How to get a Cosmetologist license in North Carolina

North Carolina cosmetologist licenses

North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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)

Requirements

Background check

No background check stated as required⁶
No fingerprints required⁶
Felony question on the application; applicants with a felony conviction (or pending charge) submit court records, three character letters and a personal history for Board approval⁶
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply²

Social Security number

Social Security number requested on the paper application⁶

Fees

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

How to apply

Apply online

nccosmeticarts.com⁷

Application form

Form (PDF, nccosmeticarts.com)⁶

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $10² (renewal after October 1)

If it expires

License not renewed by October 1 expires; a licensee who does not renew within five years after expiry must pass an examination before reinstatement¹
Practising on an expired license carries a presumptive civil penalty of $50 (1st), $100 (2nd), $250 (3rd offense)²
Inactive status available; to reactivate, at least 8 CE hours per year of inactivity, up to 24²

Renew online

nccosmeticarts.com⁸

From another state

2. Every license level except Cosmetology Teacher

Fees

How to apply

1. Register for the written and practical exams at provexam.com (select NC – Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners and your school); schedule after the approval voucher arrives.¹⁰
2. Optional: apply for a $5 temporary permit to work under supervision while waiting to test.⁹ nccosmeticarts.com⁷

Temporary or provisional license

NC graduates can get a $5 temporary permit valid 6 months from graduation (not renewable) once the school files graduation paperwork and the graduate has applied to Prov for the exam within 3 months; work only under supervision⁹

Processing time

Online applications processed within 24 hours; licenses mailed 5-10 business days after a complete application and payment³

From another state

3. Every license level except Apprentice (Cosmetologist)

Renewal

Approved courses

Any education since the last renewal counts (classes, videos, online courses, learning from another professional); at least half must be in the licensed field. No provider approval filing; the Board offers free CE. Records are kept by the licensee and produced on audit¹²

4. Every license level except Cosmetologist

Renewal

Renewal fee

$10¹

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

All parts of cosmetic art (cosmetology, esthetics, natural hair care and manicuring), incl. lash extensions in a licensed shop; massage/bodywork and microblading are outside the scope¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Cosmetic art for pay must be done in a licensed cosmetic art shop unless the Chapter provides otherwise¹

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
Cosmetology curriculum in an approved cosmetic art school, with the required performances³
Who may teach it: Board-approved (licensed) NC cosmetic art school; out-of-state school hours accepted if enrolled within 5 years³
Alternative: 1,200 curriculum hours plus at least six months as an apprentice under a cosmetologist's direct supervision (sworn affidavit of three licensed cosmetologists)¹

Exam

Cosmetologist State Board examination (written and practical)³
Given by: Prov (provexam.com)¹⁰
Passing score: 75% on both written and practical³
When you can take it: Written exam after 1,000 cosmetology curriculum hours; practical only after completing the whole curriculum; school/Board approves the Prov registration²
Written (theory) and practical sections; written exam offered in several languages, practical in English only¹
Retakes: After three failures the applicant must complete additional Board-prescribed requirements before re-testing¹
Time limit: School credit expires five years after enrollment unless hours were completed and the exam applied for¹
Exam waived: Not required for applicants holding a current license in another state (license transfer)¹³

Also required

Name on government photo ID must match exactly¹⁰

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.

How to apply

1. Complete the 1500-hour cosmetologist curriculum at a Board-licensed NC cosmetic art school (students enroll through the Board's Access Hub).¹³
2. After passing both exams, apply online or by paper application and pay the $49 license fee; licenses are mailed in 5-10 business days.³ nccosmeticarts.com⁷

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 3 years¹

When it expires

Renew on or before October 1 every three years (the Board may stagger renewals and prorate fees); 2026 on-time window July 1 - October 1¹

Renewal fee

$39²

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

At least half of CE hours in the cosmetic art field in which licensed²

Exemptions

Active cosmetologists aged 60+ with 10 consecutive years in the profession are exempt (not available for teacher licenses)¹
Active cosmetologists with 20 consecutive years of experience are exempt but must report any CE taken (exemption form)¹
No CE until the licensing period after initial licensure; inactive licensees need none²

