Massachusetts beauty licenses

Massachusetts cosmetology license requirements

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

Massachusetts calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 100 hours of training, written theory exam, $68 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $68.

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

Massachusetts calls it an Aesthetician license, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 600 hours of training, written theory exam, $68 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $68.

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

Massachusetts calls it a Barber license, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 1,000 hours of training, written theory exam, $66 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $78.

To work as a cosmetologist in Massachusetts you need a Cosmetologist license from the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 1,000 hours of school and $68 in state fees. Exams: written theory exam. 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
Nail tech hours: 100
Esthetics hours: 600

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

Cosmetologist

Massachusetts cosmetology license

License: Cosmetologist
Issued by: The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Training: 1,000 hoursAbout 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory exam
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $68
Renewal: Every 2 years, $68
Continuing education: Not stated

Massachusetts'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

Massachusetts barber license

License: Barber
Issued by: The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Training: 1,000 hoursAbout 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory exam
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $66
Renewal: Every 2 years, $78
Continuing education: Not stated

Massachusetts's 1,000 hours are fewer than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

Massachusetts nail technician license

Massachusetts calls it the Manicurist license.

License: Manicurist
Issued by: The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Training: 100 hoursAbout 1 month of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory exam
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $68
Renewal: Every 2 years, $68
Continuing education: Not stated

Massachusetts's 100 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

Massachusetts esthetician license

Massachusetts calls it the Aesthetician license.

License: Aesthetician
Issued by: The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering
Training: 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory exam
Who can apply: Not stated
State fees, first license: $68
Renewal: Every 2 years, $68
Continuing education: Not stated

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

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

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

A current cosmetologist, aesthetician or manicurist license from another state, with equivalent scope and no suspension or revocation, can be licensed without an exam; otherwise an exam is required. Fees: $204 without an exam, $136 with an exam.

Good to know in Massachusetts

The board uses PSI to administer exams, and you need the Board's exam approval before you can schedule one.
Applications must be submitted online through the eLIPSE platform, with payment made there too.
A barber applicant with a licensed cosmetology school program may be credited up to 750 hours toward the 1,000-hour barber course.

Sources

What Massachusetts'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 | $68 | Birthday | Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “successfully completed a course of at least 1,000 hours of professional training in a cosmetology school approved by the Board”
mass.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “and then pass a written theory exam”
mass.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “* Cosmetologist $68 * Aesthetician $68”
mass.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “Cosmetologist | $68 | Birthday | Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Barber: license: “To be eligible to be issued a license as a barber, an individual must meet the following requirements”
mass.gov
Barber: training hours: “Successfully complete a course of at least 1,000 clock hours of professional training in a barber school approved by the Board”
mass.gov
Barber: exams: “and then pass a written theory exam”
mass.gov
Barber: fees: “* Manicurist $68 * Barber $66”
mass.gov
Barber: renewal: “Barber | $78 | Dec. 31, odd year | Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Nail technician: license: “Manicurist,$68 ,Birthday,Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “successfully completed a course of at least 100 hours of professional training in manicuring in a school approved by the Board”
mass.gov
Nail technician: exams: “and then pass a written theory exam”
mass.gov
Nail technician: fees: “* Aesthetician $68 * Manicurist $68 * Barber $66”
mass.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “Manicurist,$68 ,Birthday,Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Esthetician: license: “Aesthetician | $68 | Birthday | Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “successfully completed a course of at least 600 hours of professional training in an aesthetics school approved by the Board”
mass.gov
Esthetician: exams: “and then pass a written theory exam”
mass.gov
Esthetician: fees: “* Cosmetologist $68 * Aesthetician $68”
mass.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “Aesthetician | $68 | Birthday | Every 2 years”
mass.gov
Licensed in another state: “Applicants do not have to take an exam if all of the following applies”
mass.gov
“You have a current license in another state or jurisdiction”
mass.gov
“no examination required (please review Exam Requirement section) | $204 | each”
mass.gov
“examination required (please review Exam Requirement section) | $136 | each”
mass.gov
Also good to know: “The board uses PSI to administer exams. You will need exam approval from the Board before you can schedule your exam.”
mass.gov
Also good to know: “Applications, renewals, and reinstatements must be submitted online through the”
mass.gov
Also good to know: “may be credited a maximum of 750 hours toward the 1,000-hour barber school course of instruction requirement”
mass.gov

Questions

Massachusetts beauty licenses, answered

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

1,000 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Massachusetts'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 Massachusetts?

The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $68, and it renews every 2 years, $68. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in Massachusetts?

The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $68. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 100 hours of training, written theory exam, $68 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $68.

How do you get an esthetician license in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts calls it an Aesthetician license, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 600 hours of training, written theory exam, $68 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $68.

How do you get a barber license in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts calls it a Barber license, issued by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. It takes 1,000 hours of training, written theory exam, $66 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $78.

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

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

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

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