How to get a Beauty Operator – Cosmetologist license in Hawaii

Hawaii cosmetologist licenses

Hawaii issues 4 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 several of the Hawaii cosmetologist licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 4)

Requirements

Background check

Applicants answer a conviction question; a "YES" answer requires a signed statement, court records and a current criminal history record check, and the application may be reviewed at a board meeting.²

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, cca.hawaii.gov)⁹

2. Every license level except Beauty Apprentice (apprentice permit)

Requirements

Residency or citizenship

No Hawaii residency required; must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or alien authorized to work in the U.S.¹⁰

Social Security number

Social Security Number required²

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, PSI Services, LLC¹, when you schedule.

How to apply

Processing time

Applications are approved by the Licensing Branch and ratified at the board's monthly meeting; license card about 2-3 weeks after the meeting, wall certificate about 4-6 weeks after.¹⁰

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁵

When it expires

All licenses expire December 31 of each odd-numbered year regardless of issue date; renew biennially.¹¹

Renewal fee

$146⁴ (Active status, on time)

If it expires

Unrenewed licenses are forfeited; restore within 3 years by paying delinquent fees and a penalty; after 3 years apply as a new applicant and the board may require the exam.⁵
Licenses not renewed by the expiration date may not practice.¹¹

Renew online

mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov¹¹

3. Beauty Operator – Cosmetologist and Beauty Operator – Hairdresser

Requirements

Minimum age

16 years old²

High school diploma or GED

Required²

Also required

Apprenticeship must be registered with the board before training starts; max 42 months, at least 20 hours per week, paid at least Hawaii minimum wage.⁷

Fees

Each line is a separate charge, except the lines “Total due when licensed in an EVEN-numbered year”; “Total due when licensed in an ODD-numbered year”, which are the board’s own combined figures for other charges; do not add them to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Mail the Beauty Operator License Application with the $20 application fee, transcripts or apprenticeship forms, and (optionally) the temporary permit application with $40.² Form (PDF, cca.hawaii.gov)⁹
2. After the board sends the exam approval letter, register with PSI Services and pass the exam within 12 months.¹
3. Pay the license fees listed on the "Fees Due" notice the board sends after you pass.¹⁰

Temporary or provisional license

Optional one-time temporary permit ($40), valid one year, to work under a qualified licensee while waiting to pass the exam; cannot be reissued or renewed.²

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $171⁴ (restoring a forfeited license to active status (within 3 years))
Late renewal fee: $37¹¹ (restoring a forfeited license to inactive status)
On-Time Cost to Renew – Beauty Operator (BEO) – inactive status: $12¹¹ (renewing on inactive status)

From another state

Who needs a Beauty Operator – Cosmetologist license

Practices of a hairdresser, esthetician and nail technician for compensation.⁶

Requirements for a Beauty Operator – Cosmetologist license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 1,800 clock hours²
Beauty school training in the cosmetologist category (1800 hours) or a registered beauty apprenticeship (3600 hours); 2 apprenticeship hours count as 1 school hour in combinations.¹⁰
Who may teach it: Licensed beauty school, or apprenticeship in a licensed shop under a licensed beauty operator in the category (one apprentice per supervisor; supervisor needs 1 year Hawaii-licensed experience).⁶
Alternative: Apprenticeship: 3600 hours²
Alternative: Combination of school and apprenticeship: 2 apprenticeship hours = 1 school hour, training not more than 3 years old.¹⁰
Alternative: One year of licensed experience in the category in another jurisdiction.²

Exam

Cosmetology Theory Examination³
Given by: PSI Services, LLC¹
When you can take it: Board approval letter first; eligibility valid 12 months from the approval letter.¹
Cosmetology Theory Examination (theory)³
Retakes: Re-exam candidates re-register with PSI and pay the exam fee again; if not passed within one year a new application is needed.¹²
Time limit: One year to pass after approval.¹⁰
Exam waived: Exam waived if the applicant already passed the NIC or PSI exam in another jurisdiction (apply on the exam-waiver path with proof of passing).¹

How much a Beauty Operator – Cosmetologist license costs

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 the training: 1800 beauty school hours or 3600 registered apprenticeship hours in the cosmetologist category (or qualify through one year of licensed out-of-state experience).²

Renewal and continuing education

Beauty Apprentice permit

Learns cosmetology in a licensed barber or beauty shop and assists under the immediate direction and supervision of a barber or beauty operator.⁶

