How to get a Cosmetologist license in Montana

Montana cosmetologist licenses

Montana 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 Montana cosmetologist license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Background check

Applicants who answer yes to personal history questions must send a detailed explanation and source documents (court charging and disposition papers, board orders). The board treats violent misdemeanour or felony convictions more than ten years old as routine unless the applicant is still in custody or the conduct was egregious.⁴

How to apply

Apply online

aca-prod.accela.com³

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁵¹⁰

Renew online

ebiz.mt.gov⁵

From another state

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

Hairdressing, manicuring, esthetics and "beauty culture" done to beautify the hair and body; training covers nails (including artificial nails), skin care and facials, hair coloring, waving and relaxing, shampoo, hairstyling and haircutting.⁷

Work that does not need this license:

• Not covered: emergency or unpaid domestic services; dentists, healing-arts practitioners and morticians; theatrical/film make-up and hair by people employed for the production; natural hair braiding only.¹¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Unpaid product demonstrations by itinerant cosmetologists in a licensed store are not cosmetology.⁷
• Cities and counties may not charge additional license fees to practice.¹²
• Working in a salon you own or rent a booth in needs separate salon/shop or booth rental licenses.¹

Requirements for a Cosmetologist license

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

Minimum age

18 years old²

High school diploma or GED

High school diploma or equivalent recognized by the Superintendent of Public Instruction; the board can grant an exception on other evidence (transcripts, college records, home-school records, DD214, work experience).⁴

Education or training

At least 1,500 clock hours²
A cosmetology course of at least 1,500 hours from a school authorized to teach cosmetology, with a diploma.²
Who may teach it: Licensed school; foreign-educated applicants must have documents evaluated by a board-approved credential-evaluating service, paid by the applicant.⁴
Alternative: Relevant military training, service or education is accepted toward the requirement.⁴

Exam

NIC (National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology) Cosmetology theory and practical exams³
Given by: Prov (the board's exam administration contractor)³
Passing score: At least 75% (scale score) on each of the written and practical exams⁴
When you can take it: Students may test after completing 90% of their training; Montana schools issue the testing eligibility letter (valid 180 days). Others are approved to test by department staff after applying.⁴
Theory (written) exam³
Practical exam³
Retakes: Re-apply and pay the exam fee again to retake a failed part; after three failed written attempts you must wait 60 days before each further attempt.⁴

Also required

Proof of age (birth certificate or driver's license) and official license verification from every state where you hold or have held any professional license.⁵

How much a 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.

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

How to apply

1. Complete a 1,500-hour cosmetology course at a licensed school (you may test after 90%; your school gives you the testing eligibility letter).³
2. Apply online through the Accela POL portal and pay the $80 fee by card or e-check (payment submits the application).³ aca-prod.accela.com³
3. Upload proof of the 1,500-hour course, proof of passing the NIC theory and practical exams (or get approval to register with Prov), any personal-history explanations, and license verifications.³
4. Watch your email: staff contact you within ten business days if anything is missing.³

Temporary or provisional license

DLI may issue a provisional license while an applicant otherwise eligible is waiting on the exam, license verification or background checks (MCA 37-1-144); the board page describes a 60-day provisional license with a reservation of rights for pending out-of-state verifications.⁵

Processing time

Staff email you within ten business days of submission with any requests for more documents.³

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Biennial. Regular online renewal runs January 2 to March 1; late online renewal is allowed for 45 days, until April 15. A lapsed license (within 45 days) can still be used; after that the license is expired and can be reactivated for up to 2 years, then terminates.¹⁴

Renewal fee

$80⁴

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $80¹³ (renewal after the regular deadline (lapsed license, within 45 days, or expired license, within 2 years))

If it expires

To reactivate a lapsed (within 45 days) or expired (within 2 years) license, submit the renewal form and pay the current renewal fee plus the late penalty fee. Practising on an expired license counts as unlicensed practice; after 2 years you need a new original license.¹⁴

Moving to Montana with a license from another state

These are the routes the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists publishes for the Cosmetologist license. The other cosmetologist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Teacher license

Teaching cosmetology (or another board profession) in a licensed school, limited to the areas of practice in which the instructor is actively licensed.⁴

Requirements

Education or training

At least 650 clock hours⁴
Option A: a 650-hour student teacher-training course at a licensed school (plus 1,500 hours of work in one year). Option B (no course): 4,500 hours of work over three years, then 135 hours of teaching-methodology coursework within two years to be able to renew.⁸

Experience

At least 1,500 hours of on-the-job training⁸
Hold an active Montana license in the area you will teach, and have worked in it at least 1,500 hours in any one year (Option A) or 1,500 hours a year for any three years (4,500 hours, Option B).⁸
License you must hold first: Active Montana license in the area of practice to be taught (e.g. cosmetologist)⁹

Exam

NIC Instructor theory and practical exams⁸
Given by: Prov⁸
Passing score: At least 75%⁸
Theory exam⁸
Practical exam⁸

How to apply

1. Hold an active Montana cosmetologist license and meet Option A (1,500 work hours in a year + 650-hour teacher course) or Option B (4,500 work hours over three years).⁸
2. Apply online and pay the fee; staff approve you to register for the NIC instructor exams with Prov if you have not passed them.⁸ aca-prod.accela.com³
3. Submit proof of the teacher-training course (Option A), NIC instructor exam results, and license verifications.⁸

Temporary or provisional license

Statute: applicants with 3 or more years of practice may get a nonrenewable 2-year provisional teaching license while completing teaching-methodology coursework instead of the teacher-course diploma.⁹

Renewal

Renewal fee

$95¹⁰

Continuing education

At least 30 hours each renewal period¹⁰

Required topics

8 of the 30 hours in teaching methodology⁴

Approved courses

Licensees choose relevant courses themselves; attending at least half of a board meeting earns 2 hours. Up to 50% of renewals may be audited; keep records 3 years.⁴

Exemptions

CE does not apply until after the first renewal; inactive licensees are exempt while inactive.⁴

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $95¹³ (renewal after the regular deadline (lapsed license, within 45 days, or expired license, within 2 years))
Inactive License: $85⁴ (inactive instructor license renewal (may substitute-teach up to 10 days a year))

If it expires

Reactivating an inactive instructor license needs the fee and 30 CE hours (8 in teaching methodology) completed in the prior 12 months.⁴

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

Look up a license

ebizws.mt.gov⁵

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-101 (definitions)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-102 (exemptions)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-302 (license required)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-304 (qualifications to practice)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-305 (license to teach)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-31-323
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-1-141 (renewal, lapse, expiration)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-1-144 (provisional license)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-1-145 (military training)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-1-147 (military reciprocity)
• Mont. Code Ann. § 37-1-304 (licensure by endorsement)
• MAR Notice No. 2026-94.1, July 10, 2026

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

• Alabama
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