Home / License Hours Dataset

Beauty License Hours by State: The Dataset

This page is the dataset behind the whole site: the credential and the training requirement for the main beauty license in every state, across all ten business types we cover. Five hundred rows, fifty states times ten types, each one carrying the figure exactly as published in our national comparison tables and a link to the full state guide behind it.

Data last reviewed: November 5, 2026

Researched from official state sources. Our guides are free. We may earn a commission when you use a partner service, at no additional cost to you.

What this dataset is and how it was built

Nobody else publishes this in one place, because the underlying facts refuse to sit still. A cosmetology license is 1,000 hours in one state and 1,800 in another. Braiding needs a license in one state, a short course in the next, and nothing at all across the state line. Massage is a full license in most states, a registration with no education standard in one, and entirely unlicensed at the state level in another. This dataset exists so that anyone planning a career, a move, a school or a story can see that spread honestly, in one table set, without a directory site quietly filling the gaps with numbers it copied from somewhere else.

The build method is deliberately boring. Each row was extracted from the national comparison tables on this site, the hair salon, barbershop, nail salon, lash studio, esthetics, salon suite, braiding, microblading and massage hubs, which were researched state by state from official board and statute sources. The dataset was not retyped by hand, so it cannot drift away from the tables it came from: when a hub row is corrected, this page and the CSV are rebuilt from it. Before publication, rows were spot checked back against the full state guides, which carry the same figures with their fees, exams and renewal rules around them.

The whole dataset is also a file. Download license-hours.csv

The CSV carries the same 500 rows in five columns: state, type, credential, the requirement text exactly as published, and the state guide URL. It is free to download and reuse, in a classroom, a newsroom, a school catalog project or a relocation plan.

How to read the tables

Hours in this dataset are the published requirement for the main credential in that type and state, the school course figure a new applicant plans around. Read the wording, not just the number. Some cells are not numbers at all, on purpose. Where a state exempts a trade, registers it without setting hours, or has no state license for it, the cell says so in the same words the comparison table uses, because that wording is the finding. A zero or a blank would be a lie about how the state actually works.

Three types bend the format, and the tables say so where it happens. Braiding publishes a training or course requirement, which can be a full license course, a short safety course, or an exemption. Microblading publishes a requirement summary, because states regulate it through body art and facility rules, so the honest entry might be training hours, a facility license, or no state license at all. Salon suites have no training hours anywhere: a suite is premises, not a practitioner, so its rows carry the establishment route the suite is licensed under. In the CSV, the salon suite hours field reads "Not applicable (establishment route, no training hours)" so the file stays truthful in spreadsheet form too. Lash rows deserve the same care: in many states there is no lash credential, so the row names the license lash work actually sits under and the hours that license takes.

Hair salon (Hair salon national hub)

The full cosmetology license that anchors most salons, under fifty different names and hour counts.

State	License name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Alabama guide
Alaska	Hairdresser	1,650 hours	Alaska guide
Arizona	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Arizona guide
Arkansas	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Arkansas guide
California	Cosmetologist	1,000 hours	California guide
Colorado	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours (50 credits)	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Hairdresser and Cosmetician	1,500 hours	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Delaware guide
Florida	Cosmetologist	1,200 hours	Florida guide
Georgia	Master Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Cosmetologist	1,800 hours	Hawaii guide
Idaho	Cosmetologist	1,600 hours	Idaho guide
Illinois	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Illinois guide
Indiana	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Indiana guide
Iowa	Barbering and Cosmetology license (merged)	1,550 hours	Iowa guide
Kansas	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Louisiana guide
Maine	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Maine guide
Maryland	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Cosmetologist	1,000 hours	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Cosmetologist	1,550 hours	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Cosmetologist (Class CA)	1,500 hours	Missouri guide
Montana	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Montana guide
Nebraska	Cosmetologist	1,800 hours	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Cosmetologist (hair designer license at 1,000 hours)	1,600 hours	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Cosmetologist	1,200 hours	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Cosmetologist-Hairstylist	1,200 hours	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Cosmetologist (hairstylist license at 1,200 hours)	1,600 hours	New Mexico guide
New York	Cosmetology (Appearance Enhancement)	1,000 hours	New York guide
North Carolina	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Cosmetologist	1,250 hours for chemical services, 1,000 nonchemical, under HB 2141	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Hair Design certificate	1,110 hours	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Cosmetologist	1,250 hours	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Hairdresser / Cosmetician	1,000 hours	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Cosmetologist	1,500 hours	Tennessee guide
Texas	Cosmetology Operator	1,000 hours	Texas guide
Utah	Cosmetology license, which also covers barbering	1,250 hours	Utah guide
Vermont	Cosmetologist	1,000 hours	Vermont guide
Virginia	Cosmetologist	1,000 hours, cut from 1,500 effective December 1, 2025	Virginia guide
Washington	Cosmetologist	1,600 hours	Washington guide
West Virginia	Cosmetologist	1,800 hours	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Cosmetologist	1,550 hours	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Cosmetologist	1,600 hours	Wyoming guide

Barbershop (Barbershop national hub)

Barber licenses, including the states that split barbers into chemical and nonchemical tiers.

State	License name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	Class 2 Barber	1,000 hours	Alabama guide
Alaska	Barber	1,650 hours	Alaska guide
Arizona	Barber	1,200 hours	Arizona guide
Arkansas	Registered Barber	1,500 hours	Arkansas guide
California	Barber	1,000 hours	California guide
Colorado	Barber	1,500 hours (50 credits)	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Barber	1,000 hours	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Barber	1,250 hours	Delaware guide
Florida	Barber	900 hours	Florida guide
Georgia	Master Barber	1,500 hours	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Barber	1,500 hours	Hawaii guide
Idaho	Barber (barber-stylist at 1,500 hours)	900 hours	Idaho guide
Illinois	Barber	1,500 hours	Illinois guide
Indiana	Barber	1,500 hours	Indiana guide
Iowa	Barbering and Cosmetology license (merged; shaving certificate for razor work)	1,550 hours	Iowa guide
Kansas	Barber	1,200 to 1,500 hours	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Barber	1,500 hours	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Barber	1,500 hours	Louisiana guide
Maine	Barber Hair Stylist	800 hours	Maine guide
Maryland	Barber	1,200 hours	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Barber	1,000 hours	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	Barber	1,800 hours	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Registered Barber	1,500 hours	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Barber	1,500 hours	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Barber	1,000 hours	Missouri guide
Montana	Barber	1,100 hours full scope, 900 nonchemical	Montana guide
Nebraska	Barber	1,800 hours	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Barber, via an 18 month apprenticeship (cosmetology crossover at 400 hours)	18 month apprenticeship	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Barber	800 hours	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Barber	900 hours	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Barber	1,200 hours	New Mexico guide
New York	Barber	No clock hours set by the Department of State	New York guide
North Carolina	Barber	1,528 hours	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Barber	1,100 hours	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Barber	1,800 hours	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Barber	1,250 hours for chemical services, 1,000 nonchemical, under HB 2141	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Barbering certificate	746 hours	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Barber	1,250 hours	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Barber	1,500 hours	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Registered Barber	1,500 hours	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Barber	1,500 hours	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Master Barber	1,500 hours	Tennessee guide
Texas	Class A Barber	1,000 hours	Texas guide
Utah	Barbering permit, or the cosmetology license	130 hours (permit) or 1,250 hours (license)	Utah guide
Vermont	Barber	750 hours	Vermont guide
Virginia	Barber	750 hours	Virginia guide
Washington	Barber	1,000 hours	Washington guide
West Virginia	Barber	1,200 hours, or 1,500 with chemical services	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Barber	1,000 hours	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Barber (1,000 hours) and Barber Stylist	1,250 hours	Wyoming guide

Nail salon (Nail salon national hub)

Manicurist and nail technician licenses, from a 100 hour certificate to a 750 hour course.

State	License name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	Manicurist	750 hours	Alabama guide
Alaska	Manicurist	12 hour safety course; 250 hours for the advanced endorsement	Alaska guide
Arizona	Nail Technologist	600 hours	Arizona guide
Arkansas	Manicurist	600 hours	Arkansas guide
California	Manicurist	400 hours	California guide
Colorado	Nail Technician	600 hours (20 credits)	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Nail Technician	100 hours	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Nail Technician	300 hours	Delaware guide
Florida	Nail Specialist (registration)	180 hours	Florida guide
Georgia	Nail Technician	525 hours	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Nail Technician	350 hours	Hawaii guide
Idaho	Nail Technician	400 hours	Idaho guide
Illinois	Nail Technician	350 hours	Illinois guide
Indiana	Manicurist	450 hours	Indiana guide
Iowa	Nail Technologist	325 hours	Iowa guide
Kansas	Nail Technologist	350 hours	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Nail Technician	450 hours	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Manicurist	500 hours	Louisiana guide
Maine	Nail Technician	200 hours	Maine guide
Maryland	Nail Technician (limited license)	250 hours	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Manicurist	100 hours	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	Manicurist	400 hours; 600 for training begun on or after July 1, 2024	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Nail Technician	350 hours	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Nail Technician	350 hours	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Manicurist (Class MO)	400 hours	Missouri guide
Montana	Manicurist	400 hours	Montana guide
Nebraska	Nail Technician	300 hours	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Nail Technologist	600 hours	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Manicurist	300 hours	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Manicurist	300 hours	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Manicurist and Pedicurist	400 hours	New Mexico guide
New York	Nail Specialty (Appearance Enhancement)	250 hours	New York guide
North Carolina	Manicurist	300 hours	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Manicurist	350 hours	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Manicurist	200 hours	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Manicurist	600 hours	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Nail Technology certificate	241 hours	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Nail Technician	200 hours	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Manicurist	300 hours	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Nail Technician	300 hours	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Nail Technician	400 hours	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Manicurist	600 hours	Tennessee guide
Texas	Manicurist	600 hours	Texas guide
Utah	Nail Technology	300 hours	Utah guide
Vermont	Nail Technician	200 hours	Vermont guide
Virginia	Nail Technician	150 hours	Virginia guide
Washington	Manicurist	600 hours	Washington guide
West Virginia	Nail Technician	400 hours	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Manicurist	300 hours	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Nail Technician	400 hours	Wyoming guide

Lash studio (Lash studio national hub)

The honest table: many states have no lash credential at all, so rows name the license lash work actually sits under.

State	License name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	No lash credential exists, and eyelash services are named in no Alabama law or rule	1,000 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	Alabama guide
Alaska	No lash license; eyelashes appear only in the limited esthetics definition	350 hours (esthetician) or 1,650 hours (hairdresser)	Alaska guide
Arizona	Eyelash Technician (registration)	Board approved program of not more than 30 hours under A.R.S. Section 32-519	Arizona guide
Arkansas	No lash license; extensions require the cosmetologist or aesthetician license	1,500 hours (cosmetologist) or 600 hours (aesthetician)	Arkansas guide
California	No separate lash license found. Lash services sit inside the cosmetologist and esthetician scopes	See the hair salon and esthetics hubs	California guide
Colorado	No lash credential; eyelash application sits inside the cosmetologist and esthetician scopes	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Eyelash Technician	50 hours	Connecticut guide
Delaware	No lash license; extensions sit inside the cosmetology and aesthetician definitions	600 hours (aesthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	Delaware guide
Florida	No standalone lash license; lashes sit inside the Cosmetologist license and the Full Specialist and Facial Specialist registrations	No lash specific hours: Facial Specialist registration is 220 hours, Cosmetologist is 1,200 hours	Florida guide
Georgia	No separate lash license. Lash services sit inside the esthetician and master cosmetologist scopes	1,000 hours (esthetician)	Georgia guide
Hawaii	No lash license; chapter 439A never names eyelash services	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,800 hours (cosmetologist)	Hawaii guide
Idaho	No lash license; eyelash extensions are named nowhere in the licensing act	See the esthetician and cosmetologist routes	Idaho guide
Illinois	No separate lash license. Applying eyelashes sits inside the esthetician definition	750 hours (esthetician)	Illinois guide
Indiana	No license for extensions. Eyelash extension application is exempt by statute	None for extensions; lifts, tinting and lamination join the esthetician scope July 1, 2026	Indiana guide
Iowa	No lash license; eyelash work sits inside the esthetician and cosmetology licenses	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,550 hours (full license)	Iowa guide
Kansas	No lash license or exemption; eyelash work sits inside the cosmetologist and esthetician licenses	1,500 hours (cosmetologist) or 1,000 hours (esthetician)	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Eyelash Artistry Permit	Board approved lash training plus an infection control certificate; permit $50	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	No lash credential; lashes sit inside the cosmetologist and esthetician scopes	750 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	Louisiana guide
Maine	No lash license; applying eyelashes sits inside the aesthetics and cosmetology definitions	600 hours (aesthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	Maine guide
Maryland	Eyelash Technician (limited license)	100 hours or a 3 month registered apprenticeship	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	No separate lash license, and extensions are named in no Massachusetts scope of practice	600 hours (aesthetician) or 1,000 hours (cosmetologist)	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	No separate lash license. Eyelash services sit inside the esthetician and cosmetologist scope	400 hours (esthetician); 750 for training begun on or after July 1, 2024	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Eyelash Technician license	14 hours	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	No license for extension-only work; extensions are exempt, while tinting requires a license	Exempt (extensions only)	Mississippi guide
Missouri	No separate lash license, and eyelash extension application is named in no Missouri scope	750 hours (Class E esthetician) or 1,500 hours (Class CA cosmetologist)	Missouri guide
Montana	No lash license; the chapter never names eyelash services	650 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	Montana guide
Nebraska	No lash license; extensions sit inside the esthetician and cosmetologist licenses	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,800 hours (cosmetologist)	Nebraska guide
Nevada	No lash license; eyelash work sits inside the esthetician and cosmetologist licenses	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,600 hours (cosmetologist)	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	No lash license; applying eyelashes sits inside the cosmetology and esthetics definitions	1,200 hours (cosmetologist) or 600 hours (esthetician)	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	No separate lash license, and eyelash extensions are named in no New Jersey scope of practice	600 hours (skin care specialist) or 1,200 hours (cosmetologist-hairstylist)	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	No lash license; extensions and tinting sit inside the cosmetologist, esthetician, and barber scopes	1,600, 600, or 1,200 hours by license	New Mexico guide
New York	No separate lash license. Lash services sit inside the esthetics and cosmetology scopes	600 hours (esthetics)	New York guide
North Carolina	No separate lash license. Lash services sit inside the esthetician and cosmetologist scopes	600 hours (esthetician)	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	No lash license; lashes sit inside the cosmetology and esthetics scopes	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	North Dakota guide
Ohio	No separate lash license. Eyelash extensions sit inside the practice of esthetics	600 hours (esthetician)	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Eyelash Extension Specialist certificate	120 hours	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	No lash credential; eyebrow and eyelash services sit inside the esthetics certificate	444 hours (esthetics)	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	No separate lash license exists, and extensions are named in no Pennsylvania scope of practice	See the esthetics and hair salon hubs	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	No lash license; the chapter never names eyelashes	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,000 hours (hairdresser)	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	No lash credential; lashes sit inside the cosmetologist and esthetician scopes	450 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	No lash license; extensions sit inside the cosmetology and esthetics scopes behind a 16 hour course	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,500 hours (cosmetologist)	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Eyelash Specialist license	300 hours	Tennessee guide
Texas	Eyelash Extension Specialist	320 hours	Texas guide
Utah	Eyelash and Eyebrow Technology license	270 hours	Utah guide
Vermont	No lash license; extensions sit inside cosmetology and esthetics with a training rule	500 hours (esthetician) or 1,000 hours (cosmetologist)	Vermont guide
Virginia	No separate lash license. Lashes sit in the cosmetology curriculum and the esthetics makeup block	1,000 hours (cosmetology) or 600 hours (esthetician)	Virginia guide
Washington	No separate lash license. Extensions sit inside the esthetician definition	750 hours (esthetician)	Washington guide
West Virginia	No lash license; artificial lashes sit inside the aesthetician and cosmetologist licenses	600 hours (aesthetician) or 1,800 hours (cosmetologist)	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	No lash credential exists, and extensions are named in no Wisconsin scope	450 hours (aesthetician) for skin services	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	No lash license; extensions sit inside cosmetology and esthetics, with a 200 hour add-on license for hairstylists and nail techs	600 hours (esthetician) or 1,600 hours (cosmetologist)	Wyoming guide