Requirements

Experience

At least 3,600 hours of on-the-job training⁷
Apprenticeship hours: Cosmetologist 3,600; Hairdresser 2,500.⁷
Supervision: Licensed shop; supervisor licensed in the category with at least one year of Hawaii-licensed experience; one apprentice per supervisor.⁷

Also required

Maximum 42 months, minimum 20 hours per week; progress reports every six months.⁷

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. Find a licensed shop and a qualified supervising licensee, then file the Barber/Beauty Apprentice Registration with the shop owner's and supervisor's signatures and $57.⁷ Form (PDF, cca.hawaii.gov)⁹
2. Start training only after the apprentice permit is issued.⁷

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Beauty Instructor

Teaches the practice of cosmetology; issued only in the category of the holder's beauty operator license.⁶

Requirements

Education or training

At least 600 clock hours⁸
At least 600 hours of beauty instructor training at a beauty school (or an instructor license from another jurisdiction).⁸
Who may teach it: Beauty school, following the board curriculum¹⁰
Alternative: Instructor license in another jurisdiction⁸
Alternative: If under 600 hours: make up hours at a beauty school or show at least 1 year of instructor experience.¹⁰

Experience

At least 1 year⁸
At least one year as a licensed beauty operator in Hawaii or a substantially similar jurisdiction.⁸
License you must hold first: Current and valid Hawaii Beauty Operator (BEO) license⁸

Exam

Instructor Theory Examination³
Given by: PSI Services, LLC¹
When you can take it: Board approval letter first; eligibility valid 12 months from the approval letter.¹
Retakes: Re-exam candidates re-register with PSI and pay the exam fee again; if not passed within one year a new application is needed.¹²
Time limit: One year to pass after approval.¹⁰
Exam waived: Applicants who already passed the exam in another jurisdiction use the Beauty Instructor License (Exam Waiver) application.⁸

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. Hold a Hawaii beauty operator license with at least one year of licensed experience and complete 600 hours of instructor training (or hold an instructor license elsewhere).⁸
2. Mail the Beauty Instructor (By Exam) application with the $20 fee and documents.⁸ Form (PDF, cca.hawaii.gov)⁹
3. After board approval, register with PSI and pass the Instructor Theory Examination; then pay the license fees.¹

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary permit available while awaiting the exam ($40).¹⁰

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $171⁴ (restoring a forfeited license to active status (within 3 years))
Late renewal fee: $37¹¹ (restoring a forfeited license to inactive status)
On-Time Cost to Renew – Beauty Instructor (I) – inactive status: $12¹¹ (renewing on inactive status)

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Beauty Operator – Hairdresser

Requirements

Education or training

At least 1,250 clock hours²
Beauty school training in the hairdresser category (1250 hours) or a registered beauty apprenticeship (2500 hours); 2 apprenticeship hours count as 1 school hour in combinations.¹⁰
Who may teach it: Licensed beauty school, or apprenticeship in a licensed shop under a licensed beauty operator in the category (one apprentice per supervisor; supervisor needs 1 year Hawaii-licensed experience).⁶
Alternative: Apprenticeship: 2500 hours²
Alternative: Combination of school and apprenticeship: 2 apprenticeship hours = 1 school hour, training not more than 3 years old.¹⁰
Alternative: One year of licensed experience in the category in another jurisdiction.²
Alternative: Barber training may count toward the hairdresser category if the board accepts it.¹⁰

Exam

Hair Design Theory Examination³
Given by: PSI Services, LLC¹
When you can take it: Board approval letter first; eligibility valid 12 months from the approval letter.¹
Hair Design Theory Examination (theory)³
Retakes: Re-exam candidates re-register with PSI and pay the exam fee again; if not passed within one year a new application is needed.¹²
Time limit: One year to pass after approval.¹⁰
Exam waived: Exam waived if the applicant already passed the NIC or PSI exam in another jurisdiction (apply on the exam-waiver path with proof of passing).¹

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 the training: 1250 beauty school hours or 2500 registered apprenticeship hours in the hairdresser category (or qualify through one year of licensed out-of-state experience).²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov¹³

File a complaint

cca.hawaii.gov¹⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• HRS ch. 439A (Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Act; Act 73, SLH 2022)
• HRS ch. 436B (Uniform Professional and Vocational Licensing Act)
• HAR ch. 16-78 (Cosmetology)
• HAR §16-53-14

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2026: Exam vendor changed from Prometric to PSI Services, LLC.³

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

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