How to get a Cosmetology license in Utah

Utah cosmetologist licenses

Utah issues 5 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 Utah 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 5)

Requirements

Background check

Denial and discipline grounds follow Utah Code 58-1-401; DOPL offers an optional pre-license criminal history determination.¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply⁴

2. Every license level except Chemical hair services permit

How to apply

Apply online

utahdoc.mylicenseone.com⁴⁵⁶

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: DOPL tells military members and spouses to read its Military Resources page before applying.⁴⁵⁶

3. Every license level except Instructor license (cosmetologist instructor)

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $20³ (renewal filed within 30 days after expiry (renewal fee + late fee, R156-1-308g(1)))
Reinstatement fee: $50³ (reinstatement 31 days to 2 years after expiry (renewal fee + reinstatement fee, R156-1-308g(2)))

4. Every license level except Apprentice registration (approved cosmetologist apprenticeship)

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.

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

5. Every license level except Apprentice registration (approved cosmetologist apprenticeship) and Instructor license (cosmetologist instructor)

Requirements

Also required

Proof of the required minimum service counts, certified by the school or, for apprentices, the supervisor.¹

6. Cosmetology license (holder may be known as a cosmetologist or a barber) and Legacy cosmetology/barbering license

Requirements

Exam

NIC Cosmetology/Barber Theory and Practical Examinations²
Given by: Prov (DOPL links the Prov Candidate Information Bulletin for Utah cosmetology exams)⁵
Passing score: At least 70%, as determined by the exam provider²
Theory (written) examination²
Practical examination²
Time limit: Exams must be passed within one year before the date of application (or another timeframe DOPL approves for extenuating circumstances).²
Exam waived: A substantially equivalent exam approved by another jurisdiction's licensing authority is accepted.²

Fees

Renewal

Renewal fee

$52³ (Listed under the H.B. 8 heading "Cosmetologist/Barber"; two-year term)

If it expires

Up to 30 days after expiry: renewal form plus renewal fee and a late fee.⁷
31 days to 2 years after expiry: renewal form plus renewal fee and reinstatement fee.⁷
Between 2 and 5 years after expiry a cosmetology-chapter license can be reinstated without retaking the exams.²

Renew online

utahdoc.mylicenseone.com⁸

7. Apprentice registration (approved cosmetologist apprenticeship) and Chemical hair services permit

Renewal

If it expires

Up to 30 days after expiry: renewal form plus renewal fee and a late fee.⁷
31 days to 2 years after expiry: renewal form plus renewal fee and reinstatement fee.⁷

8. Apprentice registration (approved cosmetologist apprenticeship) and Instructor license (cosmetologist instructor)

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, dopl.utah.gov)⁵⁶

9. Chemical hair services permit and Instructor license (cosmetologist instructor)

Fees

From another state

Who needs a Cosmetology license

Hair styling, cutting, chemical services (color, bleach, perm, relax), shaving the face/neck, brow and lash tinting/perming, manual hair removal, basic skin care and limited chemical exfoliation, wigs and hair weaving/fusing, manicures, pedicures and artificial nails.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• No license needed for unpaid practice, threading or hair braiding (if no other licensed service), short visiting seminars/shows/competitions, or film-production work up to 120 days a year by someone qualified elsewhere.¹
• Blow-dry/styling-only services are exempt with a DOPL-approved hair safety permit (program of no more than 2 hours, exam pass mark 75%) and a posted notice.¹

Requirements for a Cosmetology license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 1,250 clock hours¹
Licensed or recognized school curriculum covering barbering, haircutting, chemical hair services, manual hair removal, eyelash and eyebrow technology (except extensions), basic esthetics and nail technology¹
Who may teach it: A school licensed by DOPL or a recognized school; up to 50% of a licensed school's program may be online.¹
Alternative: Approved cosmetologist apprenticeship of at least 1,250 hours instead of school¹
Alternative: A graduate of a recognized school with fewer than 1,250 hours may count hours practiced as a cosmetologist in another jurisdiction¹
Alternative: DOPL sets by rule how many hours from an existing license or permit may be credited toward another license¹

Also required

The license must be displayed where the licensee practices.¹

How to apply

1. Complete at least 1,250 hours at a licensed or recognized cosmetology school, or register and complete an approved 1,250-hour cosmetologist apprenticeship.¹
2. Pass the NIC cosmetology theory and practical exams (Prov is the exam vendor), within one year before you apply.²
3. Apply to DOPL online (or on the paper form), with verification of graduation (or another state's license verification), and pay the fee.⁴ utahdoc.mylicenseone.com⁴

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years (next: September 30, 2027); DOPL mails a renewal notice at least 60 days before expiry.⁸

Moving to Utah with a license from another state

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

Apprentice registration

A registered apprentice may practice under one-on-one direct supervision of a licensed instructor without holding a license.¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 1,250 clock hours¹
Apprenticeship training for a cosmetology license¹
Who may teach it: Supervisor must be licensed as an instructor in the discipline and may supervise no more than two apprentices.¹

