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How to get a Cosmetology license in Mississippi

Mississippi licenses cosmetologists statewide through the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (MSBCB).1 For the Cosmetology license (cosmetologist) you need at least 1,500 clock hours1 of education and a passing score on the NIC Cosmetology Theory (written) examination and the Mississippi Law & Sanitation examination2. The board lists $50 for the initial license1. You renew every 2 years1.

Last checked · 8 official sources

Who issues it

Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (MSBCB)

Training and experience

Training: at least 1,500 clock hours1

Exam

NIC Cosmetology Theory (written) examination and the Mississippi Law & Sanitation examination2

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee: $501

Renewal

Every 2 years1

From another state

License by endorsement and Universal license recognition1 Details

On this page
  1. Mississippi cosmetologist licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Cosmetology license
  4. Requirements for a Cosmetology license
  5. How much a Cosmetology license costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Moving to Mississippi with a license from another state
  9. Instructor's license
  10. Laws and rules
  11. Rule changes since January 2024
  12. Common questions
  13. Cosmetologist licenses in other states

Mississippi cosmetologist licenses

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

LicenseWhat it coversTraining or experienceExamApplication or license fee
Cosmetology license (cosmetologist)For cosmetic purposes on the head, face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs or feet: cutting, styling, waving, straightening, coloring and treating hair and hairpieces; skin treatments with preparations or apparatus; brow arching/epilation and brow/lash tinting; depilation; manicuring and pedicuring.1Training 1,500 clock hours1Yes1$501
Instructor's license (cosmetology)Teaching cosmetology, barbering, nail technology and/or esthetics, including teaching student instructors.1Training 600 clock hours1Yes1$801

Applies to every license level

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

Requirements

Background check
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply3

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

Renewal

How often
Every 2 years1
Required topics
A continuing education course on human/labor trafficking1
A continuing education course on domestic violence1
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $501 (renewal after the 60-day grace period; charged per year expired after the first year (up to 3 years))

From another state

Route
Universal license recognition
What the board says
Military-trained applicants, military spouses and people who establish residence in Mississippi are licensed by reciprocity under the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act (Miss. Code Ann. 73-50-1 / 73-50-2). The board posts a Universal Application and a Military Application; UROLA applicants get a temporary work permit and then take the board exam.1
Fee
$551

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Military-trained applicants and military spouses are licensed under Miss. Code Ann. 73-50-1/73-50-2; applicants under the Military Family Freedom Act pay no fee.1

Who needs a Cosmetology license

For cosmetic purposes on the head, face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs or feet: cutting, styling, waving, straightening, coloring and treating hair and hairpieces; skin treatments with preparations or apparatus; brow arching/epilation and brow/lash tinting; depilation; manicuring and pedicuring.1

Work that does not need this license:

  • Not regulated: people whose practice is only makeup artistry, threading, or applying/removing eyelash extensions (any combination of up to three of these).1

Requirements for a Cosmetology license

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

Minimum age
16 years old1
Schooling
Completed the tenth grade, or enrolled in a community college, state university or college.1
Education or training
At least 1,500 clock hours1
At least 1,500 hours over at least nine months in a licensed school of cosmetology.1
Who may teach it: A school licensed by the board (the board publishes a licensed-school list and an approved curriculum).4
Alternative: Apprenticeship: at least 3,000 hours in a board-certified apprenticeship mentored by a licensed cosmetology instructor or a cosmetologist with 15+ years' experience (max two apprentices per mentor).1
Exam
NIC Cosmetology Theory (written) examination and the Mississippi Law & Sanitation examination2
Given by: Board contracts exam administrators; exams are scheduled on the board's ms.gov exam-registration site after the board issues an approval letter.5
When you can take it: After completing the required hours and receiving the board's approval letter; book up to seven days ahead. Exam applications expire 90 days from their date.5
Written ("Theory") exam (NIC)2
Law & Sanitation exam (bring photo ID and the original temporary work permit)6
Retakes: After a failure, pay the testing fee again and wait at least 14 days. Fees are not refunded for cancellations within five days of the exam.6
Social Security number
Social Security number required on applications.1
Also required
Two recent passport-style photos with the exam/license application.1
Other requirements and options
A licensed barber with 1,500 barber-school hours can qualify for the cosmetology exam with 600 more hours in a cosmetology school.1

How much a Cosmetology license costs

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$501MSBCB
Duplicate or replacement license$107MSBCB
License verification to another state$357MSBCB
Affidavit processing$157MSBCB

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

Fee waivers and reductions:

  • No initial license fee for applicants who document participation in Medicaid, TANF, SNAP or WIC; no renewal fee at age 70 or older.1

How to apply

  1. Enrol in a board-licensed cosmetology school (Student Permit application) or a board-certified apprenticeship.3 Form (PDF, msbcb.ms.gov)3
  2. Complete 1,500 school hours over at least nine months (or 3,000 apprentice hours).1
  3. File the Application to Test for Practitioner License with two passport-style photos; you can receive a temporary permit (up to six months, one only).1 Form (PDF, msbcb.ms.gov)3
  4. After the board sends your approval letter, create a web account under your legal name and book the theory and Law & Sanitation exams on the ms.gov exam-registration site; bring the approval letter/permit and ID.5 ms.gov5
  5. After passing, submit the License Request Form with the $50 license fee.7 Form (PDF, msbcb.ms.gov)3
Temporary or provisional license
Students who have finished their hours and paid the fee get one temporary permit, valid until the next exam but no longer than six months.1

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires
Renewed every two years under the 73-7-29 fee schedule; renew online at ms.gov or by the Practitioner Renewal form.1
Renewal fee
$507
If it expires
60-day grace period; after that the renewal fee plus a $50 delinquent fee. After one year expired, a delinquent fee is due for each year up to three years; after three years the exam must be retaken.1
Through December 31, 2026, licensees with at least 10 years under their license whose license expired not more than 10 years ago can renew without retesting (renewal fee, fines, any required CE). From January 1, 2027 the window is 5 years and a delinquent fee per expired year applies.1
No renewal until all board fines and penalties are paid.1
Renew online
ms.gov8

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Mississippi Cosmetology license (cosmetologist). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Mississippi with a license from another state

These are the routes MSBCB publishes for the Cosmetology license. The other cosmetologist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
License by reciprocity if you are licensed in good standing in another state or U.S. territory with similar education requirements, have met Mississippi's other requirements including a similar exam, and pay the fee. If you have not passed a similar exam you may take the Mississippi exam.1
Conditions
Two recent passport-style photos.1
Fee
$557

Instructor's license

Teaching cosmetology, barbering, nail technology and/or esthetics, including teaching student instructors.1

Requirements

Minimum age
21 years old1
High school diploma or GED
Required1
Education or training
At least 600 clock hours1
Graduate of a licensed school plus 600 hours of instructor training in a licensed school.1
Experience
Must hold a current Mississippi practitioner license.1
License you must hold first: Current Mississippi practitioner license1
Exam
Instructor examination (NIC Instructor theory study aid posted by the board)1
Also required
Two recent passport-style photos with the exam application.1

Fees

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$801MSBCB

How to apply

  1. Hold a current Mississippi practitioner license, then complete 600 instructor-training hours in a licensed school.1
  2. File the Application to Test for Instructor License with two passport-style photos; a temporary instructor permit (up to six months, one only) may be issued.1 Form (PDF, msbcb.ms.gov)3
  3. Pass the instructor exam, then submit the License Request Form with the $80 fee.1
Temporary or provisional license
Temporary instructor permit at the board's discretion until the next exam, max six months, one only.1

Renewal

Renewal fee
$807
Continuing education
At least 12 hours each renewal period1
Approved courses
Board-approved continuing education only.1
If it expires
Without the CE an instructor may not teach or enroll students; an inactive instructor license can be reactivated after 12 hours of approved CE.1
60-day grace period; after that the renewal fee plus a $50 delinquent fee. After one year expired, a delinquent fee is due for each year up to three years; after three years the exam must be retaken.1
Through December 31, 2026, licensees with at least 10 years under their license whose license expired not more than 10 years ago can renew without retesting (renewal fee, fines, any required CE). From January 1, 2027 the window is 5 years and a delinquent fee per expired year applies.1
No renewal until all board fines and penalties are paid.1
Renew online
msbcb.ms.gov3

From another state

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
Instructor license by reciprocity if licensed in good standing as an instructor in another state/territory with similar education requirements or with 3+ years as a licensed instructor, having passed a similar exam; otherwise take the Mississippi exam.1
Fee
$551

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

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • April 1, 2026: 2026 S.B. 2566 rewrote Miss. Code Ann. Title 73 Ch. 7 (effective April 1, 2026), including the fee schedule, trafficking/domestic-violence CE for renewals and a temporary no-retest renewal route through 2026; the chapter is set to be repealed June 30, 2028.1

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Cosmetology license in Mississippi?

The rules set at least 1,500 clock hours1 before you can be licensed. The board does not publish how long it takes to process an application.

Can I transfer my cosmetologist license to Mississippi?

MSBCB publishes these routes for the Cosmetology license: license by endorsement1 and universal license recognition1. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Cosmetology license in Mississippi?

Every 2 years1. The renewal fee is $507.

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.

  1. MSBCB Updated Statutes 4.1.2026 (Miss. Code Ann. Title 73 Ch. 7)Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingDated April 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  2. ExaminationMississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  3. Licensure & RenewalsMississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  4. Rules and RegulationsMississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Exam Registration home (ms.gov)Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  6. Exam Policies (V.5.2026) PDF from the board's ms.gov exam registration siteMississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  7. FeesMississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Online Licensure (renewal) portal (ms.gov)Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026