How to get a Cosmetologist license in Wyoming

Wyoming cosmetologist licenses

Wyoming issues 4 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 Wyoming 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 4)

How to apply

Application form

drive.google.com³⁸⁹

Renewal

Renew online

wybocv7prod.glsuite.us¹⁰¹¹

2. Every license level except Independent Contractor license

Requirements

Background check

Background check required¹
Board staff review every application and refer possible grounds for denial to an Application Review Committee, which can recommend issue, conditions or denial; the applicant can ask for a hearing within 30 days.¹²

Residency or citizenship

Proof of lawful presence: current state ID or driver's license plus Social Security card or U.S. birth certificate, or a current U.S. passport or permanent resident card.⁸

Social Security number

The examination application asks for a Social Security number.⁸

Fees

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁶

When it expires

First license: one year from the month issued. After that: two-year renewals expiring in your birth month (pro-rated).⁶

Renewal fee

$96⁶

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $175¹ (license lapsed (not renewed within 90 days after expiry), plus license fees for the lapsed period)

If it expires

An expired personal license can be renewed within 90 days; after 90 days it lapses.¹
Working on an expired license counts as unlicensed practice; the grace period only delays the late fee.⁴
Lapsed 5 years or more (and not eligible for endorsement): complete a 100-hour refresher course at a licensed school, then pass the theory and practical exams.¹

From another state

3. Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist

Requirements

Minimum age

16 years old¹⁴

High school diploma or GED

Not required¹⁴

Exam

NIC theory and written-practical examinations³
Given by: ProV (test administration company); NIC exams³
When you can take it: After graduating (all required hours) and after the board office approves your exam application.³
Theory (written) exam⁸
Written-practical exam³
Retakes: Retake only the failed part, after registering and paying again.⁵
Time limit: Pass all parts within one year of a failure, or retake the whole examination.⁵
Exam waived: License by endorsement (W.S. 33-12-132) is issued without examination.¹

Also required

Booth renters (self-employed in a licensed salon) also need an Independent Contractor license.¹⁰

How to apply

1. Fill in the Application for Examination and sign it in front of a notary. Gather proof of lawful presence, a current passport-type photo (it can be emailed), and certification of your hours from the state or your school's original final course record.⁸ drive.google.com³
2. Mail the application, documents and the $48 license fee (money order or cashier's check) to the board office: 2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 302, Cheyenne, WY 82002.⁸
3. When the board approves your application, ProV emails you instructions to schedule and pay for the NIC theory and written-practical exams.³
4. After you pass both exams the board issues your license. You must have it in hand before you start working.³

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

Hair, skin and nail services for cosmetic purposes; the cosmetology license covers the hairstylist, nail technician and esthetics scopes (no skin-piercing procedures).⁴

Work that does not need this license:

• Physicians, nurses, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, physical therapists, morticians and barbers working only within their own professions are not covered.¹
• Staff, volunteers and residents serving residents on the premises of hospitals, nursing homes, senior centers and similar facilities are exempt.¹
• Product demonstrators and facial-makeup-only artists do not need a license.¹
• Natural hair braiding only (no chemicals, dyes or cutting beyond minor trimming) is not regulated.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Licensees may work outside a salon only in a patron's home, the health facility where the patron lives or stays, or the hotel/motel where the patron is staying, following infection-control standards.¹⁵
• Licensees may not offer services that pierce the skin, including microblading.¹⁰

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 1,600 clock hours²
Graduate from a cosmetology program of at least 1,600 hours over at least 8 months: 850 hours hair, 450 hours esthetics and 300 hours nail technology.²
Who may teach it: A cosmetology school licensed in Wyoming (or a recognized out-of-state school); up to 2% of hours may be discretionary hours off premises under an instructor of the school, and non-clinical hours may be earned by live (synchronous) remote education.²
Alternative: No apprenticeship route: you must train at a recognized cosmetology school. Correspondence courses are not recognized; out-of-state apprenticeship counts only if certified by a state regulatory agency.¹⁰
Alternative: Licensed hairstylists, nail technicians or estheticians (and students of those courses) get full credit for their hours when moving to the cosmetology course.²
Alternative: Transfer hours from out-of-state or foreign schools with comparable requirements count if earned within the last 5 years and certified by that state's board or the school.¹⁴
Alternative: College credit hours convert at 30 clock hours per credit hour (cosmetology credits earned within 5 years).⁴

Also required

Every licensee must give the board a current passport-type (headshot) photo.⁴

Also required

Licenses must be displayed where clients can see them.⁴

How to apply

1. Complete a 1,600-hour cosmetology program (at least 8 months) at a Wyoming-licensed (or recognized out-of-state) cosmetology school.²

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary permit: you must have the license in hand before working; the board issues no temporary practice permits to military members or spouses.³

Renewal and continuing education

Hair Stylist

Cutting, styling, chemical waving/straightening, coloring and other services on the hair, scalp, wigs or hairpieces, and applying hair extensions.⁴

