New York beauty licenses
New York cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in New York you need a Cosmetology license from the New York Department of State. It takes 1,000 hours of school and $70 in state fees. Exams: written and practical exams. 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
- Not stated
Licensed by the New York Department of State.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
New York cosmetology license
New York calls it the Cosmetology license.
- License
- Cosmetology
- Issued by
- The New York Department of State
- Training
- 1,000 hoursAbout 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- 17 years old; health certificate from a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner
- State fees, first license
- $70 (initial application fee $40 plus written exam fee $15 plus practical exam fee $15)
- Renewal
- Every 4 years, $40
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New York'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
New York barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The New York Department of State
- Training
- Not statedNo state minimum: the hours are set by the approved barber schools. A registered apprenticeship is also allowed.
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- 17 years old; health certificate from a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner
- State fees, first license
- $55 (initial application fee $40 plus practical exam fee $15)
- Renewal
- $40
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Nail technician
New York nail technician license
New York calls it the Nail Specialty license.
- License
- Nail Specialty
- Issued by
- The New York Department of State
- Training
- 250 hoursAlternative route: a year as a licensed Nail Trainee plus an approved Nail Trainee course. About 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- 17 years old; health certificate from a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner
- State fees, first license
- $70 (initial application fee $40 plus written exam fee $15 plus practical exam fee $15)
- Renewal
- Every 4 years, $40
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New York's 250 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
New York esthetician license
New York calls it the Esthetics license.
- License
- Esthetics
- Issued by
- The New York Department of State
- Training
- 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- 17 years old; health certificate from a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner
- State fees, first license
- $70 (initial application fee $40 plus written exam fee $15 plus practical exam fee $15)
- Renewal
- Every 4 years, $40
- Continuing education
- Not stated
New York's 600 hours are the same as the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license New York requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what New York requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in New York.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By endorsement: a current license from a state on the Department of State's endorsement list for that license, with an official letter of good standing dated within six months.
Good to know in New York
- A temporary operator's license, valid six months, may be issued after an application is accepted, so you can work while waiting for exam results.
- Applicants qualifying through New York State education must complete a one-hour domestic violence and sexual assault awareness course before submitting the application.
- A barber license does not allow you to run a business; a separate Barber Shop license is needed to operate one.
Sources
What New York'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
“To apply for a Cosmetology license, you must:”
dos.ny.gov - Cosmetologist: training hours
“Complete a 1,000 hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations.”
dos.ny.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“Complete a 1,000 hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations.”
dos.ny.gov - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“Be 17 years old”
dos.ny.gov “Be examined by a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner.”
dos.ny.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“$40 initial application fee”
dos.ny.gov “$15 written exam fee”
dos.ny.gov “$15 practical exam fee”
dos.ny.gov - Cosmetologist: renewal
“A cosmetology license allows an individual to perform hair, nail, waxing, and esthetic services and is good for four years.”
dos.ny.gov “$40 renewal fee”
dos.ny.gov - Barber: license
“To apply for a Barber license, you must:”
dos.ny.gov - Barber: exams
“examination offered by the secretary of state pursuant to this article.”
nysenate.gov “Successfully complete the NYS practical examination within 2 years”
dos.ny.gov - Barber: who can apply
“Be 17 years old”
dos.ny.gov “Be examined by a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner.”
dos.ny.gov - Barber: fees
“$40 - Initial Application”
dos.ny.gov “$15 - Practical Exam”
dos.ny.gov - Barber: renewal
“$40 - Renewal”
dos.ny.gov - Nail technician: license
“To apply for a Nail Specialty license, you must:”
dos.ny.gov - Nail technician: training hours
“Complete a 250-hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations.”
dos.ny.gov - Nail technician: exams
“Complete a 250-hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations.”
dos.ny.gov - Nail technician: who can apply
“Be 17 years old”
dos.ny.gov “Be examined by a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner.”
dos.ny.gov - Nail technician: fees
“$40 initial application fee”
dos.ny.gov “$15 written exam fee”
dos.ny.gov “$15 practical exam fee”
dos.ny.gov - Nail technician: renewal
“All licenses shall expire four years from the date of issuance.”
dos.ny.gov “$40 renewal fee”
dos.ny.gov - Esthetician: license
“to obtain an Esthetics license in this state”
dos.ny.gov - Esthetician: training hours
“Complete a 600 hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations.”
dos.ny.gov - Esthetician: exams
“Complete a 600 hour approved course of study and pass both the New York State written and practical examinations.”
dos.ny.gov - Esthetician: who can apply
“Be 17 years old”
dos.ny.gov “Be examined by a physician, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner.”
dos.ny.gov - Esthetician: fees
“$40 initial application fee”
dos.ny.gov “$15 written exam fee”
dos.ny.gov “$15 practical exam fee”
dos.ny.gov - Esthetician: renewal
“All licenses shall expire four years from the date of issuance.”
dos.ny.gov “$40 renewal fee”
dos.ny.gov - Licensed in another state
“The applicant must include with their application an official letter of good standing (certification), dated within six months, from the Appearance Enhancement Board where the applicant is currently licensed.”
dos.ny.gov - Also good to know
“the secretary may issue a temporary operator’s license which shall expire six months from issuance.”
dos.ny.gov - Also good to know
“Effective June 17, 2020, all operator applicants qualifying based on the completion of NYS education must complete a 1- hour course on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness.”
dos.ny.gov - Also good to know
“A license to practice barbering does not allow the operation of a business. A separate Barber Shop license is needed to operate a business.”
dos.ny.gov
Questions
New York beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in New York?
1,000 hours of training for a Cosmetology license. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). New York'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 New York?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetology license are $70 (initial application fee $40 plus written exam fee $15 plus practical exam fee $15), and it renews every 4 years, $40. 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 York?
The Cosmetology license renews every 4 years for $40. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with the New York Department of State before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in New York?
New York calls it a Nail Specialty license, issued by the New York Department of State. It takes 250 hours of training, written and practical exams, $70 (initial application fee $40 plus written exam fee $15 plus practical exam fee $15) in state fees. It renews every 4 years, $40.
How do you get an esthetician license in New York?
New York calls it an Esthetics license, issued by the New York Department of State. It takes 600 hours of training, written and practical exams, $70 (initial application fee $40 plus written exam fee $15 plus practical exam fee $15) in state fees. It renews every 4 years, $40.
How do you get a barber license in New York?
New York calls it a Barber license, issued by the New York Department of State. Written and practical exams, $55 (initial application fee $40 plus practical exam fee $15) in state fees. It renews $40.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to New York?
By endorsement: a current license from a state on the Department of State's endorsement list for that license, with an official letter of good standing dated within six months. Apply with the New York Department of State.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in New York?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what New York 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 York requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in New York, 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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