New Hampshire beauty licenses
New Hampshire cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in New Hampshire you need a Cosmetologist license from the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). It takes 1,200 hours of school and $85 in state fees. Exams: written and practical examinations. 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
- 800
Licensed by OPLC.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
New Hampshire cosmetology license
- License
- Cosmetologist
- Issued by
- The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)
- Training
- 1,200 hours1,200 hours in a school, or 3,000 hours as an apprentice over at least 18 months About 8 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 3,000 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical examinations
- Who can apply
- High school or equivalent, and good professional character
- State fees, first license
- $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New Hampshire's 1,200 hours are fewer than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
Barber
New Hampshire barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)
- Training
- 800 hours800 hours in a school, or 1,600 hours as an apprentice over at least 12 months About 5 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,600 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical examinations
- Who can apply
- High school or equivalent, and good professional character
- State fees, first license
- $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New Hampshire's 800 hours are fewer than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.
Nail technician
New Hampshire nail technician license
New Hampshire calls it the Manicurist license.
- License
- Manicurist
- Issued by
- The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)
- Training
- 300 hours300 hours in a school, or 600 hours in a shop apprenticeship About 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 600 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical examinations
- Who can apply
- High school or equivalent, and good professional character
- State fees, first license
- $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New Hampshire's 300 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
New Hampshire esthetician license
- License
- Esthetician
- Issued by
- The New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC)
- Training
- 600 hours600 hours in a school; a board-approved apprenticeship may be substituted (1,200 hours in a shop under the rules) About 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,200 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical examinations
- Who can apply
- High school or equivalent, and good professional character
- State fees, first license
- $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New Hampshire's 600 hours are the same as the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license New Hampshire requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what New Hampshire requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in New Hampshire.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By endorsement: a similar license from another state, on the board's Individuals Licensed in Another State form; if hours are short, work experience of 3,000 hours (cosmetologist), 1,600 (barber), 1,200 (esthetician) or 600 (manicurist) may be provided instead.
Good to know in New Hampshire
- A temporary permit lets an applicant eligible for the exam practice temporarily under a licensed practitioner while waiting for it (RSA 313-A:18).
- Licensing exams are held at least every 6 months (RSA 313-A:15).
- Apprentices must register with OPLC and hold an apprentice certificate before starting an apprenticeship or school (RSA 313-A:24).
Sources
What New Hampshire'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 “cosmetologist” as defined in RSA 313-A:1, V, namely, “any person practicing cosmetology”.”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Cosmetologist: training hours
“A minimum of 1,200 hours of training in a school of cosmetology approved by the board”
gc.nh.gov - Cosmetologist: apprenticeship
“A minimum of 3,000 hours distributed over a period of at least 18 months under a licensed cosmetologist”
gc.nh.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“When an applicant passes both the practical and written examinations”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“(b) Have completed high school or its equivalent;”
gc.nh.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“| Application Fee | $55.00 |”
oplc.nh.gov “he or she shall pay the licensure fee in the amount of $30.00 to the board”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Cosmetologist: renewal
“Licenses issued by the office shall be valid for 2 years from the date of issuance”
gc.nh.gov - Barber: license
““Barber” means “barber” as defined in RSA 313-A:1, I, namely, “any person practicing barbering”.”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Barber: training hours
“A minimum of 800 hours of training in a school of barbering approved by the office of professional licensure and certification”
gc.nh.gov - Barber: apprenticeship
“A minimum of 1,600 hours distributed over a period of at least 12 months under a licensed barber”
gc.nh.gov - Barber: exams
“When an applicant passes both the practical and written examinations”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Barber: who can apply
“(b) Have completed high school or its equivalent;”
gc.nh.gov - Barber: fees
“| Application Fee | $55.00 |”
oplc.nh.gov “he or she shall pay the licensure fee in the amount of $30.00 to the board”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Barber: renewal
“Licenses issued by the office shall be valid for 2 years from the date of issuance”
gc.nh.gov - Nail technician: license
““Manicurist” means “manicurist” as defined in RSA 313-A:1, IX, namely, “any person practicing manicuring or pedicuring”.”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Nail technician: training hours
“Have completed a course of at least 300 hours of professional training in manicuring”
gc.nh.gov - Nail technician: apprenticeship
“For manicurists, RSA 313-A:12, I, or, pursuant to RSA 313-A:12, II, 600 hours in a shop apprenticeship program”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Nail technician: exams
“When an applicant passes both the practical and written examinations”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Nail technician: who can apply
“(b) Have completed high school or its equivalent;”
gc.nh.gov - Nail technician: fees
“| Application Fee | $55.00 |”
oplc.nh.gov “he or she shall pay the licensure fee in the amount of $30.00 to the board”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Nail technician: renewal
“Licenses issued by the office shall be valid for 2 years from the date of issuance”
gc.nh.gov - Esthetician: license
““Esthetician” means “esthetician” as defined in RSA 313-A:1, VII, namely, “any person practicing esthetics”.”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Esthetician: training hours
“have completed a course of at least 600 hours of training in a school approved by the office”
gc.nh.gov - Esthetician: apprenticeship
“For estheticians, RSA 313-A:13 or, pursuant to RSA 313-A:13, 1200 hours in a shop apprenticeship program”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Esthetician: exams
“When an applicant passes both the practical and written examinations”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Esthetician: who can apply
“(b) Have completed high school or its equivalent;”
gc.nh.gov - Esthetician: fees
“| Application Fee | $55.00 |”
oplc.nh.gov “he or she shall pay the licensure fee in the amount of $30.00 to the board”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Esthetician: renewal
“Licenses issued by the office shall be valid for 2 years from the date of issuance”
gc.nh.gov - Licensed in another state
“The board shall license any applicant who is similarly licensed in another state pursuant to RSA 313-A:14.”
gencourt.state.nh.us “The minimum number of hours worked shall be 3,000 for master barbers and cosmetologists, 1,600 for a barber, 1200 for an esthetician, and 600 for a manicurist.”
gencourt.state.nh.us - Also good to know
“Any person eligible to take an examination for a license under this chapter may apply to the office of professional licensure and certification for a permit to professionally operate temporarily pending the holding of such examination.”
gc.nh.gov - Also good to know
“shall hold examinations in barbering, cosmetology, manicuring, and esthetics at least once every 6 months”
gc.nh.gov - Also good to know
“No person shall enter an apprenticeship or enroll in a school under this chapter unless such person has registered with the office of professional licensure and certification as an apprentice and been issued an apprentice certificate.”
gc.nh.gov
Questions
New Hampshire beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in New Hampshire?
1,200 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license, or 3,000 hours as an apprentice. About 8 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). New Hampshire's 1,200 hours are fewer than the 1,500 hours of the middle state.
How much does a cosmetology license cost in New Hampshire?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30), and it renews every 2 years. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in New Hampshire?
The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with OPLC before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). It takes 300 hours of training, written and practical examinations, $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years.
How do you get an esthetician license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). It takes 600 hours of training, written and practical examinations, $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years.
How do you get a barber license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire calls it a Barber license, issued by the New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). It takes 800 hours of training, written and practical examinations, $85 (application fee (Personal License) $55 plus licensure fee after passing both exams $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to New Hampshire?
By endorsement: a similar license from another state, on the board's Individuals Licensed in Another State form; if hours are short, work experience of 3,000 hours (cosmetologist), 1,600 (barber), 1,200 (esthetician) or 600 (manicurist) may be provided instead. Apply with OPLC.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in New Hampshire?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in New Hampshire, 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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