high school.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: fees
“non-refundable application fee of $20 to the license application.”
cca.hawaii.gov “temporary permit application fee of $37 to the application.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Nail technician: renewal
“Beauty Operator (BEO) – active status - $146.00”
cca.hawaii.gov “(Renew by December 31, of every odd-numbered year)”
cca.hawaii.gov “does not have to take any continuing education in”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: license
“The Beauty Operator license has 4 licensure categories.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: training hours
“600 beauty school training hours or”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: apprenticeship
“1200 apprenticeship hours”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: exams
“A passing score on a Board approved examination is required to obtain a Hawaii Barber, Beauty Operator, or Beauty Instructor license.”
cca.hawaii.gov “The Barbering and Cosmetology examinations are offered by PSI Services, LLC.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: who can apply
“you must be at least 16 years old to obtain a beauty”
cca.hawaii.gov “education equivalent to the completion of high school.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: fees
“non-refundable application fee of $20 to the license application.”
cca.hawaii.gov “temporary permit application fee of $37 to the application.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Esthetician: renewal
“Beauty Operator (BEO) – active status - $146.00”
cca.hawaii.gov “(Renew by December 31, of every odd-numbered year)”
cca.hawaii.gov “does not have to take any continuing education in”
cca.hawaii.gov - Licensed in another state
“apply for a Hawaii beauty operator licensure. The Hawaii Board”
cca.hawaii.gov “Yes, if you have at least 1 year of experience as a licensed”
cca.hawaii.gov - Also good to know
“temporary permit to allow you to work and train under the”
cca.hawaii.gov - Also good to know
“The Barbering and Cosmetology examinations are offered by PSI Services, LLC.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Also good to know
“Please note that the eligibility for ALL examinations is valid for twelve (12) months from the issuance of the examination approval letter.”
cca.hawaii.gov - Also good to know
“The required licensing fees, as noted on your “Fees Due” notice must be remitted at this time.”
cca.hawaii.gov
Questions
Hawaii beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Hawaii?
1,800 hours of training for a Beauty Operator (Cosmetologist category) license, or 3,600 hours as an apprentice. About 12 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Hawaii's 1,800 hours are more than the 1,500 hours of the middle state, tied for the most of any state.
How much does a cosmetology license cost in Hawaii?
The official pages we read do not state the fee. Check the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology's fee schedule before you apply.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in Hawaii?
The Beauty Operator (Cosmetologist category) license renews every 2 years for $146. The official pages say no continuing education is required. Renew with the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in Hawaii?
Hawaii calls it a Beauty Operator (Nail Technician category) license, issued by the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 350 hours of training, board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC. It renews every 2 years, $146.
How do you get an esthetician license in Hawaii?
Hawaii calls it a Beauty Operator (Esthetician category) license, issued by the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 600 hours of training, board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC. It renews every 2 years, $146.
How do you get a barber license in Hawaii?
Hawaii calls it a Barber license, issued by the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It takes 1,500 hours of training, board-approved examination offered by PSI Services, LLC. It renews every 2 years, $146.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Hawaii?
No reciprocity: licensees from other states must qualify and apply for a Hawaii license; at least 1 year of experience as a licensed beauty operator in the applicable category in another state can be used to qualify, but only for the training hours that state recognizes. Apply with the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Hawaii?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Hawaii 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 Hawaii requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in Hawaii, 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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