Esthetics (Esthetics national hub)

Esthetician licenses, plus the advanced and master tiers where a state publishes them into the main row.

State	License name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	Esthetician	1,000 hours	Alabama guide
Alaska	Esthetician	350 hours	Alaska guide
Arizona	Aesthetician	600 hours	Arizona guide
Arkansas	Aesthetician	600 hours	Arkansas guide
California	Esthetician (skin care)	600 hours	California guide
Colorado	Esthetician	600 hours (20 credits)	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Esthetician	600 hours	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Aesthetician	600 hours	Delaware guide
Florida	Facial Specialist (registration)	220 hours	Florida guide
Georgia	Esthetician	1,000 hours	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Esthetician	600 hours	Hawaii guide
Idaho	Esthetician	600 hours	Idaho guide
Illinois	Esthetician	750 hours	Illinois guide
Indiana	Esthetician	700 hours	Indiana guide
Iowa	Esthetician	600 hours	Iowa guide
Kansas	Esthetician	1,000 hours	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Esthetician	750 hours	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Esthetician	750 hours	Louisiana guide
Maine	Aesthetician	600 hours	Maine guide
Maryland	Esthetician (limited license)	600 hours	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Aesthetician	600 hours	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	Esthetician	400 hours; 750 for training begun on or after July 1, 2024	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Esthetician	600 hours	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Esthetician	600 hours	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Esthetician (Class E)	750 hours	Missouri guide
Montana	Esthetician	650 hours	Montana guide
Nebraska	Esthetician	600 hours	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Esthetician (advanced esthetician at 900 hours)	600 hours	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Esthetician	600 hours	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Skin Care Specialist	600 hours	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Esthetician	600 hours	New Mexico guide
New York	Esthetics (Appearance Enhancement)	600 hours	New York guide
North Carolina	Esthetician	600 hours	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Esthetician	600 hours	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Esthetician	600 hours	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Facial Operator	600 hours	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Esthetics certificate	444 hours	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Esthetician	300 hours	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Esthetician	600 hours	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Esthetician	450 hours	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Esthetician	600 hours	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Aesthetician	750 hours	Tennessee guide
Texas	Esthetician	750 hours	Texas guide
Utah	Master Esthetics license (basic permit at 200 hours)	1,200 hours	Utah guide
Vermont	Esthetician	500 hours	Vermont guide
Virginia	Esthetician	600 hours; Master Esthetician a further 600	Virginia guide
Washington	Esthetician	750 hours; Master Esthetician 1,200 combined	Washington guide
West Virginia	Aesthetician	600 hours	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Aesthetician	450 hours	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Esthetician	600 hours	Wyoming guide

Salon suite (Salon suite national hub)

Suites carry no training hours. The row gives the establishment route a suite is licensed under instead.

State	How a suite is licensed (establishment route)	State guide
Alabama	No booth renter license; each independent suite carries its own shop license at $200 to open and $150 to renew	Alabama guide
Alaska	No booth or suite credential; a renter holds her practitioner license plus her own business license	Alaska guide
Arizona	Establishment license held by each renter, $110 initial and $50 renewal	Arizona guide
Arkansas	No suite or renter license; the establishment license is the premises credential, held by the host or by the renter	Arkansas guide
California	Each suite is licensed as its own establishment; Board establishment license $50 initial, $40 renewal	California guide
Colorado	No establishment license; one shop registration covers a salon, and suites with separate exterior entrances register as their own places of business	Colorado guide
Connecticut	No premises or renter license exists; the room is inspected locally as a salon and the renter's own license satisfies the manager rule	Connecticut guide
Delaware	No booth or suite license; renters work inside the shop license under a professional-in-charge	Delaware guide
Florida	Salon license for the premises, Form COSMO 6, $95 total; Florida issues no booth rental license	Florida guide
Georgia	No suite license category; an independently operated suite holds its own Salon/Shop license	Georgia guide
Hawaii	No suite or renter license; booth and chair rentals are inside the beauty shop license	Hawaii guide
Idaho	Establishments license in two layers, primary and contiguous, and licenses are nontransferable	Idaho guide
Illinois	Shop registration held by the operator at $40; no separate suite license	Illinois guide
Indiana	No booth license; booth rent is provided for in the salon statute, or license your own salon	Indiana guide
Iowa	Every separately enclosed, independently operated area is its own licensed establishment under the board rule	Iowa guide
Kansas	No suite license; the establishment license is valid only for the owner and location printed on it, with a solid partition rule for shared space	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Barbers rent under the licensed independent contract owner status at $50; cosmetology suites carry their own salon license	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Booth renters hold their own board permit under a written agreement, and the board inspects the booth	Louisiana guide
Maine	Renters hold their own Level 2 establishment license under a written lease and are not employees by statute	Maine guide
Maryland	No suite or booth license; rent inside a permitted salon or hold your own salon permit at $225 to open and $56 to renew	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	No booth or suite license exists; rent inside a licensed salon or license your own salon	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	No suite category; rent inside a licensed establishment or license your own premises	Michigan guide
Minnesota	No suite license; each independent suite takes its own salon license ($350) and its own designated licensed salon manager	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	The establishment license is nontransferable; moving into a suite, even inside the same building, requires a new application	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Rented spaces carry their own Rental Station establishment license at $100	Missouri guide
Montana	No suite license; booth renters hold their own booth rental license at $95	Montana guide
Nebraska	No booth or renter license; a suite runs inside a licensed establishment or holds its own $150 salon license	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Suite leasing is written into the statute; a lessee practices under the establishment license and supervises their own branch	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	No booth or suite license; rent inside a licensed shop or hold your own shop license	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Mini-suite shop license for units of 100 to 349 sq ft, or a chair and booth rental license inside a full shop	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Every booth renter holds their own booth establishment license, $200 to open and $50 a year, nontransferable	New Mexico guide
New York	Appearance Enhancement Business license covers the establishment; four year term	New York guide
North Carolina	No suite license category; the premises license as a cosmetic art shop, priced per booth	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Renters hold an independent licensee license of their own under a lease	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Renters hold an independent contractor license at $75 inside a licensed salon, or license their own salon	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Each independent space carries its own establishment license at $60 to open and $45 to renew	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Renters register as independent contractors with the licensing office, or hold a freelance authorization to work outside a facility	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Booth rental is unlawful; each unit is separately salon licensed at $142 and inspected	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	No booth license; an independent contractor is an independent business and needs her own shop license	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Each suite carries its own salon license at $100 to open and $72 to renew, or the renter holds a booth renter license inside a host salon	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Booths are licensed as an independent person salon within a salon, and the renter holds her own sales tax license	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	No suite category; each unit operates under its own shop license with a designated manager	Tennessee guide
Texas	Mini-Establishment license, $70, built for a single suite; full-service and specialty establishment licenses $78	Texas guide
Utah	No booth or suite license; some cities license booth rental directly, and shared massage spaces register as establishments	Utah guide
Vermont	No suite category; a rented suite is a shop and carries its own shop license	Vermont guide
Virginia	No suite or booth renter license; rent under a host salon license or license your own premises at $220	Virginia guide
Washington	Every renter holds their own salon/shop license for the location at $121, on top of their operator license	Washington guide
West Virginia	No suite license; the salon holds one license and every booth renter registers with the board for $15	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Every chair or booth lessee holds their own establishment license on top of their cosmetology license	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Independent contractor license for cosmetology renters; no renter credential under the barber act	Wyoming guide

