Michigan beauty licenses
Michigan cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in Michigan you need a Cosmetologist license from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). It takes 1,500 hours of school and $63 in state fees. Exams: practical and theory exams (administered by PSI). 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
- 1,800
Licensed by LARA.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
Michigan cosmetology license
- License
- Cosmetologist
- Issued by
- The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
- Training
- 1,500 hours1,500 hours at a licensed school, or an apprenticeship in a licensed cosmetology establishment. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Practical and theory exams (administered by PSI)
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, ninth-grade education, good moral character
- State fees, first license
- $63
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $48
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Michigan's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
Barber
Michigan barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The Board of Barber Examiners
- Training
- 1,800 hours1,800 hours at a licensed barber college, or 1,800 hours as an apprentice in a barber apprenticeship program. About 12 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,800 hours
- Exams
- Examination approved by the board and the department (administered by PSI)
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, tenth-grade education, good moral character
- State fees, first license
- $63
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $60
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Michigan's 1,800 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state, tied for the most of any state.
Nail technician
Michigan nail technician license
Michigan calls it the Manicurist license.
- License
- Manicurist
- Issued by
- The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
- Training
- 600 hours600 hours for training begun on or after July 1, 2024; an apprenticeship route is also allowed. About 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Practical and theory exams (administered by PSI)
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, ninth-grade education
- State fees, first license
- $63
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $48
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Michigan's 600 hours are more than the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
Michigan esthetician license
- License
- Esthetician
- Issued by
- The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)
- Training
- 750 hours750 hours for training begun on or after July 1, 2024; an apprenticeship route is also allowed. About 5 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Exam, if the department makes one available
- Who can apply
- 17 years old, ninth-grade education
- State fees, first license
- $63
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $48
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Michigan's 750 hours are more than the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Michigan requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Michigan requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Michigan.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By reciprocity: a cosmetology license from another state, with requirements substantially equal to Michigan's and no sanctions, can be issued without an exam; the fee shown is the cosmetology exam-or-reciprocity fee.
Good to know in Michigan
- A student barber license is valid for 2 years and can be renewed for 1 more year.
- Barbers may only render services in a licensed barbershop or barber college, not in a cosmetology establishment.
- Manicurist training was raised to 600 hours for trainees who began on or after July 1, 2024; earlier trainees need 400.
Sources
What Michigan'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
“The department shall issue a cosmetologist license to an individual who fulfills all of the following requirements:”
legislature.mi.gov - Cosmetologist: training hours
“Has completed either not less than a 1,500-hour course of study in a licensed school of cosmetology”
legislature.mi.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“Take and pass the practical and theory exam.”
michigan.gov - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“Is not less than 17 years of age.”
legislature.mi.gov “Has had an education equivalent to the completion of the ninth grade.”
legislature.mi.gov “Is of good moral character.”
legislature.mi.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“Cosmetology by Exam or Reciprocity $63.00”
michigan.gov - Cosmetologist: renewal
“Renewal Application Fee: $48.00”
michigan.gov “Renewal Cycle 2 years”
michigan.gov - Barber: license
“The department shall issue a license to practice as a barber to an individual who fulfills all of the following requirements:”
legislature.mi.gov - Barber: issued by
“The Board of Barber Examiners does not offer or endorse any specific study materials”
michigan.gov - Barber: training hours
“Not less than a 1,800-hour course of study at a licensed barber college.”
legislature.mi.gov - Barber: apprenticeship
“served as an apprentice for at least 1,800 hours in a barber apprenticeship program.”
legislature.mi.gov - Barber: exams
“Passes an examination approved by the board and the department.”
legislature.mi.gov “The testing vendor, PSI can be reached by telephone at 855-579-4635.”
michigan.gov - Barber: who can apply
“Is of good moral character.”
legislature.mi.gov “Is not less than 17 years of age.”
legislature.mi.gov “Has completed the tenth grade of school or has an equivalent education as determined by the department.”
legislature.mi.gov - Barber: fees
“Barber by Exam or Reciprocity: $63.00”
michigan.gov - Barber: renewal
“Barber license types are valid for 2 years.”
michigan.gov “Barber Renewal Application Fee: $60.00”
michigan.gov “Renewal Cycle: 2 years”
michigan.gov - Nail technician: license
“The department shall issue a license as a manicurist to an individual who fulfills all of the following:”
legislature.mi.gov - Nail technician: training hours
“for an individual who begins training on or after July 1, 2024, not less than 600 hours of training”
legislature.mi.gov - Nail technician: exams
“Take and pass the practical and theory exam.”
michigan.gov - Nail technician: who can apply
“Is at least 17 years of age.”
legislature.mi.gov “Has had an education equivalent to the completion of the ninth grade.”
legislature.mi.gov - Nail technician: fees
“Manicurist by Exam or Reciprocity $63.00”
michigan.gov - Nail technician: renewal
“Renewal Application Fee: $48.00”
michigan.gov “Renewal Cycle 2 years”
michigan.gov - Esthetician: license
“The department shall issue a license as an esthetician to an individual who fulfills all of the following requirements:”
legislature.mi.gov - Esthetician: training hours
“for an individual who begins training on or after July 1, 2024, not less than 750 hours of training”
legislature.mi.gov - Esthetician: exams
“If an examination is available, has passed an examination prescribed by the department in consultation with the board.”
legislature.mi.gov - Esthetician: who can apply
“Is not less than 17 years of age.”
legislature.mi.gov “Has had an education equivalent to the completion of the ninth grade.”
legislature.mi.gov - Esthetician: fees
“Esthetician by Exam or Reciprocity: $63.00”
michigan.gov - Esthetician: renewal
“Esthetician Renewal Application Fee: $48.00”
michigan.gov “Renewal Cycle: 2 years”
michigan.gov - Licensed in another state
“the requirements for registration or licensure in the particular state were substantially equal to the requirements then in effect in this state”
legislature.mi.gov “The applicant establishes that sanctions have not been imposed against him or her”
legislature.mi.gov “the department shall without examination issue a license to perform those services if the department determines that all of the following are met”
legislature.mi.gov “Cosmetology by Exam or Reciprocity $63.00”
michigan.gov - Also good to know
“The department shall issue a student license valid for 2 years”
legislature.mi.gov - Also good to know
“Barber services can only be rendered in premises licensed by the department as a”
michigan.gov - Also good to know
“for an individual who begins training on or after July 1, 2024, not less than 600 hours of training”
legislature.mi.gov
Questions
Michigan beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Michigan?
1,500 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Michigan's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
How much does a cosmetology license cost in Michigan?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $63, and it renews every 2 years, $48. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in Michigan?
The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $48. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with LARA before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in Michigan?
Michigan calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). It takes 600 hours of training, practical and theory exams (administered by PSI), $63 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $48.
How do you get an esthetician license in Michigan?
Michigan calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). It takes 750 hours of training, exam, if the department makes one available, $63 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $48.
How do you get a barber license in Michigan?
Michigan calls it a Barber license, issued by the Board of Barber Examiners. It takes 1,800 hours of training, examination approved by the board and the department (administered by PSI), $63 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $60.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Michigan?
By reciprocity: a cosmetology license from another state, with requirements substantially equal to Michigan's and no sanctions, can be issued without an exam; the fee shown is the cosmetology exam-or-reciprocity fee. The fee is $63. Apply with LARA.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Michigan?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Michigan 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 Michigan requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in Michigan, 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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