Requirements

Education or training

At least 1,000 clock hours²
Graduate from a hairstyling program of at least 1,000 hours over at least 5 months.²
Who may teach it: A cosmetology school licensed in Wyoming (or a recognized out-of-state school); up to 2% of hours may be discretionary hours off premises under an instructor of the school, and non-clinical hours may be earned by live (synchronous) remote education.²
Alternative: No apprenticeship route: you must train at a recognized cosmetology school. Correspondence courses are not recognized; out-of-state apprenticeship counts only if certified by a state regulatory agency.¹⁰
Alternative: Transfer hours from out-of-state or foreign schools with comparable requirements count if earned within the last 5 years and certified by that state's board or the school.¹⁴
Alternative: College credit hours convert at 30 clock hours per credit hour (cosmetology credits earned within 5 years).⁴

Also required

Licensed hairstylists may add an Add-On Hair Removal license (125-hour course) or an Add-On Lash and Brow license (200-hour course).²

How to apply

1. Complete a 1,000-hour hairstyling program (at least 5 months) at a Wyoming-licensed (or recognized out-of-state) cosmetology school.²

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary permit: you must have the license in hand before working.³

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

Independent Contractor license

Lets a licensed cosmetologist, hairstylist, nail technician or esthetician work self-employed (e.g. booth rent) inside a licensed salon; the license moves with you to a new salon.⁴

Requirements

Experience

Hold a current Wyoming cosmetologist, hairstylist, nail technician or esthetician license.⁴
License you must hold first: Current Wyoming personal license (cosmetology, hairstylist, nail technician or esthetician).¹⁶

Also required

Bring your own basic equipment; the salon owner maintains shared areas such as shampoo bowls and pedicure spas.¹⁷

Also required

Post your independent contractor license and latest inspection at your work station; keep the area open for inspection during salon hours.¹⁷

Also required

Tell the board if you stop services or move to another salon.¹⁷

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 a current Wyoming personal license and arrange to work as a self-employed contractor in a licensed salon.⁴
2. Fill in the Application for New Independent Contractor (your license number and the salon's license number) and pick the pro-rated fee for the month you apply.¹⁶ drive.google.com⁹
3. Mail the application with a check or money order (no cash) to the board office.¹⁰

Renewal

How often

Every year¹⁷

When it expires

Expires August 31 every year.¹⁷

Renewal fee

$75⁶

If it expires

Renewing after August 31 brings a late fee.¹⁷

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Instructor

Teaching in a licensed cosmetology school, only in the field of the instructor's own professional license; no practice on patrons at the school except for instruction.⁷

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁷

High school diploma or GED

Required¹⁴

Education or training

At least 500 clock hours²
Complete an instructor program of at least 500 hours over at least 2½ months (student supervision counts for no more than 100 hours).²
Who may teach it: Instructor training course at a cosmetology school (the school files the student-instructor enrollment with the board).¹⁴
Alternative: Equal or greater teaching study outside a cosmetology school.⁷
Alternative: A combination of training and work history equal to the instructor course.⁷

Experience

Before enrolling: at least 50 weeks of salon practice at 36 or more hours per week within the last 5 years.¹⁴
Supervision: Proof by notarized employer statement or tax records.¹⁴
License you must hold first: A current Wyoming license in cosmetology or a related field.¹⁴

Exam

Instructor theory and practical examination⁷
Given by: ProV (test administration company)³
Retakes: Retake only the failed part after registering and paying again.⁷
Exam waived: Instructor license by endorsement under W.S. 33-12-132.⁷

How to apply

1. Meet the entry rules (high school diploma or equivalent, age 18, current Wyoming license, 50 weeks of full-time salon work in the last 5 years) and enroll in a school's instructor course.¹⁴
2. Complete the 500-hour instructor course (or show equal teaching study or training plus work history).²
3. Mail the notarized Application for Examination (tick INSTRUCTOR) with your documents and the $48 license fee to the board office.⁷
4. Schedule and pay for the computer-based exams with the testing company after the board approves you; pass both parts to get the license.⁷

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

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

wybocv7prod.glsuite.us¹¹

File a complaint

cosmetology.wyo.gov¹⁸

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Wyo. Stat. 33-12-119 to 33-12-140 (Wyoming Cosmetology Act)
• Wyo. Stat. 33-1-117 (expedited licenses for military service members and spouses)
• Wyo. Stat. 33-1-120 (licensure for qualified individuals licensed in other jurisdictions)
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 1 (General Provision), 033.0001.1.04012026
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 2 (Personal Licensing Requirements and Procedures), 033.0001.2.05152025
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 6 (Course of Study), 033.0001.6.04012026
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 13, 033.0001.13.01182024, effective 01/18/2024
• Wyo. Stat. 33-12-127(e) (independent contractor certificate)
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 7 (Salon and Independent Contractors) §§15-19, 033.0001.7.05152025
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 13 §1(c), §2(b), effective 01/18/2024
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 4 (Instructor Licensing and Requirements), 033.0001.4.05152025
• Wyoming Board of Cosmetology Rules ch. 5 (Student and Student Instructors), 033.0001.5.06232021

Rule changes since January 2024

• April 1, 2026: Current versions of Board Rules ch. 1 (General Provision, incl. scope of practice and add-on licenses) and ch. 6 (Course of Study) took effect 04/01/2026.²

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

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