Braiding (Braiding national hub)

The widest spread on the site: full exemption in some states, a short course in others, a real license in a few.

State	License or registration name	Training or course requirement	State guide
Alabama	No license. Natural hair styling is exempt by statute effective October 1, 2026	Exempt	Alabama guide
Alaska	Licensed. A dedicated braiding license at 35 hours, no exemption	35 hours	Alaska guide
Arizona	None, statutory exemption for tension services	No course required; exemption covers twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking and braiding without dyes or reactive chemicals	Arizona guide
Arkansas	No license. Braiding is exempt by statute, with an optional state certificate	Exempt	Arkansas guide
California	None, natural hair braiding excluded from barbering and cosmetology	No course required; exclusion holds only where the service includes no haircutting and no dyes, reactive chemicals or preparations that alter hair color or structure	California guide
Colorado	No license. Natural hair braiding is exempt by statute	Exempt	Colorado guide
Connecticut	No license. Braiding is lawful unlicensed under the cosmetology statute	Exempt	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Exempt by statute for natural braiding inside the statutory bounds	Exempt	Delaware guide
Florida	None since July 1, 2020	No registration or course required; the former 16 hour registration was repealed by HB 1193 in 2020	Florida guide
Georgia	None (statutory exemption)	No license, registration or course required; braiding, twisting, weaving and related natural hair work are exempted inside the cosmetology definitions	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Not licensed today by board determination; a natural hair braider registration starts January 1, 2028	Registration from 2028	Hawaii guide
Idaho	No license. Natural hair braiding is exempt by statute	Exempt	Idaho guide
Illinois	Hair Braider	300 hours	Illinois guide
Indiana	No license. Hair braiding is exempt by statute	None	Indiana guide
Iowa	Free registration with the state; no license and no chemicals	Registration only	Iowa guide
Kansas	No license. Braiding is excluded from cosmetology when chemical free, with an infection control self-test kept on site	Exempt	Kansas guide
Kentucky	No license. Natural hair braiding is exempt by statute	Exempt	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Alternative hair design special permit	At least 500 hours	Louisiana guide
Maine	Exempt by statute since 2015	Exempt	Maine guide
Maryland	No license. Tension braiding is excluded from the cosmetology definition	None	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	No license. Natural hair braiding is exempt by statute	None	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	No license required for natural hair cultivation, or for an establishment where only it is practiced	None; an optional Natural Hair Culturist license runs 400 hours	Michigan guide
Minnesota	No license. Hair braiding is exempt by statute	Exempt	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Registration with the Department of Health is required before braiding for pay	$25 registration	Mississippi guide
Missouri	No license, but braiders register with the Board for $20 after a 4 to 6 hour instructional video and an online attestation	Registration, not a license	Missouri guide
Montana	Exempt for natural hair braiding only, with extensions inside the definition	Exempt	Montana guide
Nebraska	No license. Braiding natural hair is on the health department no-license list	Exempt	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Hair Braiding license	No training hours; sanitation certification required	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Exempt by statute for chemical-free braiding	Exempt	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Hair Braiding Specialist	40 hours with 3 years of experience, or 50 hours	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	No license. Persons providing only hair braiding services are exempt	Exempt	New Mexico guide
New York	Natural Hair Styling license	300 hour approved course; written and practical examinations; application fee $40; minimum age 17	New York guide
North Carolina	Natural Hair Care Specialist license	300 hours in an approved natural hair care program; state board examination passed at 75 percent or higher; license fee $20	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Exempt by statute; natural hair braiding and threading sit outside cosmetology	Exempt	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Natural Hair Stylist	450 hours	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	No license. Braiding and shampooing are exempt by statute	Exempt	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Natural Hair Care certificate through a state training module and exam, no school	Certificate, not a full license	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	None since Act 100 of 2024	No license, registration or course required; braiding was deregulated in 2024 and the Board accepts no applications for it	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Exempt under its own section, with extensions and wig making inside the definition	Exempt	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Registration after a six hour course and an online safety exam	$25 registration	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Fully exempt by statute for braiding-only work	Exempt	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	No license since 2019. A $30 registration with 16 hours of health and hygiene training	16 hours of training; registration, not a license	Tennessee guide
Texas	None for natural hair braiding	No license or course required for braiding alone; chemicals or adhesives require a hair-extension license, and hair weaving requires a license including the 300 hour Hair Weaving Specialist	Texas guide
Utah	No license. Braiding and threading are exempt by statute	Exempt	Utah guide
Vermont	Exempt by statute for braiding without cutting, chemicals, dyes, or heat	Exempt	Vermont guide
Virginia	No license. Hair braiding is expressly excluded from the cosmetology definition	None	Virginia guide
Washington	No license. Natural hair braiding is exempt by rule	None	Washington guide
West Virginia	Not regulated. The statute lists braiding and threading as outside the board reach	Exempt	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	No license. Natural hair braiding is excluded from barbering and is no part of cosmetology	None	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Exempt by statute; dyes, chemicals, and chemical joining agents end the exemption	Exempt	Wyoming guide

Microblading (Microblading national hub)

A requirement summary rather than an hours figure, because states regulate microblading through body art and facility rules.

State	Credential name	Requirement summary	State guide
Alabama	Body art facility license; microblading is body art	Facility $250 to open and $200 to renew; operators are permitted through the facility	Alabama guide
Alaska	Permanent cosmetic coloring license inside the tattooing framework	250 training hours	Alaska guide
Arizona	No state tattoo license or permit	No state registration or training requirement; state law covers minors, single use needles and pigments, and premises, under A.R.S. Section 13-3721	Arizona guide
Arkansas	Permanent Cosmetics Artist license under the state body art program	400 hour program; $100 per year	Arkansas guide
California	Body art practitioner registration; facility health permit	Practitioners register annually with the local enforcement agency. Registration requires evidence of hepatitis B vaccination, completion of OSHA bloodborne pathogen training of at least 2 hours, and proof of age 18 or older. Body art may be performed only in a permitted facility.	California guide
Colorado	Permanent makeup under a base license (132 extra hours), or the local body art route with no state license	132 hours beyond the base license	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Tattoo Technician license; microblading is tattooing with no separate credential	2,000 supervised hours; $250 application	Connecticut guide
Delaware	No artist license; body art establishments hold an annual permit	$100 permit	Delaware guide
Florida	Tattoo Artist license; Tattoo Establishment license	Artist license on Form DH 4147, $60 state fee, requires a Department approved training course in bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases passed with a minimum score of 70 percent, and renews annually. Establishment license on Form DH 4151, $200 state fee, and renews annually. County fees may apply on top of the state fees.	Florida guide
Georgia	Body Artist Certification; Body Art Studio permit	Artists certify through the county health authority by examination (70 percent to pass); studios hold a county issued permit with microblading as a named specialty	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Tattoo Artist license	$75 initial, $7.50 renewal	Hawaii guide
Idaho	No state license exists for tattooing or permanent makeup	State law covers minors only	Idaho guide
Illinois	Body art establishment certificate; the location is registered, not the artist	$500 a year for one station; artists must be 18 or older with bloodborne pathogen training	Illinois guide
Indiana	No state artist or shop license; a state sanitary rule applies and counties license facilities	No state training hours; yearly bloodborne pathogen training under the sanitary rule	Indiana guide
Iowa	Tattoo artist permit; microblading is permanent color technology under the state tattoo program	$75 artist permit; $100 establishment permit	Iowa guide
Kansas	Cosmetic Tattoo Artist license under the cosmetology board body art program	600 school hours or 1,200 trainer hours, plus 50 procedures	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Tattoo artist registration through the local health department	Artist $100; certified studio $400 for one to four stations plus $50 per station	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Body art facility registration; microblading is cosmetic tattooing	Facility $1,000 to register and $500 to renew; operators $100 per facility	Louisiana guide
Maine	Micropigmentation license, separate from the tattoo license	$150	Maine guide
Maryland	No state license; cosmetic tattooing is prohibited inside salons and counties regulate where they have adopted ordinances	No state training hours	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Local board of health permit; cosmetology licensees are prohibited from permanent makeup	Boston example: $250 establishment and $100 practitioner permits, renewed yearly	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	Body art facility license; no individual artist license	$500 a year; the facility is licensed and inspected, and artists work under the facility license	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Body art technician license	200 hours of supervised tattooing; establishment license $1,500	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Certificate of Registration for tattooing; no separate microblading credential	$150 application and renewal	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Tattoo practitioner license through the Office of Tattooing	$100 practitioner and $200 establishment licenses; 300 hour apprenticeship or course routes	Missouri guide
Montana	No artist license; tattoo establishments are licensed annually	Establishment license	Montana guide
Nebraska	Permanent Color Technician under the state body art act	4 hours of training; $95 artist fee; $150 facility license	Nebraska guide
Nevada	No state license; body art is permitted by the county health district	Clark County example: $175 artist card, $290 facility permit	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Body art practitioner license, or a cosmetologist or esthetician license plus the microblading certificate	$110	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Body art establishment approval through the local health authority; cosmetology licensees are barred from permanent cosmetics	100 hours of training plus an approved exam, then supervised procedures	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Permanent Cosmetics Practitioner license under the body art board	$100 per year; establishment $300	New Mexico guide
New York	No state artist license; New York City Tattoo License inside the city	No state training requirement; New York City requires its infection control course and a Tattoo License at $100 for two years	New York guide
North Carolina	Tattooing permit, per artist	No state training hours; the permit follows an inspection of premises, instruments and procedures, runs one year, and is issued by the local health department	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	No artist license; body art establishments are licensed under the Body Art Code	$160 establishment license	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Local board of health approval; no state artist license	No state training hours; plans and an infection control plan are approved locally before opening, and the approval runs one year	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Tattoo artist license; microblading is tattooing	Artist $250; establishment $1,000 to open and $500 to renew	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Tattoo artist license; microblading is tattooing	360 hour course with 50 procedures; license $50 for one year	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	No state license; Philadelphia Body Art Establishment Certificate inside the city	No state training requirement; Philadelphia certifies establishments at $100 a year and certifies artists through its health department	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Tattoo artist registration and parlor registration	$90 and $90 a year	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	No lawful lane. Tattooing the face is banned and micropigmentation is the practice of medicine under physician direction	None	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	No state license; cities license tattooing under state sanitation floors	Municipal	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Tattoo artist license; no separate permanent cosmetics credential	$140 a year for the artist; the studio certificate runs $280 a year through the county health department	Tennessee guide
Texas	Tattoo Studio license (studio only; no individual artist license)	Tattooing is defined to include permanent cosmetics, and Texas licenses the studio, not the artist. A tattoo only studio license costs $900 for a two year term. A studio offering tattooing and body piercing costs $1,200 for a two year term.	Texas guide
Utah	No state license; body art facilities are permitted by county health departments	County fees vary; Salt Lake County charges $275 plus $20 per station	Utah guide
Vermont	Permanent Cosmetologist	60 hours study plus 40 hours practical	Vermont guide
Virginia	Permanent Cosmetic Tattooer license	200 hours; Master Permanent Cosmetic Tattooer a further 200	Virginia guide
Washington	Tattoo artist license; permanent cosmetics is tattooing	$275 artist license; no state training hours, bloodborne pathogen certification required	Washington guide
West Virginia	No artist license; tattoo studios register with the local board of health	$200 operating permit	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Tattooist license; microblading is tattooing	$60 practitioner license; establishments pay $135 plus a $255 preinspection	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	No state body art license exists; tattooing is an unregulated service with a posted notice	No state license	Wyoming guide

Massage (Massage national hub)

Massage therapist licenses and registrations, including the states with no state credential at all.

State	Practitioner license name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	Licensed Massage Therapist	650 hours	Alabama guide
Alaska	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	Alaska guide
Arizona	Licensed Massage Therapist	700 hours	Arizona guide
Arkansas	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Arkansas guide
California	Certified Massage Therapist (voluntary CAMTC certification)	500 hours	California guide
Colorado	Licensed Massage Therapist	650 hours	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Massage Therapist	750 classroom hours plus 60 supervised clinical hours	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	Delaware guide
Florida	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Florida guide
Georgia	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Georgia guide
Hawaii	Licensed Massage Therapist	570 hours	Hawaii guide
Idaho	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Idaho guide
Illinois	Licensed Massage Therapist	600 hours	Illinois guide
Indiana	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	Indiana guide
Iowa	Massage Therapist	600 hours	Iowa guide
Kansas	No state license; massage is regulated city by city	Wichita example: $75 therapist permit	Kansas guide
Kentucky	Licensed Massage Therapist	600 hours	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Louisiana guide
Maine	Licensed Massage Therapist	National exam, or a 500 hour approved course	Maine guide
Maryland	Licensed Massage Therapist	750 contact hours	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Licensed Massage Therapist	650 hour board set course (500 hour statutory floor)	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	Michigan guide
Minnesota	No state license; massage is unlicensed practice under state law and cities license establishments	No state training hours	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Licensed Massage Therapist	600 hours	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Missouri guide
Montana	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Montana guide
Nebraska	Licensed Massage Therapist	1,000 hours	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Licensed Massage Therapist	550 hours	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Licensed Massage Therapist	750 hours	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist	500 hours	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Licensed Massage Therapist	650 hours	New Mexico guide
New York	Licensed Massage Therapist	1,000 hours	New York guide
North Carolina	Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist	650 hours	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Licensed Massage Therapist	750 hours	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Licensed Massage Therapist	750 hour board approved curriculum	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Licensed Massage Therapist	600 hours	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Licensed Massage Therapist	800 hours	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Licensed Massage Therapist	650 hours	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Tennessee guide
Texas	Massage Therapist	500 hours	Texas guide
Utah	Licensed Massage Therapist	600 hours	Utah guide
Vermont	Registered Massage Therapist (registration, not licensure)	No education hours required	Vermont guide
Virginia	Licensed Massage Therapist	500 hours	Virginia guide
Washington	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	Washington guide
West Virginia	Licensed Massage Therapist	625 hours	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Licensed Massage Therapist	600 hours	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	No state massage license or registration exists	No state requirement	Wyoming guide

Hair extensions (Hair extensions national hub)

The license or exemption that covers extension installs in each state, from the licensed angle: which credential names the work, and where braiding exemptions end.

State	License name	Training hours	State guide
Alabama	No license for natural hair styling installs since October 1, 2026 (Act 2026-527); voluntary Natural Hair Stylist license; cosmetologist license for cutting, coloring and chemical work	None required for natural hair styling; voluntary license 210 school hours or 420 apprentice hours; cosmetologist 1,500 school hours or 3,000 apprentice hours	Alabama guide
Alaska	Hair braiding license for braid attached installs (the definition at AS 08.13.220(6) names braiding hair extensions, trimming extensions for braiding purposes and attaching hair by braiding); Hairdresser license for cutting, coloring, chemical and styling work around installs, which also carries hair braiding under AS 08.13.160(f); no specialty extensions or weaving license, and the word weaving appears nowhere in AS 08.13	35 hours of instruction and no examination for the hair braiding license; 1,650 school hours or 2,000 apprenticeship hours plus a written examination for the hairdresser license	Alaska guide
Arizona	No license required for tension based installs (weaving and extending) under the Section 32-506(10) exemption; Cosmetologist or Hairstylist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical services; Barber license names extensions expressly; no specialty extensions license	No course for the tension exemption; 1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,000 hours for the Hairstylist; 1,200 hours for the Barber	Arizona guide
Arkansas	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at Section 17-26-503, which names weaving and extending with natural or synthetic hair extensions (exemption at Section 17-26-504; optional braiding certificate at Section 17-26-505); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; registered hairstylist registration covers washing and styling only; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; none for natural hair braiding (optional certificate: 80 hour health and safety course plus 40 hour scalp care course and a written examination)	Arkansas guide
California	Cosmetologist (full scope) or Hairstylist (nonchemical only); no specialty extensions license	1,000 hours for the Cosmetologist; 600 hours for the Hairstylist	California guide
Colorado	Cosmetologist license for installs outside the braiding definition; no license for tension installs inside the natural hair braiding definition, which names weaving and extending; hairstylist license no longer covers applying extensions (removed August 12, 2026); no specialty extensions license	50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding definition work	Colorado guide
Connecticut	Registered hairdresser and cosmetician license (weaving is named in the section 20-250(4) definition of hairdressing and cosmetology); no specialty extensions license; braiding and shampooing exempt under the section 20-250(4) proviso	1,500 hours in an approved school, or a Department of Labor approved apprenticeship; written examination	Connecticut guide
Delaware	Cosmetologist license (Master Barber license also carries the hair services scope); no specialty extensions or weaving license; hair braiding exempt under section 5103(c)(8), with extensions allowed only when attached by natural means	1,500 classroom hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,500 classroom hours for the Master Barber (or a barber license plus a 600 hour chemical apprenticeship); no course for exempt hair braiding	Delaware guide
Florida	Cosmetologist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical treatment; no license or registration for installs inside the statutory hair braiding definition, which includes extensions and wefts; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for the braiding exemption	Florida guide
Georgia	Master Cosmetologist or Hair Designer license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical services; no license for installs confined to braiding techniques, which the statute defines to include hairweaving and fiber extensions; no specialty extensions license	1,500 credit hours for the Master Cosmetologist; 1,325 credit hours for the Hair Designer; no course for braiding only work	Georgia guide
Hawaii	No license names extension work; installs inside the natural hair braiding definition follow braiding, no license today under the board's determination and registration from January 1, 2028; Cosmetologist license or Hairdresser license for installs using chemical hair joining agents and for cleansing, shampooing, cutting or coloring around an install; no specialty extensions license	1,800 hours of school or 3,600 hours as a beauty apprentice for the Cosmetologist; 1,250 hours of school or 2,500 hours as a beauty apprentice for the Hairdresser; no course for natural hair braiding definition work today, with a board approved sanitation, health and safety course required for the 2028 registration	Hawaii guide
Idaho	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at Section 54-5802(24), which names weaving and extending and includes the use of hair extensions (exemption at Section 54-5805(10)); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license and no hairstylist license	1,600 hours of school or 3,200 hours as a registered apprentice for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Idaho guide
Illinois	Hair Braider license for sew-in and braid based installs; Cosmetology license for bonded installs, cutting and chemical services	300 hours (hair braider); 1,500 hours plus state examination (cosmetology)	Illinois guide
Indiana	No license for extension work done as natural hair braiding (IC 25-8-2-20 covers weaving and extending with extensions and fibers); cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents, cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license	No training required for natural hair braiding (fully exempt); 1,500 hours for the cosmetologist license	Indiana guide
Iowa	Barbering and cosmetology license (chapter 157 names no weaving or extension service; installs are licensed practice performed in a licensed establishment); no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding registration covers weaving without chemicals under section 10A.532; blow-dry styling covers the use and styling of installed extensions only; unlicensed installers may work under supervision in a registered establishment training program (section 157.12D)	1,550 hours for the barbering and cosmetology license (or 2,000 hours of supervised practice in an establishment training program to reach the examination); no course for natural hair braiding registration; 2 hours of law and sanitation education for blow-dry styling	Iowa guide
Kansas	No license for tension installs inside the Section 65-1901(d)(2)(A) exclusion, which names weaving and extending (KDHE infection control self-test kept at the work location under Section 65-1928); Cosmetologist license for cutting, coloring and chemical services; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for exclusion work, self-test only	Kansas guide
Kentucky	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at KRS 317A.010(19), which names weaving and extending with hair extensions and is exempt under KRS 317A.020(1)(d); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; limited stylist (shampoo and style) license does not cover attaching hair; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; 300 hours for the limited stylist (shampoo and style services); no course for natural hair braiding	Kentucky guide
Louisiana	Cosmetologist certificate (full scope, including chemical bonding and color) or alternative hair design special permit (weaving and extending alternative hair only, no dyes or reactive chemicals)	1,500 hours plus theory and practical exams for the cosmetologist certificate; board curriculum of at least 500 hours for the alternative hair design permit	Louisiana guide
Maine	No license names extension installation; Cosmetologist in practice; Hair Designer for the same hair services; braiding services exempt but undefined	Cosmetologist 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours; Hair Designer 1,200 school hours or 2,000 trainee hours	Maine guide
Maryland	No license for tension based installs, which Section 5-101(n)(2)(iii) excludes from the practice of cosmetology (twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking or braiding, no dyes or reactive chemicals); Cosmetologist or Limited Hairstylist license for licensed hair services; no specialty extensions license	None for tension installs; 1,500 hours (or 24 months as a registered apprentice) for the Cosmetologist license; 1,200 hours (or 15 months as a registered apprentice) for the Limited Hairstylist license	Maryland guide
Massachusetts	Cosmetologist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring, cleansing or chemical services; no license for installs inside the statutory natural hair braiding definition, which includes weaving and extending; no specialty extensions license and no separate hairdresser license	1,000 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding exemption work	Massachusetts guide
Michigan	No license required for extension installs done as natural hair cultivation, which MCL 339.1201(p) defines to include weaving and extending by hand, under the MCL 339.1210a(3) exemption; optional Natural Hair Culturist license; Cosmetologist license for extension work involving cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license	No course for natural hair cultivation under the exemption; 400 hours over at least 3 months (or a 6 month apprenticeship) for the optional Natural Hair Culturist license; 1,500 hours (or a 2 year apprenticeship) for the Cosmetologist	Michigan guide
Minnesota	Cosmetologist or hair technician license for installs outside the exemptions; no license for installs inside the hair braiding definition, including sew-ins; hairstyling exemption for styling extensions; no specialty extensions license	1,550 hours for cosmetologist; 900 hours for hair technician; none for hair braiding; four hour course for the hairstyling exemption	Minnesota guide
Mississippi	Cosmetologist license for licensed work; hair braiding registration with the Department of Health for tension installs inside the section 73-7-71 definition	1,500 hours of school or 3,000 hours of apprenticeship (cosmetologist); no course hours, $25 registration plus the infection control self-test (braiding)	Mississippi guide
Missouri	Class CA Cosmetologist or Class CH Hairdresser license for installs; hair braiding registration ($20) for tension based work inside the Section 329.010(9) definition, which names extending; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the cosmetologist course (1,220 hours in a public vocational technical school; 3,000 hours as an apprentice); no course for hair braiding, registration requires the board's 4 to 6 hour instructional video	Missouri guide
Montana	No license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at MCA 37-31-101(17), which names weaving and extending and includes the use of hair extensions (exemption at MCA 37-31-102(5)); Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; no specialty extensions license	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Montana guide
Nebraska	Cosmetologist license for installs outside the braiding definition; no license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at Section 38-1042.01, which names weaving and extending and includes the use of hair extensions (exemption at Section 38-1075(3)); no specialty extensions license and no hairstylist license	1,800 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Nebraska guide
Nevada	Hair braider license for sew-in weaves and tension installs; cosmetologist or hair designer license where chemical hair joining agents are used	No training hours for the hair braider license (Barbicide Certification Course completed before applying); 1,600 hours for cosmetologist; 1,000 hours for hair designer	Nevada guide
New Hampshire	Cosmetologist license for installs using chemical hair joining agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; no license for installs inside the natural hair braiding definition at RSA 313-A:25 XIII, which names weaving and extending and includes hair extensions; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the Cosmetologist (or 3,000 hours as an apprentice); no course for natural hair braiding	New Hampshire guide
New Jersey	Cosmetologist-Hairstylist license or Hair Braiding Specialist license for weaving and extending installs (hair braiding scope); Beauty Culture and Barbering licenses cover braiding services except weaving; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the Cosmetologist-Hairstylist; 40 hours (with three years of braiding experience) or 50 hours for the Hair Braiding Specialist	New Jersey guide
New Mexico	Hairstylist license, whose Section 61-17A-4.1 definition names applying hair extensions, or cosmetologist license (full scope); no license for installs inside the hair braiding definition, which names weaving and extending and includes hair extensions incidental to braiding; no specialty extensions license	1,200 hours for the hairstylist; 1,600 hours for the cosmetologist; no course for hair braiding definition work	New Mexico guide
New York	Natural Hair Styling license (specialty route, weaving and extending in scope) or Cosmetology license; no separate extensions license	300 hours for the Natural Hair Styling license; 1,000 hours for the Cosmetology license	New York guide
North Carolina	Cosmetologist license for all install methods; Natural Hair Care Specialist license (300 hours) for sew-in and braid based installs, with chemical adhesive installs excluded; no specialty extensions license and no braiding exemption	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist; 300 hours for the Natural Hair Care Specialist	North Carolina guide
North Dakota	Cosmetologist license, whose statutory scope at section 43-11-01(10) names hair extensions using chemical hair joint agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds); no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding at section 43-11-01(20) covers sew-ins and weaves done by sewing or weaving with needle and thread and is not cosmetology	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist (apprenticeship route under section 43-11-16.1, measured at 2,500 hours on the board's endorsement checklist); no course for natural hair braiding	North Dakota guide
Ohio	Natural Hair Stylist, Hair Designer or Cosmetologist license for installs; boutique services registration (braiding) for braid-based work only	Natural Hair Stylist 450 hours; Hair Designer 1,000 hours; Cosmetologist 1,500 hours; braiding registration has no school hours or exam	Ohio guide
Oklahoma	No license for installs inside the hairbraiding definition at 59 O.S. section 199.1 paragraph 19, which names weaving and extending with natural or synthetic hair extensions and is not the practice of cosmetology; Cosmetology license for installs using chemical hair jointing agents (synthetic tape, keratin bonds, fusion bonds), cutting, coloring or chemical services; blow-dry styling certificate covers styling installed extensions only, not installing; no specialty extensions license	1,000 hours for nonchemical or 1,250 hours for chemical cosmetology licensure (the board examination page still states 1,500 hours); 12 hours of Board instruction for the blow-dry styling certificate; no course for hairbraiding	Oklahoma guide
Oregon	Natural hair care certificate for hand method installs (extending, sewing and weaving of hair extensions named at ORS 690.005(15)); hair design certificate for bonded installs using chemical hair joining agents and for cutting, coloring and chemical work (hair design holders are authorized to practice natural hair care under ORS 690.046(3)); no specialty extensions certificate	No career school for natural hair care: Health Licensing Office training module plus written examination; 1,110 hours for hair design	Oregon guide
Pennsylvania	Cosmetology license for extension work involving cutting, coloring, or chemical services; no license for weaving and extending done as natural hair braiding, deregulated by Act 100 of 2024; no specialty extensions license	1,250 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for natural hair braiding	Pennsylvania guide
Rhode Island	Hairdresser and Cosmetician license, whose practice definition at section 5-10-1(15) names weaving; no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding exempt under section 5-10-29, whose definition names weaving and extending with natural or synthetic hair extensions and excludes chemical hair joining agents	1,000 hours for the Hairdresser and Cosmetician; no course for exempt natural hair braiding	Rhode Island guide
South Carolina	Cosmetologist license (full scope) or hair braider registration (braiding definition installs)	1,500 hours for cosmetologist; six hour course plus board exam for braider registration	South Carolina guide
South Dakota	Cosmetologist license, whose statutory scope at section 36-15-2(1) names weaving, extending and fusing; no specialty extensions license; natural hair braiding exemption at section 36-15-16.1 covers installs inside the section 36-15-1.1 definition (extending and weaving hair extensions by hand or with clips, combs, hairpins or thread), which excludes chemical hair joining agents	1,500 hours for the Cosmetologist (or a 1,500 hour apprenticeship); no course for exempt natural hair braiding	South Dakota guide
Tennessee	Natural hair stylist license for extension installation; cosmetologist license for cuts, color and chemical finishes; registered hair braider for braiding only	300 hours for the natural hair stylist license; 1,500 hours for cosmetologist; 16 hours of health and hygiene training plus biennial registration for hair braiders	Tennessee guide
Texas	Hair Weaving Specialist (specialty route) or Cosmetology Operator; hair weaving is licensed work	300 hours for the Hair Weaving Specialist; 1,000 hours for the Cosmetology Operator	Texas guide
Utah	Cosmetology license (hair weaving and hair fusing named at Section 58-11a-302.13) or master hair design / master barbering license (hair fusing, extensions and hair weaving at Section 58-11a-302.19); haircutting permit covers hair fusing and extensions (Section 58-11a-302.17); hair braiding exemption covers extension hair and wefts applied without glue or tape; no specialty extensions license	1,250 hours for the cosmetology license; 1,000 hours for the master hair design or master barbering license; 150 hours for the haircutting permit; no course for hair braiding	Utah guide
Vermont	Cosmetologist license; no Vermont definition names weaving, attaching hair or extensions, and no specialty extensions or weaving license exists; natural hair braiding or styling is exempt under 26 V.S.A. section 273(7), whose text does not name extensions or added hair, so install work is not claimed exempt	1,000 hours of cosmetology school or a 1,500 hour apprenticeship, plus written and practical examinations, for the Cosmetologist; no course requirement for exempt natural hair braiding or styling	Vermont guide
Virginia	Cosmetologist license for cosmetology services around installs; hair braiding excluded from cosmetology with no braider license issued; no specialty extensions license	1,000 hours for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding (outside the licensing chapter)	Virginia guide
Washington	Cosmetologist or Hair Designer license for installs by any method; no license for extensions attached only by natural means as natural hair braiding (WAC 308-20-025); no specialty extensions license	1,600 hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,400 hours for the Hair Designer; no course for natural hair braiding	Washington guide
West Virginia	Cosmetologist license (full scope) or Hair Stylist license, whose Section 30-27-3(p) definition names adding extensions; no license for hair braiding alone, which Section 30-27-3(gg) leaves unregulated; no specialty extensions license	1,800 hours for the Cosmetologist; 1,000 hours for the Hair Stylist; no course for braiding	West Virginia guide
Wisconsin	Cosmetologist license for installs outside the braiding definition (tape-ins, fusion bonds, cutting, color and chemical work); no license for natural hair braiding, whose Section 454.20(12m) definition names weaving and extending; no specialty extensions license	1,550 hours (or a 4,000 hour apprenticeship) for the Cosmetologist; no course for braiding definition work	Wisconsin guide
Wyoming	Hairstylist license or cosmetologist license. Board rules place applying extensions by bonding, sewing, braiding or any other means inside the hairstyling scope both licenses carry. No specialty extensions or weaving license. Natural hair braiding is exempt under W.S. 33-12-140(d); its definition includes weaving and extending by hand or braiding device and excludes chemical hair joining agents.	1,000 hours for the Hairstylist license, 1,600 hours for the Cosmetologist license; no course or registration for exempt natural hair braiding.	Wyoming guide

Methodology and limits

The dataset holds one row per state per business type, 500 rows, and each row is the main credential only. That is a deliberate limit, and it cuts real things. Apprenticeship routes that replace school hours, endorsements and advanced tiers stacked on a base license, crossover licenses between trades, and add on licenses for single services all live in the state guides, not here. A state whose hub row reads 1,500 hours may also license the same work through a 3,000 hour apprenticeship or a shorter specialty license, and the guide is where that structure is laid out. This page is the map of headline requirements; the guides remain the full record.

Every figure inherits the review discipline of the tables it came from. The comparison tables carry a state sources review stamp of November 3, 2026, and this dataset was rebuilt and stamped November 5, 2026. Licensing law moves: legislatures cut and raise hours, boards rename licenses, and a figure that was right this session can be wrong next session. Corrections follow the same rule here as everywhere on this site. A changed board figure is rechecked against the board source, the hub row is updated, and the dataset is rebuilt from it, stamp and all. Before you enroll in a course, sign a lease or move states on the strength of one of these rows, confirm the figure on your state board page. The guide linked from every row lists that board first among its sources.

The national hubs behind the data

Each type section above is drawn from its national hub, where the same table sits inside the full comparison: the regulator for every state, the notes on what the researched states show, and the official sources behind the rows.

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the longest cosmetology course, and which has the shortest?

In the hair salon table, the longest course is 1,800 hours, required in Hawaii, Nebraska and West Virginia. The shortest is 1,000 hours, the figure in California, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont, with Virginia also at 1,000 hours since its December 2025 cut. Those are school course figures for the main license; apprenticeship routes, where a state offers one, are covered in the state guides rather than in this dataset.

Why do some rows say exempt, or no state license, instead of a number?

Because that is the researched legal answer for that state and trade, and printing a number would invent a requirement that does not exist. Braiding is exempt by statute in many states, Wyoming has no state body art license for microblading at all, and Vermont registers massage therapists without setting education hours. The dataset preserves those answers word for word from the comparison tables instead of forcing every row into an hours figure.

Can I download this dataset or reuse it?

Yes. The full dataset is one CSV file, linked at the top of this page, with one row per state and business type: state, type, credential, the requirement exactly as published, and the guide link. It is free to download and reuse. If you republish figures from it, carry the review date with them and link back to the state guide, because the board source behind each row is the authority and requirements change.

How current is the dataset, and what should I check before relying on a row?

The dataset matches the national comparison tables on this site, whose state sources were last reviewed on November 3, 2026, and it was rebuilt and stamped on November 5, 2026. Licensing hours do change: Virginia cut its cosmetology course effective December 1, 2025 and Oklahoma rebuilt its tiers by statute in 2024. Treat a row as the researched starting point, then confirm it on your state board page before you enroll in a course, sign a lease or plan a move around it.