Moving to North Carolina with a license from another state

These are the routes the NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners publishes for the Cosmetologist license. The other cosmetologist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Apprentice (Cosmetologist)

Learns cosmetic art under the direct supervision of a cosmetologist; may not operate a shop¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 1,200 clock hours¹
Apprentice cosmetology curriculum in an approved cosmetic art school³
Who may teach it: Board-approved cosmetic art school³
Alternative: A 1,500-hour graduate who scores at least 70% (but under 75%) on both parts may request an apprentice license instead of retesting²

Exam

Apprentice Cosmetologist State Board examination (written and practical)³
Given by: Prov (provexam.com)¹⁰
Passing score: 70% on both written and practical²
When you can take it: Practical exam only after completing the whole apprentice curriculum; the rule's early written-exam point (after 1,000 curriculum hours) is worded for cosmetologist candidates. School/Board approves the Prov registration²
Written (theory) and practical sections; written exam offered in several languages, practical in English only¹
Time limit: School credit expires five years after enrollment unless hours were completed and the exam applied for¹
Exam waived: Not required for applicants holding a current license in another state (license transfer)¹³

Also required

Upgrade path: six months of supervised apprenticeship (affidavit of three licensed cosmetologists) qualifies for the cosmetologist license¹

Also required

Practising as an apprentice without direct supervision carries civil penalties of $100/$300/$500²

Other requirements and options

Apprenticeships exist only in cosmetology, and apprentices must first graduate from a licensed school³

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 1200-hour apprentice curriculum at a Board-licensed NC cosmetic art school (students enroll through the Board's Access Hub).¹³
2. After passing both exams, apply online or by paper application and pay the $20 license fee; licenses are mailed in 5-10 business days.³ nccosmeticarts.com⁷

Renewal

How often

Every year¹

When it expires

Renew annually on or before October 1¹

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.

Cosmetology Teacher

Teaches cosmetic art in a Board-approved cosmetic art school¹

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required¹

Education or training

At least 800 clock hours¹
Cosmetology teacher curriculum in an approved cosmetic art school (or the work-experience route)³
Who may teach it: Teacher training program at a licensed cosmetic art school¹³
Alternative: Instead of the course: one year full-time practice in a cosmetic art shop (or Board-approved industry job) immediately before applying, via the Teacher Examination Application¹³

Experience

Work-experience route: one year of full-time practice immediately before applying; the rule asks for an affidavit documenting at least 10,400 hours in the cosmetic arts industry²
License you must hold first: Must hold an NC cosmetologist license in good standing¹

Exam

Cosmetology teacher examination¹
Given by: Prov (provexam.com)¹⁰
Passing score: 85%²
When you can take it: Work-experience candidates are approved after the Board processes the Teacher Examination Application (about 10 business days)¹⁴
Practical and written portions¹
Retakes: After three failures, additional Board requirements before re-testing¹

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 an NC cosmetologist license and a high school diploma or GED.¹
2. Either complete 800 hours in a school teacher program, or file the Teacher Examination Application certifying one year of full-time shop work.¹³ Form (PDF, nccosmeticarts.com)¹⁴
3. Register with Prov (experience candidates choose "NC State Board – Instructor Based on Experience - #3333") and pass the exam with 85%.¹⁰
4. Apply for the teacher license online or on paper and pay $20.¹⁵ nccosmeticarts.com⁷

Processing time

Teacher Examination Applications processed within 10 business days¹⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Renew every two years on or before October 1¹

Continuing education

At least 8 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

At least 50% of course subject matter on teacher-training techniques²

Exemptions

The 60-years/10-years exemption does not apply to teacher licenses¹²

From another state

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

Look up a license

nccosmeticarts.com¹³

File a complaint

nccosmeticarts.com⁸

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 88B (Cosmetic Art)
• 21 NCAC 14 (Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners)

Rule changes since January 2024

• April 1, 2026: 21 NCAC 14 rules (fees, CE, exams, felony review, military) readopted effective April 1, 2026.²

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

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