Vermont beauty licenses
Vermont cosmetology license requirements
To work as a cosmetologist in Vermont you need a Cosmetologist license from the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). It takes 1,000 hours of school and $120 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
- 750
Licensed by OPR.How to apply License lookup The state's own words
Cosmetologist
Vermont cosmetology license
- License
- Cosmetologist
- Issued by
- The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)
- Training
- 1,000 hours1,000 hours at a school, or 1,500 hours as an apprentice. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,500 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- High-school diploma or equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $120
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $155
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Vermont'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
Vermont barber license
- License
- Barber
- Issued by
- The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)
- Training
- 750 hours750 hours at a school, or 1,125 hours as an apprentice. About 5 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 1,125 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- High-school diploma or equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $120
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $155
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Vermont's 750 hours are fewer than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.
Nail technician
Vermont nail technician license
- License
- Nail Technician
- Issued by
- The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)
- Training
- 200 hours200 hours at a school, or 300 hours as an apprentice. About 1 month of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 300 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- No high-school diploma or GED required
- State fees, first license
- $120
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $155
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Vermont's 200 hours are fewer than the 350 hours of the middle state.
Esthetician
Vermont esthetician license
- License
- Esthetician
- Issued by
- The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR)
- Training
- 500 hours500 hours at a school, or 750 hours as an apprentice. About 3 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
- Apprenticeship route
- 750 hours
- Exams
- Written and practical exams
- Who can apply
- High-school diploma or equivalent
- State fees, first license
- $120
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, $155
- Continuing education
- Not stated
Vermont's 500 hours are fewer than the 600 hours of the middle state.
Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Vermont requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Vermont requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Vermont.
Moving here
Licensed in another state?
By endorsement: a license in good standing from another jurisdiction with substantially equal requirements, or with materially less rigorous requirements plus 1,500 documented hours of practice in at least one year; or 3 years of continuous licensure in good standing (Fast Track).
Good to know in Vermont
- After OPR approves you to sit for the exams, it submits your information to Prometric, which emails you how to register.
- Apprentices must hold a Vermont apprenticeship license and train under a Vermont licensee in a Vermont licensed shop.
- Renewal applications open six weeks before the expiration date.
Sources
What Vermont'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
“010 - Cosmetologist $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Cosmetologist: training hours
“Cosmetologists need a minimum of 1,000 school hours or 250 crossover hours for a currently licensed individual”
outside.vermont.gov - Cosmetologist: apprenticeship
“Cosmetologists need a minimum of 1,500 hours or 300 crossover hours for a currently licensed individual”
outside.vermont.gov - Cosmetologist: exams
“(c) has passed written and practical cosmetology examinations recognized by the Director.”
outside.vermont.gov - Cosmetologist: who can apply
“(a) holds a high-school diploma or equivalent;”
outside.vermont.gov - Cosmetologist: fees
“010 - Cosmetologist $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Cosmetologist: renewal
“010 - Cosmetologist $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov “will be granted through the next full two-year period.”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: license
“005 - Barber $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: training hours
“Barbers need a minimum of 750 school hours or 150 crossover hours for a currently licensed individual”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: apprenticeship
“Barbers need a minimum of 1,125 hours or 300 hours for a currently licensed individual”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: exams
“(c) has passed written and practical barbering examinations recognized by the Director.”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: who can apply
“(a) holds a high-school diploma or equivalent;”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: fees
“005 - Barber $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Barber: renewal
“005 - Barber $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov “will be granted through the next full two-year period.”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: license
“086 - Nail Technician $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: training hours
“Nail Technicians need a minimum of 200 hours”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: apprenticeship
“Nail Technicians need a minimum of 300 hours”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: exams
“(b) has passed written and practical nail-technician examinations recognized by the Director.”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: who can apply
“Upload a copy of your high school diploma or GED (Does not apply to Nail Technicians)”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: fees
“086 - Nail Technician $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Nail technician: renewal
“086 - Nail Technician $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov “will be granted through the next full two-year period.”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: license
“087 - Esthetician $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: training hours
“Estheticians need a minimum of 500 hours”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: apprenticeship
“Estheticians need a minimum of 750 hours”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: exams
“(c) has passed written and practical esthetics examinations recognized by the Director.”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: who can apply
“(a) holds a high-school diploma or equivalent;”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: fees
“087 - Esthetician $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov - Esthetician: renewal
“087 - Esthetician $155 $120”
outside.vermont.gov “will be granted through the next full two-year period.”
outside.vermont.gov - Licensed in another state
“(2) materially less rigorous than those of this State, if the person has had 1,500 documented hours of practice in not less than one year.”
legislature.vermont.gov “To qualify to be licensed, an applicant must be actively licensed or certified in good standing in another jurisdiction for three or more years preceding this application.”
outside.vermont.gov - Also good to know
“OPR will submit your information to Prometric.”
sos.vermont.gov - Also good to know
“Vermont apprentices must hold a Vermont apprenticeship license and be under the supervision of a Vermont licensee in a Vermont licensed shop.”
sos.vermont.gov - Also good to know
“Renewal applications open six weeks before the expiration date”
outside.vermont.gov
Questions
Vermont beauty licenses, answered
How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Vermont?
1,000 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license, or 1,500 hours as an apprentice. About 7 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Vermont'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 Vermont?
The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $120, and it renews every 2 years, $155. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.
How do you renew a cosmetology license in Vermont?
The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years for $155. The pages we read do not state a continuing education requirement. Renew with OPR before the license expires.
How do you get a nail technician license in Vermont?
Vermont calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). It takes 200 hours of training, written and practical exams, $120 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $155.
How do you get an esthetician license in Vermont?
Vermont calls it an Esthetician license, issued by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). It takes 500 hours of training, written and practical exams, $120 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $155.
How do you get a barber license in Vermont?
Vermont calls it a Barber license, issued by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (OPR). It takes 750 hours of training, written and practical exams, $120 in state fees. It renews every 2 years, $155.
Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Vermont?
By endorsement: a license in good standing from another jurisdiction with substantially equal requirements, or with materially less rigorous requirements plus 1,500 documented hours of practice in at least one year; or 3 years of continuous licensure in good standing (Fast Track). Apply with OPR.
Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Vermont?
Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Vermont 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 Vermont requires to open a salon of your own
- Every step to opening a salon in Vermont, 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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