How to get a Cosmetologist license in Michigan

Michigan licenses cosmetologists statewide through the Michigan Board of Cosmetology.¹ For the Cosmetologist license you need at least 1,500 clock hours¹ of education and a passing score on the National Barber Cosmetology Program (NBCP) cosmetologist theory and cosmetologist practical examinations². The board lists $15 for the application³, $24 for the initial license³ and $25 for the exam³, each a separate charge.

Last checked November 7, 2026 · 7 official sources

Who issues it

Michigan Board of Cosmetology

Training and experience

Training: at least 1,500 clock hours¹

Exam

National Barber Cosmetology Program (NBCP) cosmetologist theory and cosmetologist practical examinations²

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $15³
Initial license fee: $24³
Exam fee: $25³

From another state

License by endorsement and Military service members and spouses¹⁴ Details

On this page

Michigan cosmetologist licenses
Applies to every license level
Who needs a Cosmetologist license
Requirements for a Cosmetologist license
How much a Cosmetologist license costs
How to apply
Renewal and continuing education
Moving to Michigan with a license from another state
Cosmetology instructor license
Check a license or report a problem
Laws and rules
Rule changes since January 2024
Common questions
Cosmetologist licenses in other states

Michigan cosmetologist licenses

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

License	What it covers	Training or experience	Exam	Application or license fee
Cosmetologist license	Hair care, skin care, natural hair cultivation and manicuring services; electrology only with a separate electrologist license.¹	Training 1,500 clock hours¹	Yes¹	$15³
Cosmetology instructor license	Teaches the cosmetology curriculum in a licensed school; a limited instructor license (issued without the 3-year experience requirement) may not supervise a school.¹	Training 600 clock hours¹ Experience 3 years¹	Yes¹	$15³

Applies to every license level

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

Requirements

High school diploma or GED: Required¹
Background check: Applicant must be of good moral character.¹

Fees

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Application fee	$15³	Michigan Board of Cosmetology	Application processing fees: Cosmetologist, manicurist, natural hair culturist, esthetician, electrologist, or instructor — Beginning October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2027. $10.00 if paid after September 30, 2027. Not refundable
Initial license fee	$24³	Michigan Board of Cosmetology	License fees, per year: Cosmetologist, manicurist, natural hair culturist, esthetician, electrologist, or instructor — Beginning October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2027. Per year of the license period ($12.00 per year if paid after September 30, 2027)
Exam fee	$25³	Michigan Board of Cosmetology	Examination fees: Complete examination for cosmetologist, manicurist, natural hair culturist, esthetician, electrologist, or instructor
Duplicate or replacement license	$10³	Michigan Board of Cosmetology	The fee for the duplicate shall be

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: michigan.gov⁵
Processing time: The department must issue an initial or renewal license within 90 days after a completed application is filed (clock paused while an incomplete application is corrected).⁶

Renewal

Renewal fee: $24³ (Per year of the license period ($12.00 per year if paid after September 30, 2027); total renewal cost = per-year fee x years in the cycle)
Late renewal: Late renewal fee: $20³ (renewal after the expiration date; renewal with late fee allowed within 60 days after expiration (MCL 339.411(2)))
Renew online: michigan.gov⁵

From another state

Route: Military service members and spouses
What the board says: Dependents of armed-forces/uniformed-services members or veterans who hold a current license in good standing elsewhere must be granted a 6-month temporary license, renewable once for 6 months (MCL 339.213(2)-(3)).⁴

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

Hair care, skin care, natural hair cultivation and manicuring services; electrology only with a separate electrologist license.¹

Work that does not need this license:

A cosmetology student with at least 350 school hours may do shampoo services in a salon without a license, under conditions (school verification letter, licensed cosmetologist present).¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

Services for members of the licensee's immediate family and barbers working under an Article 11 license are outside Article 12.¹

Requirements for a Cosmetologist license

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

Minimum age: 17 years old¹
Education or training: At least 1,500 clock hours¹
Course of study in a licensed school of cosmetology (or 2-year apprenticeship), including the minimum practical applications set by rule; current curriculum is Table 11: 450 theory + 1,050 practical-application hours = 1,500 hours with 475 minimum practical applications.¹
Who may teach it: Licensed Michigan school of cosmetology, or apprenticeship in a licensed cosmetology establishment offering hair, skin and manicuring services (no fee may be charged to apprentices; max 2 apprentices at a time).¹
Alternative: Apprenticeship of at least 2 years in a licensed cosmetology establishment instead of the 1,500-hour school course.¹
Alternative: A Michigan-licensed barber may substitute up to 1,000 hours of substantially similar barber-college instruction.²
Alternative: Schools may grant transfer credit for hours earned at another school; school hours and apprenticeship hours cannot be transferred into each other.²
Exam: National Barber Cosmetology Program (NBCP) cosmetologist theory and cosmetologist practical examinations²
Given by: PSI Services, LLC²
Passing score: Determined by the exam administrator (PSI)²
When you can take it: After the school or apprenticeship certifies completion of training.¹
Cosmetologist theory²
Cosmetologist practical²
Time limit: A passing score is valid for 1 year from the date earned.²
Also required: Education equivalent to completing the ninth grade.¹
Also required: Before training starts, the school or establishment must file an application with the department on the student's or apprentice's behalf.¹

How much a Cosmetologist license costs

Fee	Amount	Paid to	Notes
Other fee	$15³	Michigan Board of Cosmetology	Student registration or transfer fee — Beginning October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2027. Student or apprentice registration filed by the school/establishment before training starts ($5.00 if paid after September 30, 2027)

How to apply

Enroll in a licensed Michigan school of cosmetology or a cosmetology establishment that holds an apprenticeship program permit; the school or establishment files your student/apprentice registration with LARA and checks your high-school (or equivalent) proof before training starts.¹
Complete the 1,500-hour cosmetology curriculum (or a 2-year apprenticeship), including the minimum practical applications; you may not work on the public until you have 350 hours. The school or apprenticeship certifies completion to LARA on the department form.¹
Pass the NBCP cosmetologist theory and practical examinations administered by PSI; scores are valid for 1 year.²
Apply and pay online through LARA's MiPLUS system (linked as "Apply / Renew Online" from the LARA cosmetology page).⁵ michigan.gov⁵

Temporary or provisional license: The department may grant a nonrenewable temporary license to an applicant who has not been denied or disciplined (MCL 339.213(1)); see military field for the military-dependent temporary license.⁴

Renewal and continuing education

If it expires: Renewal with a late fee is allowed within 60 days after the expiration date; practice after the expiration date is prohibited.⁶
Lapsed 3 years or less: relicensure on application and fee without re-examination.²
Lapsed more than 3 years: relicensure also requires passing the Table 21a examinations within the preceding year, or an active license in good standing in another state within the preceding 3 years.²

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Michigan Cosmetologist license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Expiration date

Moving to Michigan with a license from another state

These are the routes the Michigan Board of Cosmetology publishes for the Cosmetologist license.

Route: License by endorsement
What the board says: License by endorsement without examination for a person licensed in another state whose requirements were substantially equal; applicant must be at least 17, of good moral character and without sanctions elsewhere; apply on the LARA form and pay the fee.¹
Conditions: Other state must have required theory and practical exams substantially equal to Michigan's and at least 1,500 hours of school training or 2 years of apprenticeship.²
Work experience can substitute for training hours at 100 hours per 6 months of experience.¹
Ninth-grade education equivalent; active license in good standing verified by every state where ever licensed, including discipline record.²
Applicants trained outside the United States must prove training or experience; the department decides eligibility without examination.¹

Cosmetology instructor license

Teaches the cosmetology curriculum in a licensed school; a limited instructor license (issued without the 3-year experience requirement) may not supervise a school.¹

Requirements

Education or training: At least 600 clock hours¹
The board's words
“(e) Has completed not less than 500 hours of instructor training or, for an individual who begins instructor training on or after July 1, 2024, not less than 600 hours of instructor training.”

Who may teach it: A licensed school of cosmetology must teach the cosmetology instructor and limited instructor curriculum.²
Experience: At least 3 years¹
Practical experience in natural hair cultivation, hair care, skin care and manicuring, at least 1 year of it in a cosmetology establishment (not required for the limited instructor license).¹
License you must hold first: Michigan cosmetologist license¹
Exam: Cosmetology instructor theory examination (NBCP)²
Given by: PSI Services, LLC²
Passing score: Determined by the exam administrator (PSI)²
Cosmetology instructor theory²
Time limit: Passing score valid 1 year; not repeated for a later instructor license.²

How to apply

Hold a Michigan cosmetologist license and build 3 years of practical experience (1 year in a cosmetology establishment).¹
Complete instructor training at a licensed school of cosmetology: 600 hours if you begin training on or after July 1, 2024 (500 hours if you began earlier), per MCL 339.1206 as amended by 2024 PA 78. The rule's Table 16 curriculum still lists 500 hours.¹
Pass the NBCP cosmetology instructor theory examination administered by PSI.²
Apply and pay through LARA's MiPLUS system.⁵ michigan.gov⁵

Renewal

If it expires: Renewal with a late fee is allowed within 60 days after the expiration date; practice after the expiration date is prohibited.⁶
Lapsed 3 years or less: relicensure on application and fee without re-examination.²
Lapsed more than 3 years: R 338.2121c applies to cosmetologist and specialty licenses; for instructors MCL 339.411(4) lets the department require all or part of the examination or current education.⁶

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 Michigan, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Michigan is on the Michigan license lookup page.

Look up a license: aca-prod.accela.com⁷
File a complaint: michigan.gov⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

October 1, 2027: Scheduled statutory fee cut: application processing fee drops from $15.00 to $10.00 and per-year license fee from $24.00 to $12.00 for fees paid after September 30, 2027 (MCL 338.2225 as amended by 2023 PA 131).³
July 8, 2024: 2024 PA 78 (immediately effective July 8, 2024) raised cosmetology instructor training from 500 to 600 hours for individuals who begin instructor training on or after July 1, 2024 (MCL 339.1206(1)(e)).¹

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Cosmetologist license in Michigan?

The rules set at least 1,500 clock hours¹ before you can be licensed. On processing, the board says: The department must issue an initial or renewal license within 90 days after a completed application is filed (clock paused while an incomplete application is corrected).⁶

Can I transfer my cosmetologist license to Michigan?

The Michigan Board of Cosmetology publishes this route for the Cosmetologist license: license by endorsement¹. Conditions and forms.

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

Occupational Code (1980 PA 299) Article 12, Cosmetology (MCL 339.1201 to 339.1218) PDFMichigan LegislatureDated February 11, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
Mich. Admin. Code R 338.2101 to R 338.2195, Cosmetology – General RulesMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and RulesChecked November 7, 2026
State License Fee Act (1979 PA 152), MCL 338.2201 et seq. PDFMichigan LegislatureDated February 11, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
MCL - Section 339.213 - Michigan LegislatureMichigan Legislature (Legislative Service Bureau)Checked November 7, 2026
LARA Bureau of Professional Licensing: CosmetologyMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory AffairsChecked November 7, 2026
MCL 339.411Michigan LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
Find / Verify a Licensed Professional or BusinessMichigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory AffairsChecked November 7, 2026