Exam

Not required¹

Also required

Finish the apprenticeship within two years of DOPL approving the registration, and tell DOPL within 30 days if the supervising instructor changes.¹

Also required

The apprentice must file the registration in their own name and account, with the supervisor-signed Apprentice Supervisor page.⁵

Fees

How to apply

1. Find a supervisor licensed as a cosmetology instructor who will sign the Apprentice Supervision Form (page 2).¹
2. Register with DOPL before you start training: submit the apprentice application (online or paper) with the supervisor page and pay the fee.¹ utahdoc.mylicenseone.com⁵
3. Complete 1,250 supervised hours within two years, keep the time and services records, then take the license exams and apply for the cosmetology license.¹

Renewal

When it expires

Apprentice registrations expire September 30 of odd-numbered years.⁷

Renewal fee

$20³ (Listed under the H.B. 8 heading "Cosmetologist/Barber")

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 7 and group 8 under Applies to every license level.

Chemical hair services permit

Bleaching, tinting, coloring, relaxing, permanent waving or similar treatment of the hair of the head.¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 260 clock hours¹
Licensed or recognized school curriculum covering chemical hair services¹
Alternative: Approved chemical hair service apprenticeship of at least 260 hours¹
Alternative: A graduate of a recognized school with fewer than 260 hours may count hours practiced as a chemical hair service technician in another jurisdiction¹

How to apply

1. Complete at least 260 hours of chemical hair services training at a licensed or recognized school, or a registered 260-hour apprenticeship.¹
2. Pass the exam DOPL requires and apply to DOPL with the fee and proof of the required service counts.¹

Renewal

Renewal fee

$52³

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 7 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Legacy cosmetology/barbering license

Everything in the cosmetology license scope plus the legacy esthetics scope.¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 1,600 clock hours¹
Graduate from a licensed school (only for students who enrolled and started the program on or before January 1, 2026)¹
Alternative: Apprenticeship of at least 2,500 hours under a licensed cosmetology/barbering instructor (apprenticeship registered on or before January 1, 2026)¹

Also required

A legacy cosmetology/barbering licensee may count 600 hours toward the 1,200 hours for a master esthetics license.¹

How to apply

1. Only if you registered a cosmetology/barbering apprenticeship or started a licensed-school program on or before January 1, 2026: finish the 2,500 apprenticeship hours or graduate with 1,600 school hours.¹
2. Pass the NIC Cosmetology/Barber theory and practical exams within one year before applying.²
3. Apply to DOPL and pay the fee; existing cosmetology/barbering licensees simply renew as legacy licensees.¹ utahdoc.mylicenseone.com⁴

Renewal

When it expires

Expires September 30 of odd-numbered years (next: September 30, 2027).⁸

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Instructor license

Teaching the discipline(s) the instructor license covers in a licensed school or as an apprenticeship supervisor; DOPL sets by rule which disciplines each instructor license may teach.¹

Requirements

Education or training

75 clock hours¹
Instructor training program or on-the-job instructor training¹
Alternative: Foreign-school education may be shown as equivalent to a Utah licensed school¹

Experience

At least 6 months¹
Work experience in the discipline to be taught¹
License you must hold first: Must currently hold the license or permit in the discipline to be taught (for a cosmetologist instructor: a cosmetology license).¹

Exam

Passing score: At least 70%, as determined by the exam provider²

Fees

Fee waivers and reductions:

• No application fee is charged to someone who is already a licensed instructor in another discipline under the chapter.¹

How to apply

1. Hold a current Utah license in the discipline you will teach and build at least six months of work experience in it.¹
2. Complete a 75-clock-hour instructor training program or 75 hours of on-the-job instructor training, documented on DOPL's verification forms.⁶
3. Pass the instructor exam DOPL requires, then apply online or on paper and pay the fee.⁶ utahdoc.mylicenseone.com⁶

Renewal

When it expires

One-time certificate; stays valid as long as the underlying license is kept current. DOPL renews it automatically with the basic license.⁸

If it expires

The instructor license lapses if the license that qualified the instructor is not kept current.¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 4, group 8 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

secure.utah.gov⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 11a (Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Act); sections 58-11a-302, -302.13, -302.21, -302.25, -302.26 as amended by 2026 GS ch. 64, effective July 1, 2026
• Utah Code 58-1-302 (license by endorsement)
• Utah Admin. Code R156-11a (Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Act Rule, eff. March 24, 2025)
• Utah Admin. Code R156-1 (DOPL general rule: renewal dates, late renewal and reinstatement)
• H.B. 8 (2026 General Session), Section 3 fees, FY July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027

Rule changes since January 2024

• July 1, 2026: 2026 GS ch. 64 amended 58-11a-302 and 302.13 (cosmetology license section effective July 1, 2026).⁹
• January 1, 2026: 2025 GS ch. 491 rewrote the chapter: existing cosmetology/barbering licenses renew as legacy cosmetology/barbering licenses and the 1,250-hour cosmetology license is the new general license.¹ Cosmetology/barbering licenses renew as legacy cosmetology/barbering licenses; no new legacy licenses after this date except grandfathered students/apprentices.¹

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
• Maine
• 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
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming