How to get a Cosmetologist license in Florida

Florida cosmetologist licenses

Florida issues 2 cosmetologist credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Florida cosmetologist license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Fees

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years²¹¹

Renewal fee

$40³

Renew online

myfloridalicense.com¹²

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

Mechanical or chemical treatment of the head, face and scalp for aesthetic (not medical) purposes for compensation: shampooing, cutting, arranging, coloring, permanent waving and relaxing hair, plus hair removal including waxing, manicures, pedicures and skin care.⁸

Work that does not need this license:

• Services must be performed in a licensed salon, with exceptions (e.g. clients unable to travel for health reasons, arranged through a salon; film, fashion photography, theatrical and TV work; special events).¹³

Requirements for a Cosmetologist license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

16 years old⁵

High school diploma or GED

Not required⁵

Education or training

At least 1,200 clock hours¹
Cosmetology training as established by the Board at a licensed cosmetology school, a public-school cosmetology program, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind cosmetology division, or a government-operated program in Florida.⁵
Who may teach it: A school of cosmetology licensed under ch. 1005, F.S., a public-school cosmetology program, the FSDB Cosmetology Division, or a government-operated cosmetology program in Florida.⁵
Alternative: A school may certify a student to take the exam after 1,000 actual school hours; a candidate who then fails must finish the full 1,200 hours before retesting.⁵

Education or training

At least 4 clock hours¹
Board-approved initial HIV/AIDS course (at least 4 hours, completed within two years before applying).¹
Alternative: An applicant who meets everything else may request one 6-month extension by affidavit showing good cause.²

Exam

Florida cosmetology examination: written theory part and written clinical part²
Given by: Pearson VUE (computer-based testing)¹²
When you can take it: After DBPR approves the application (Pearson VUE then sends scheduling notice); 1,000-hour early testing allowed with school certification.¹⁴
Written theory exam: safety and sanitation 34%, client services 24%, facial/make-up/hair removal 16%, manicuring and pedicuring 16%, laws and rules 10%²
Written clinical exam: hair coloring and lightening 39%, permanent waving and chemical relaxing 34%, scalp and hair care 5%, cutting/shaping 10%, styling 12%²
Retakes: Retake only the failed part, after filing a re-examination application and fee.²
Time limit: Both parts within two years of the first attempt, or the whole exam must be retaken.²

Background check

The application asks whether the applicant was ever convicted, found guilty or pleaded guilty/nolo contendere; DBPR publishes lists of crimes that do and do not relate to cosmetology, and convictions over five years old generally may not be considered.¹²

Social Security number

A Social Security number is required to apply.¹⁴

How much a Cosmetologist license costs

You pay the Florida Board of Cosmetology (3 fees) and Pearson VUE (2 fees).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete 1,200 hours at a Florida cosmetology school (or 1,000 hours with the school certifying you to test early) and a board-approved 4-hour initial HIV/AIDS course.¹
2. Submit form COSMO 1 online or on paper with the school’s Graduate Certification (Section III), the HIV/AIDS certificate, and the fee.¹ myfloridalicense.com¹
3. When DBPR approves the application, schedule the two-part computer-based exam with Pearson VUE and pay the testing-service fee.¹⁴
4. Pass both parts (75 each) within two years; DBPR then issues the license. You may work under a licensed cosmetologist in a licensed salon while waiting for the physical license.⁵

Apply online

myfloridalicense.com¹

Application form

Form (PDF, www2.myfloridalicense.com)¹

Temporary or provisional license

After passing all exam parts, the applicant may practice under a licensed cosmetologist in a licensed salon until the physical license arrives.⁵

Renewal and continuing education

Continuing education

At least 10 hours each renewal period⁴

Required topics

1 hour HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases⁴
3 hours sanitation and sterilization⁴
0.5 hour OSHA regulations⁴
0.5 hour workers’ compensation⁴
2 hours state and federal laws and rules (ch. 477 and Board rules)⁴
1 hour chemical makeup of hair, skin and nails⁴
1 hour environmental issues⁴
1 hour elective related to cosmetology⁴

Approved courses

Courses and providers must be Board-approved before they are taught; home-study courses need a 75% post-test; keep certificates for 3 years after the next renewal.⁴

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $25³ (in addition to the renewal fee)
Reinstatement fee: $50³ (reactivating an inactive license, in addition to the biennial renewal fee)
Fee for renewal of an inactive license: $40³ (keeping a license in inactive status)
Special fee: to fund efforts to combat unlicensed activity: $5¹⁰ (each renewal)

If it expires

Inactive licenses may be reactivated with no more than one renewal cycle of CE.¹⁵

Moving to Florida with a license from another state

These are the routes the Florida Board of Cosmetology publishes for the Cosmetologist license. The other cosmetologist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Cosmetology Salon

License for the fixed (or mobile/flea-market) premises where cosmetology is performed by licensed persons; a salon must be licensed and available for posting before it opens.⁹

Requirements

Exam

Not required⁹

Business requirements

Owners with 10% or more and, for corporations, each officer/director or controlling person must give name, SSN and address (Fla. Stat. 559.79).¹⁷

Business requirements

A new application is required for a change of location, name or ownership; the old license becomes void.⁹

Business requirements

Salons are inspected after licensing (flea-market salons before licensing) and must meet the safety and sanitary rules in 61G5-20.002.⁹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Set up premises that meet Rule 61G5-20.002 (safety and sanitary requirements).⁹
2. File form COSMO 6 online or on paper with ownership details and pay the fees; the license must be issued before opening.⁹ myfloridalicense.com¹²
3. Expect a DBPR inspection after the license is issued (flea-market salons are inspected first).⁹

Renewal

When it expires

Salon licenses expire November 30 of even-numbered years.¹²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $25³

If it expires

A delinquent salon license expires at the end of the biennium; then a new application, the delinquent fee and all initial fees are required and services must stop until the new license is issued.¹¹

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a cosmetologist in Florida, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Florida is on the Florida license lookup page.

Look up a license

myfloridalicense.com¹

File a complaint

myfloridalicense.com¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Fla. Stat. 477.013 (definitions)
• Fla. Stat. 477.019 (cosmetologists; qualifications; licensure; endorsement; CE)
• Fla. Stat. 477.0212 (inactive status)
• Fla. Stat. 477.026
• Fla. Stat. 477.0263 (cosmetology services to be performed in licensed salon)
• Fla. Stat. 477.0265 (prohibited acts)
• Fla. Stat. 455.2281
• Fla. Admin. Code ch. 61G5-24
• Fla. Admin. Code ch. 61G5-18 (cosmetologist: exam, endorsement, renewal, HIV/AIDS course)
• Fla. Admin. Code r. 61G5-32.001 (continuing education)
• Fla. Stat. 477.025 (cosmetology salons; specialty salons; licensure; inspection; mobile salons)
• Fla. Admin. Code ch. 61G5-20 (cosmetology salons)

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming