How to get a Cosmetologist license in Maine

Maine cosmetologist licenses

Maine issues 3 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 Maine 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 3)

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

Apply online

licensing.web.maine.gov¹²

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50⁴ (renewed after expiry, up to 90 days)
Late renewal fee: $25⁵ (more than 90 days after expiry: new application + license fee + $50 late fee + $25)

Renew online

licensing.web.maine.gov¹²

2. Every license level except Instructor - Cosmetologist

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Not required¹³

3. Every license level except Trainee Cosmetologist

Fees

Renewal

How often

Every year⁵

When it expires

All practice and instructor licenses renew every year by October 31; the first license is valid until the next renewal date. Renewal reminders (with your access code) are emailed at least 30 days before expiry.¹⁴

Renewal fee

$20⁴

If it expires

Up to 90 days late: renew with the late fee (no practice after expiry). Over 90 days: treated as a new applicant (new application, fee, late fee and penalty) unless the director waives requirements.¹⁵
Lapsed four years or more: pay the fee and retake the exam (Exam Eligibility Application for a license expired 4+ years).⁵
Examination is waived for a renewal filed within 90 days after honourable separation from the armed forces if active duty caused the lapse (service of 4 years or less unless legally required).¹⁵

From another state

4. Every license level except Cosmetologist

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Active-duty service members, recently separated veterans and their spouses/domestic partners holding a comparable unrestricted license elsewhere can get a 180-day temporary Maine license (one 180-day extension on request), with a $21 criminal history records check fee (PL 2021, c. 106).⁸

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

For pay: skin care, makeup and lashes, manicure/pedicure, cutting/coloring/waving/relaxing/shaving hair, wig and hairpiece work, and teaching or demonstrating cosmetology.⁹

Work that does not need this license:

• No license needed for doctors and those they supervise, military medical officers, nurses and aides, unpaid work on family/household, shampoo-only staff in licensed shops, theatre/TV make-up and funeral service; hair braiding and threading are also exempt activities.¹⁷
• Licensees may serve clients in their homes (including nursing homes and hospitals) without an extra license.¹⁸

Requirements for a 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 1,500 clock hours²
1,500-hour cosmetology course over at least 9 months in a Maine-licensed school.²
Who may teach it: A school licensed by the OPOR director; students must be enrolled in a licensed school and work on the public only under a licensed instructor.¹
Alternative: Trainee route: 2,500 hours over at least 18 months under a qualified supervisor in a licensed establishment.²
Alternative: Fewer school/trainee hours can be balanced with licensed work experience.¹⁰

Exam

NIC Cosmetologist written and practical examinations³
Given by: Prov, Inc. (provexam.com)³
Passing score: Scaled score of 75.00 on each of the written and practical exams³
When you can take it: Students may test after 80% of the course hours (school official certifies); trainees after 88% (qualified supervisor authorizes). Licensure still requires all hours.¹⁰
NIC written (theory) exam — remotely or at a Prov test center³
NIC practical exam — taken remotely³
Retakes: Retake as often as needed with no waiting period; the fee is the same for retakes.³
Time limit: Pass both the written and practical within one year of the first sitting or retake both; then pay the license fee within one year of passing or retake the full exam.³
Exam waived: Another jurisdiction's written/practical exam may be accepted if the director finds it comparable to the NIC exam.¹⁰

Also required

Applicants attest that they will obtain, read and follow the Maine laws and rules (no separate Maine laws exam since July 1, 2012).¹⁹

Also required

Incomplete applications become void after 60 days.¹⁰

How to apply

1. Complete 1,500 hours at a Maine-licensed cosmetology school (or 2,500 trainee hours).²
2. Once your school certifies 80% of the hours, register with Prov (provexam.com) and pay $99 per written and $149 per practical exam; pass both (scaled 75) within one year.³
3. Apply online through the OPOR licensing portal and pay the $20 license fee within one year of passing.¹² licensing.web.maine.gov¹²
4. Work only in a licensed establishment and renew every October 31 ($20).²⁰

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary license ($10) once you qualify for the exam: work under a qualified supervisor in a licensed establishment for 6 months; not renewable.⁷

Renewal and continuing education

Moving to Maine with a license from another state

These are the routes the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation publishes for the Cosmetologist license. The other cosmetologist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Trainee Cosmetologist

A trainee may do any cosmetology work, but only under the immediate personal supervision of an approved licensee in a licensed establishment, never independently.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Training curriculum (theory, practice lab, client clinic) of 2,500 hours administered by the qualified supervisor; school theory hours may count.¹⁰
Who may teach it: Qualified supervisor: Maine licensee in good standing with 3 years of active practice in the last 5; supervises at most 2 trainees; a level 1 establishment may host 5 trainees, a level 2 establishment 1.¹⁰

Experience

At least 2,500 hours of on-the-job training²
2,500 supervised hours spread over at least 18 months in a licensed establishment; supervisor files monthly hour reports and a completion transcript within 10 days.¹⁰
Supervision: Direct supervision of an approved qualified supervisor (or approved alternate).¹⁰

Exam

NIC Cosmetologist written and practical examinations (taken to convert to a full cosmetologist license)³
Given by: Prov, Inc. (provexam.com)³
Passing score: Scaled score of 75.00 on each of the written and practical exams³
When you can take it: Students may test after 80% of the course hours (school official certifies); trainees after 88% (qualified supervisor authorizes). Licensure still requires all hours.¹⁰
NIC written (theory) exam — remotely or at a Prov test center³
NIC practical exam — taken remotely³
Retakes: Retake as often as needed with no waiting period; the fee is the same for retakes.³
Time limit: Pass both the written and practical within one year of the first sitting or retake both; then pay the license fee within one year of passing or retake the full exam.³
Exam waived: Another jurisdiction's written/practical exam may be accepted if the director finds it comparable to the NIC exam.¹⁰

Also required

Before training starts, file the employer and establishment, start date, type of training, evidence of age and the supervising licensee; report changes of employer or supervisor within 10 days.²²

Also required

Trainees and temporary licensees cannot own a level 2 establishment (booth).¹³

Fees

How to apply

1. Find a qualified supervisor (Maine licensee, 3 of the last 5 years in practice) at a licensed establishment; the supervisor completes the Trainee Qualified Supervisor packet.²¹
2. Apply online for the trainee license and pay $10 before you start training.¹² licensing.web.maine.gov¹²
3. Train 2,500 hours over at least 18 months; at 88% of hours your supervisor can authorize the Prov exams.¹⁰
4. Supervisor files the Cosmetology Trainee Affidavit/Transcript (2,500 hours); pass the exams and apply for the cosmetologist license.²³

Application form

Form (PDF, maine.gov)²¹

Renewal

When it expires

Expires 18 months after issue; may be renewed no more than twice (director may allow one more for extenuating circumstances).²²

Renewal fee

$10⁴

If it expires

Renewal after expiry: $50 late fee; more than 90 days: new application, fee, $50 late fee and $25 penalty.⁵

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Instructor - Cosmetologist

Teaching cosmetology in a Maine-licensed school.¹⁰

Requirements

Education or training

At least 600 clock hours¹⁰
Pathway 1: instructor training course of at least 600 hours over at least 15 weeks at a licensed school.¹⁰
Who may teach it: Licensed Maine school.¹⁰
Alternative: Pathway 3: 9 accredited college credits in education/teaching.¹⁰
Alternative: Pathway 4: a valid instructor license from another state.¹⁰

Experience

Hold a valid practitioner (cosmetologist) license.¹⁰
License you must hold first: Cosmetologist license¹¹

Exam

NIC Instructor written and practical examinations³
Given by: Prov, Inc. (provexam.com)³
Passing score: Scaled score of 75.00 on each of the written and practical exams³
When you can take it: After meeting one of the instructor education pathways and holding a practitioner license.¹⁰
NIC written (theory) exam — remotely or at a Prov test center³
NIC practical exam — taken remotely (teach an assigned lesson topic; send lesson plans to Prov at least 1 day before)³
Retakes: Retake as often as needed with no waiting period; the fee is the same for retakes.³
Time limit: Pass both the written and practical within one year of the first sitting or retake both; then pay the license fee within one year of passing or retake the full exam.³
Exam waived: Another jurisdiction's written/practical exam may be accepted if the director finds it comparable to the NIC exam.¹⁰

How to apply

1. Hold a Maine cosmetologist license and meet one instructor pathway (600-hour course, practice + 4 credits, 9 credits, or another state's instructor license).¹⁰
2. Get your lesson topic from Prov, send lesson plans a day ahead, and pass the NIC instructor written and practical exams.³
3. Apply online and pay the $20 instructor license fee.¹² licensing.web.maine.gov¹²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

pfr.maine.gov¹²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 32 M.R.S. §14202 (definitions)
• 32 M.R.S. §14203 (exemptions; exceptions)
• 32 M.R.S. §14204 (instructors)
• 32 M.R.S. §14224 (licenses required)
• 32 M.R.S. §14226 (qualifications; cosmetology)
• 32 M.R.S. §14229-A (initial license; reexamination)
• 32 M.R.S. §14230 (temporary license)
• 32 M.R.S. §14231 (out-of-state applicants)
• 32 M.R.S. §14231-A (licensure by endorsement)
• 32 M.R.S. §14232 (trainees)
• 32 M.R.S. §14235 (renewal)
• 32 M.R.S. §14238
• 02-041 CMR ch. 20-30 (Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program rules)
• 02-041 CMR ch. 10 §5(8)

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• 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