Ohio beauty licenses

Ohio cosmetology license requirements

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

Ohio calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 200 hours of training, written theory and practical exams, $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $65.

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

Ohio calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 600 hours of training, written theory and practical exams, $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $65.

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

Ohio calls it a Barber license, issued by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 1,800 hours of training, written theory and practical exams, $85 (application to take the examination $55 plus initial license issuance $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $65.

To work as a cosmetologist in Ohio you need a Cosmetologist license from the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 1,500 hours of school and $85 in state fees. Exams: written theory 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: 1,500
Barber hours: 1,800
Nail tech hours: 200
Esthetics hours: 600

Licensed by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

Ohio cosmetology license

License: Cosmetologist
Issued by: The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board
Training: 1,500 hours1,500 hours; fewer for someone already licensed as a barber. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; Ohio tenth-grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $65
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

Ohio's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

Barber

Ohio barber license

License: Barber
Issued by: The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board
Training: 1,800 hours1,800 hours; fewer with a current Ohio cosmetology or hair designer license. About 12 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; eighth-grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $85 (application to take the examination $55 plus initial license issuance $30)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $65
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

Ohio's 1,800 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state, tied for the most of any state.

Nail technician

Ohio nail technician license

Ohio calls it the Manicurist license.

License: Manicurist
Issued by: The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board
Training: 200 hoursAbout 1 month of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; Ohio tenth-grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $65
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

Ohio's 200 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

Ohio esthetician license

License: Esthetician
Issued by: The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board
Training: 600 hoursAbout 4 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Written theory and practical exams
Who can apply: At least 16 years old; Ohio tenth-grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45)
Renewal: Every 2 years, $65
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

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

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

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

By reciprocity: an active license from another state held for at least one year and practiced in at least one of the five years before applying, plus a $73.50 non-refundable fee.

Good to know in Ohio

All Ohio licensees must complete a one-hour human trafficking recognition course; the certificate must be loaded into the application.
A temporary pre-examination work permit lets an applicant practice a cosmetology branch until the scheduled exam date.
Exam applicants must submit a biometric fingerprint scan taken at the board's offices.

Sources

What Ohio'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: “In the case of an applicant for an initial cosmetologist license, has successfully completed at least one thousand five hundred hours of board-approved cosmetology training in a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “In the case of an applicant for an initial cosmetologist license, has successfully completed at least one thousand five hundred hours of board-approved cosmetology training in a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “Include both practical demonstrations and written or oral tests related to the type of license the individual seeks”
codes.ohio.gov
“Cosmetology Theory Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
“Cosmetology Practical Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
Cosmetologist: who can apply: “Is at least sixteen years of age;”
codes.ohio.gov
“Has the equivalent of an Ohio public school tenth grade education”
codes.ohio.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “of the Revised Code, forty dollars. For initial application to take an examination under section”
codes.ohio.gov
“of the Revised Code, forty-five dollars”
codes.ohio.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “of the Revised Code, sixty-five dollars after June 30, 2025”
codes.ohio.gov
“shall complete the number of hours of continuing education specified in this paragraph for each biennial licensing period”
codes.ohio.gov
“Continuing education for a license to practice cosmetology or a branch of cosmetology, advanced license, instructor license, or boutique registration shall be completed on or before the fifteenth of January of every odd-numbered year”
codes.ohio.gov
“One hour of continuing education concerning updates of Ohio laws or rules”
codes.ohio.gov
“Three hours of continuing education concerning safety and infection control”
codes.ohio.gov
Barber: license: “The board shall issue a barber license to an applicant who passes the examination and pays the license fee”
codes.ohio.gov
Barber: training hours: “Has graduated with at least one thousand eight hundred hours of board-approved training from a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Barber: exams: “Barber Theory Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
“Barber Practical Testing Information Packet with Chemicals”
cos.ohio.gov
Barber: who can apply: “Is at least sixteen years of age;”
codes.ohio.gov
“Has an eighth grade education or an equivalent education”
codes.ohio.gov
Barber: fees: “of the Revised Code, fifty-five dollars”
codes.ohio.gov
“of the Revised Code, thirty dollars”
codes.ohio.gov
Barber: renewal: “of the Revised Code, sixty-five dollars after June 30, 2025”
codes.ohio.gov
“shall complete the number of hours of continuing education specified in this paragraph for each biennial licensing period”
codes.ohio.gov
“Continuing education for a barber or barber instructor license shall be completed on or before the fifteenth of August of every even-numbered year”
codes.ohio.gov
“One hour of continuing education concerning updates of Ohio laws or rules”
codes.ohio.gov
“Three hours of continuing education concerning safety and infection control”
codes.ohio.gov
Nail technician: license: “In the case of an applicant for an initial manicurist license, has successfully completed at least two hundred hours of board-approved manicurist training in a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “In the case of an applicant for an initial manicurist license, has successfully completed at least two hundred hours of board-approved manicurist training in a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Nail technician: exams: “Include both practical demonstrations and written or oral tests related to the type of license the individual seeks”
codes.ohio.gov
“Manicure Theory Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
“Manicuring Practical Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
Nail technician: who can apply: “Is at least sixteen years of age;”
codes.ohio.gov
“Has the equivalent of an Ohio public school tenth grade education”
codes.ohio.gov
Nail technician: fees: “of the Revised Code, forty dollars. For initial application to take an examination under section”
codes.ohio.gov
“of the Revised Code, forty-five dollars”
codes.ohio.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “of the Revised Code, sixty-five dollars after June 30, 2025”
codes.ohio.gov
“shall complete the number of hours of continuing education specified in this paragraph for each biennial licensing period”
codes.ohio.gov
“Continuing education for a license to practice cosmetology or a branch of cosmetology, advanced license, instructor license, or boutique registration shall be completed on or before the fifteenth of January of every odd-numbered year”
codes.ohio.gov
“One hour of continuing education concerning updates of Ohio laws or rules”
codes.ohio.gov
“Three hours of continuing education concerning safety and infection control”
codes.ohio.gov
Esthetician: license: “In the case of an applicant for an initial esthetician license, has successfully completed at least six hundred hours of board-approved esthetics training in a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “In the case of an applicant for an initial esthetician license, has successfully completed at least six hundred hours of board-approved esthetics training in a school”
codes.ohio.gov
Esthetician: exams: “Include both practical demonstrations and written or oral tests related to the type of license the individual seeks”
codes.ohio.gov
“Esthetics Theory Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
“Esthetics Practical Testing Information Packet”
cos.ohio.gov
Esthetician: who can apply: “Is at least sixteen years of age;”
codes.ohio.gov
“Has the equivalent of an Ohio public school tenth grade education”
codes.ohio.gov
Esthetician: fees: “of the Revised Code, forty dollars. For initial application to take an examination under section”
codes.ohio.gov
“of the Revised Code, forty-five dollars”
codes.ohio.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “of the Revised Code, sixty-five dollars after June 30, 2025”
codes.ohio.gov
“shall complete the number of hours of continuing education specified in this paragraph for each biennial licensing period”
codes.ohio.gov
“Continuing education for a license to practice cosmetology or a branch of cosmetology, advanced license, instructor license, or boutique registration shall be completed on or before the fifteenth of January of every odd-numbered year”
codes.ohio.gov
“One hour of continuing education concerning updates of Ohio laws or rules”
codes.ohio.gov
“Three hours of continuing education concerning safety and infection control”
codes.ohio.gov
Licensed in another state: “The reciprocity applicant is required to have held the out-of-state occupational license or government certification for at least one (1) year immediately preceding”
cos.ohio.gov
“submits the required reciprocity application and a non-refundable fee of $73.50”
cos.ohio.gov
Also good to know: “All Ohio licensees are required to complete a one (1) hour course on the recognition of Human Trafficking. The certificate of completion must be loaded into reciprocity application.”
cos.ohio.gov
Also good to know: “may practice the branch of cosmetology for which the individual seeks a practicing license until the date the individual is scheduled to take an examination”
codes.ohio.gov
Also good to know: “(B) A set of the individual's biometric fingerprint scan taken at the board's offices.”
codes.ohio.gov

Questions

Ohio beauty licenses, answered

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

1,500 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Ohio's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in Ohio?

The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45), and it renews every 2 years, $65. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in Ohio?

The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $65. Each renewal needs 4 hours of continuing education. Renew with the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in Ohio?

Ohio calls it a Manicurist license, issued by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 200 hours of training, written theory and practical exams, $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $65.

How do you get an esthetician license in Ohio?

Ohio calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 600 hours of training, written theory and practical exams, $85 (application to take the examination $40 plus initial license issuance $45) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $65.

How do you get a barber license in Ohio?

Ohio calls it a Barber license, issued by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. It takes 1,800 hours of training, written theory and practical exams, $85 (application to take the examination $55 plus initial license issuance $30) in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $65.

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

By reciprocity: an active license from another state held for at least one year and practiced in at least one of the five years before applying, plus a $73.50 non-refundable fee. The fee is $73.50. Apply with the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board.

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

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

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