Iowa beauty licenses

Iowa cosmetology license requirements

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

Iowa calls it a Nail technologist license, issued by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 325 hours of training, national theory exam: NIC or national theory nail technology exam, passing score of 75% or higher, $60 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.

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

Iowa calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 600 hours of training, national theory exam: NIC or national theory esthetician exam, passing score of 75% or higher, $60 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.

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

Iowa calls it a Barbering and cosmetology license, issued by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 1,550 hours of training, national theory exam: NIC or national theory cosmetology exam, passing score of 75% or higher, $60 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.

To work as a cosmetologist in Iowa you need a Barbering and cosmetology license from the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 1,550 hours of school and $60 in state fees. Exams: national theory exam: NIC or national theory cosmetology exam, passing score of 75% or higher. 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: 1,550
Barber hours: 1,550
Nail tech hours: 325
Esthetics hours: 600

Licensed by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

Iowa cosmetology license

Iowa calls it the Barbering and cosmetology license.

License: Barbering and cosmetology license
Issued by: The Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
Training: 1,550 hours1,550 clock hours; the Department also lists an apprenticeship route. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: National theory exam: NIC or national theory cosmetology exam, passing score of 75% or higher
Who can apply: High school diploma or equivalent
State fees, first license: $60
Renewal: Every 2 years, $60
Continuing education: 6 hours per renewal

Iowa's 1,550 hours are more than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

Barber

Iowa barber license

Iowa calls it the Barbering and cosmetology license.

License: Barbering and cosmetology license
Issued by: The Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
Training: 1,550 hoursBarbers and cosmetologists share one barbering and cosmetology license, so the requirements match the cosmetologist entry. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: National theory exam: NIC or national theory cosmetology exam, passing score of 75% or higher
Who can apply: High school diploma or equivalent
State fees, first license: $60
Renewal: Every 2 years, $60
Continuing education: 6 hours per renewal

Iowa's 1,550 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

Iowa nail technician license

Iowa calls it the Nail technologist license.

License: Nail technologist
Issued by: The Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
Training: 325 hoursAbout 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: National theory exam: NIC or national theory nail technology exam, passing score of 75% or higher
Who can apply: High school diploma or equivalent
State fees, first license: $60
Renewal: Every 2 years, $60
Continuing education: 6 hours per renewal

Iowa's 325 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

Iowa esthetician license

License: Esthetician
Issued by: The Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
Training: 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: National theory exam: NIC or national theory esthetician exam, passing score of 75% or higher
Who can apply: High school diploma or equivalent
State fees, first license: $60
Renewal: Every 2 years, $60
Continuing education: 6 hours per renewal

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

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

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

By endorsement: an active license from another jurisdiction held for at least 12 months during the past 24 months, with verification sent directly from that jurisdiction to the board.

Good to know in Iowa

Licensees must hold a shaving certificate to shave; without one the license is restricted from shaving.
A barber and cosmetologist licensed after July 1, 2005 is not eligible to be certified in chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser or IPL services.
People licensed for the first time do not have to complete continuing education before their first renewal.

Sources

What Iowa'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: “Apply online for a barbering and cosmetology license in Iowa.”
dial.iowa.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “Graduation from a board-approved or nationally-accredited barbering and cosmetology school/program verifying completion of a minimum of 1,550 hours;”
dial.iowa.gov
“The course of study required for licensure for the practice of barbering and cosmetology shall be a minimum of one thousand five hundred fifty clock hours”
legis.iowa.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “Passing score of 75% or higher on the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. (NIC) or national theory cosmetology exam.”
dial.iowa.gov
Cosmetologist: who can apply: “An applicant who has graduated from high school or its equivalent shall be issued a”
legis.iowa.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “The application fee is $60.”
dial.iowa.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “Biennial license renewal fee for each license for each biennium is $60.”
legis.iowa.gov
“The biennial continuing education compliance period shall begin on April 1 of one year and end on March 31 two years later.”
legis.iowa.gov
“shall be required to complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education”
legis.iowa.gov
Barber: license: “Apply online for a barbering and cosmetology license in Iowa.”
dial.iowa.gov
Barber: training hours: “Graduation from a board-approved or nationally-accredited barbering and cosmetology school/program verifying completion of a minimum of 1,550 hours;”
dial.iowa.gov
“The course of study required for licensure for the practice of barbering and cosmetology shall be a minimum of one thousand five hundred fifty clock hours”
legis.iowa.gov
Barber: exams: “Passing score of 75% or higher on the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. (NIC) or national theory cosmetology exam.”
dial.iowa.gov
Barber: who can apply: “An applicant who has graduated from high school or its equivalent shall be issued a”
legis.iowa.gov
Barber: fees: “The application fee is $60.”
dial.iowa.gov
Barber: renewal: “Biennial license renewal fee for each license for each biennium is $60.”
legis.iowa.gov
“The biennial continuing education compliance period shall begin on April 1 of one year and end on March 31 two years later.”
legis.iowa.gov
“shall be required to complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education”
legis.iowa.gov
Nail technician: license: “Apply online for a nail technologist license in Iowa.”
dial.iowa.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “The course of study required for licensure which is limited to the practice of nail technology shall be a minimum of three hundred twenty -five hours.”
legis.iowa.gov
“verifying completion of 325 hours of education”
dial.iowa.gov
Nail technician: exams: “Passing score of 75% or higher on the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. (NIC) or national theory nail technology exam.”
dial.iowa.gov
Nail technician: who can apply: “An applicant who has graduated from high school or its equivalent shall be issued a”
legis.iowa.gov
Nail technician: fees: “The application fee is $60.”
dial.iowa.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “Biennial license renewal fee for each license for each biennium is $60.”
legis.iowa.gov
“The biennial continuing education compliance period shall begin on April 1 of one year and end on March 31 two years later.”
legis.iowa.gov
“shall be required to complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education”
legis.iowa.gov
Esthetician: license: “Apply online for a esthetician license in Iowa.”
dial.iowa.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “The course of study required for licensure which is limited to the practice of esthetics shall be a minimum of six hundred hours.”
legis.iowa.gov
“verifying completion of 600 hours of education”
dial.iowa.gov
Esthetician: exams: “Passing score of 75% or higher on the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. (NIC) or national theory esthetician exam.”
dial.iowa.gov
Esthetician: who can apply: “An applicant who has graduated from high school or its equivalent shall be issued a”
legis.iowa.gov
Esthetician: fees: “The application fee is $60.”
dial.iowa.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “Biennial license renewal fee for each license for each biennium is $60.”
legis.iowa.gov
“The biennial continuing education compliance period shall begin on April 1 of one year and end on March 31 two years later.”
legis.iowa.gov
“shall be required to complete a minimum of six hours of continuing education”
legis.iowa.gov
Licensed in another state: “of such other jurisdiction for at least 12 months during the past 24 months.”
legis.iowa.gov
“in which the applicant has most recently been licensed, sent directly from the jurisdiction to the board”
legis.iowa.gov
“endorsement, license by reciprocity, or an instructor’s license is $60.”
legis.iowa.gov
Also good to know: “Licensees must hold a shaving certificate, or the license will be restricted from the practice”
legis.iowa.gov
Also good to know: “A barber and cosmetologist licensed after July 1, 2005, is not eligible to be certified in”
legis.iowa.gov
Also good to know: “required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite for the first renewal of their licenses.”
legis.iowa.gov

Questions

Iowa beauty licenses, answered

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

1,550 hours of training for a Barbering and cosmetology license. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Iowa's 1,550 hours are more than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in Iowa?

The state's fees for a first Barbering and cosmetology license are $60, and it renews every 2 years, $60. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in Iowa?

The Barbering and cosmetology license renews every 2 years for $60. Each renewal needs 6 hours of continuing education. Renew with the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in Iowa?

Iowa calls it a Nail technologist license, issued by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 325 hours of training, national theory exam: NIC or national theory nail technology exam, passing score of 75% or higher, $60 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.

How do you get an esthetician license in Iowa?

Iowa calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 600 hours of training, national theory exam: NIC or national theory esthetician exam, passing score of 75% or higher, $60 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.

How do you get a barber license in Iowa?

Iowa calls it a Barbering and cosmetology license, issued by the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. It takes 1,550 hours of training, national theory exam: NIC or national theory cosmetology exam, passing score of 75% or higher, $60 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.

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

By endorsement: an active license from another jurisdiction held for at least 12 months during the past 24 months, with verification sent directly from that jurisdiction to the board. The fee is $60. Apply with the Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.

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

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

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