South Carolina beauty licenses

South Carolina cosmetology license requirements

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

South Carolina calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. It takes 300 hours of training, NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted), $45 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $52.

Q: How do you get an esthetician license in South Carolina?

South Carolina calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. It takes 450 hours of training, NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted), $45 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $52.

Q: How do you get a barber license in South Carolina?

South Carolina calls it a Registered Barber license, issued by the South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners. It takes 1,500 hours of training, NIC theory and practical exams, $35 in state fees. It renews $125.

To work as a cosmetologist in South Carolina you need a Registered Cosmetologist license from the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. It takes 1,500 hours of school and $45 in state fees. Exams: NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted). 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: 1,500
Nail tech hours: 300
Esthetics hours: 450

Licensed by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

South Carolina cosmetology license

South Carolina calls it the Registered Cosmetologist license.

License: Registered Cosmetologist
Issued by: The South Carolina Board of Cosmetology
Training: 1,500 hours1,500 hours in classes at a board-approved school; no apprenticeship route is stated in the statute. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted)
Who can apply: 16 years old, 10th grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $45
Renewal: Every 2 years, $52
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

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

Barber

South Carolina barber license

South Carolina calls it the Registered Barber license.

License: Registered Barber
Issued by: The South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners
Training: 1,500 hours1,500 hours in a barber college, or 1,920 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed barber instructor. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Apprenticeship route: 1,920 hours
Exams: NIC theory and practical exams
Who can apply: 16 years old, 9th grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $35
Renewal: $125
Continuing education: Not stated

South Carolina's 1,500 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

South Carolina nail technician license

License: Nail Technician
Issued by: The South Carolina Board of Cosmetology
Training: 300 hours300 hours in classes at a board-approved nail technician school; no apprenticeship route is stated in the statute. About 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted)
Who can apply: 16 years old, 10th grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $45
Renewal: Every 2 years, $52
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

South Carolina's 300 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

South Carolina esthetician license

License: Esthetician
Issued by: The South Carolina Board of Cosmetology
Training: 450 hours450 hours in skin care classes at a board-approved school, or comparable training approved by the board; no apprenticeship route is stated in the statute. About 3 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted)
Who can apply: 16 years old, 10th grade education or equivalent
State fees, first license: $45
Renewal: Every 2 years, $52
Continuing education: 4 hours per renewal

South Carolina's 450 hours are fewer than the 600 hours of the middle state.

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

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

By endorsement (cosmetologist, esthetician, nail technician): actively licensed in another state and passed the NIC theory and practical exams, or actively licensed for at least two years and completed four hours of Board-approved continuing education.

Good to know in South Carolina

Cosmetology, esthetician and nail technician applicants may receive temporary permits to practice, issued under board regulations.
The theory exam needs a minimum passing score of 75.
A cosmetology, esthetician or nail technician license that has expired may be restored within three years of the expiration date.

Sources

What South Carolina'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: “Registered Cosmetologist”
llr.sc.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “has completed at least one thousand five hundred hours in classes in cosmetology in a reliable school approved by the board”
scstatehouse.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “Successful passage of the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) examination (theory and practical) is required by the Board.”
llr.sc.gov
“All applicants are required to pass both the NIC written and practical exams.”
llr.sc.gov
Cosmetologist: who can apply: “is at least sixteen years of age and possesses at least a tenth grade education or the equivalent as established by tests used in the public schools or tests approved by the board”
scstatehouse.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “Registered Cosmetologist$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “The holder of an individual license issued by the board biennially, on such date as may be designated by the board, shall renew his license and pay the renewal fee”
scstatehouse.gov
“Registered Cosmetologist$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
“All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: license: “Registered Barber/Master Hair Care Specialist”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: issued by: “South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: training hours: “Successfully complete 1,500 hours in a barber college/school approved by the Board or 1,920 hours of on-the-job training in a licensed barbershop under the supervision of a licensed barber instructor.”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: apprenticeship: “Successfully complete 1,500 hours in a barber college/school approved by the Board or 1,920 hours of on-the-job training in a licensed barbershop under the supervision of a licensed barber instructor.”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: exams: “Upon completion of the required hours, you will need to register for and pass the National Interstate Council (NIC) examination (theory and practical).”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: who can apply: “is at least sixteen years of age and has achieved a ninth grade education or its equivalent”
scstatehouse.gov
Barber: fees: “Pay the prescribed fee of $35.”
llr.sc.gov
Barber: renewal: “Registered Barber June 30, 2025 June 30, 2027”
llr.sc.gov
“Registered Barber - $125”
llr.sc.gov
Nail technician: license: “Nail Technician$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “has completed at least three hundred hours in classes in a reliable nail technician school approved by the board”
scstatehouse.gov
Nail technician: exams: “Successful passage of the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) examination (theory and practical) is required by the Board.”
llr.sc.gov
Nail technician: who can apply: “is at least sixteen years of age and possesses at least a tenth grade education or the equivalent as established by tests used in the public schools or tests approved by the board”
scstatehouse.gov
Nail technician: fees: “Nail Technician$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “The holder of an individual license issued by the board biennially, on such date as may be designated by the board, shall renew his license and pay the renewal fee”
scstatehouse.gov
“Nail Technician$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
“All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education”
llr.sc.gov
Esthetician: license: “Esthetician$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “has completed at least four hundred fifty hours in classes in skin care in a reliable school approved by the board”
scstatehouse.gov
Esthetician: exams: “Successful passage of the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) examination (theory and practical) is required by the Board.”
llr.sc.gov
Esthetician: who can apply: “is at least sixteen years of age and possesses at least a tenth grade education or the equivalent as established by tests used in the public schools or tests approved by the board”
scstatehouse.gov
Esthetician: fees: “Esthetician$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “The holder of an individual license issued by the board biennially, on such date as may be designated by the board, shall renew his license and pay the renewal fee”
scstatehouse.gov
“Esthetician$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
“All persons licensed in South Carolina as cosmetologists, nail technicians and estheticians must show satisfactory evidence of four (4) contact hours of Board-approved continuing education”
llr.sc.gov
Licensed in another state: “A person is qualified to receive a License by Endorsement when one of the following requirements are met:”
llr.sc.gov
“Registered Cosmetologist$45$60$52$152”
llr.sc.gov
Also good to know: “Temporary permits to practice as a cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician may be issued in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board.”
scstatehouse.gov
Also good to know: “(1) One part shall be the theory examination with a minimum passing score of 75.”
scstatehouse.gov
Also good to know: “The holder of an expired license may have the license restored within three years of the date of the expiration”
scstatehouse.gov

Questions

South Carolina beauty licenses, answered

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

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

How much does a cosmetology license cost in South Carolina?

The state's fees for a first Registered Cosmetologist license are $45, and it renews every 2 years, $52. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in South Carolina?

The Registered Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $52. Each renewal needs 4 hours of continuing education. Renew with the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in South Carolina?

South Carolina calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. It takes 300 hours of training, NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted), $45 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $52.

How do you get an esthetician license in South Carolina?

South Carolina calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology. It takes 450 hours of training, NIC theory and practical exams (state-administered exams are not accepted), $45 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $52.

How do you get a barber license in South Carolina?

South Carolina calls it a Registered Barber license, issued by the South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners. It takes 1,500 hours of training, NIC theory and practical exams, $35 in state fees. It renews $125.

Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to South Carolina?

Do you need a separate license to open a salon in South Carolina?

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

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