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Keep your cosmetology license active. Most states renew every 2 years, and about 36 states don't require any continuing education. Find your state's renewal fees, CE requirements, and deadlines below.
2 yrs
Most Common Cycle
~36
States No CE Required
$45-65
Typical Fee Range
4-16
CE Hours (If Required)
Once you get your cosmetology license, you need to renew it periodically to keep it active. The good news is that in most states, renewal is straightforward: pay a fee and you're done. About 36 states don't require any continuing education at all. The states that do require CE typically ask for 4 to 16 hours per renewal cycle, covering topics like sanitation, infection control, and state laws.
The standard renewal cycle is every 2 years. A few states (Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine) require annual renewal, while Minnesota and North Carolina use a 3-year cycle. New York has the longest cycle at 4 years. Renewal fees typically range from $40 to $70, though some states charge more.
Don't let your license expire. Late renewal fees add up quickly. In most states, if your license has been expired for 2 to 3 years, you'll have to retake the cosmetology exam. Working with an expired license is illegal and can result in fines.
Detailed renewal requirements for the most searched states. Each card shows the renewal period, continuing education hours, fees, and any special requirements.
No CE required. Renew via BreEZe portal. License expires on your birth month. Board of Barbering & Cosmetology.
10 CE hours required: 1 hr HIV/AIDS, 3 hrs sanitation, 2 hrs laws & rules, plus OSHA, chemical makeup, and environmental topics. 10+ year licensees with no disciplinary actions are CE-exempt.
14 CE hours required. All 14 can be completed online. One-time domestic violence awareness course. Sexual harassment awareness each cycle. Expires Sept 30 of odd years.
Annual renewal by your birthday. No CE required. Mail-in renewal only. $25 late fee if renewed within 2 years. Must retake exam if expired 3+ years.
No CE required for cosmetologists (instructors need 8 hrs). Expires Sept 30 of odd years. Must retake practical exam if expired 2+ years.
4 CE hours: 1 hr board laws (Board-provided only) + 3 hrs infection control & safety. First-time renewals and licensees with 30+ years are CE-exempt.
4 CE hours (2 hrs if licensed 15+ years): 1 hr sanitation + 1 hr human trafficking prevention + 2 hrs cosmetology topics. Regulated by TDLR. Late fee is 1.5x to 2x.
No CE required. Expires Sept 30 of odd years. Online-only applications starting Jan 2026. $20-$50 reinstatement fee if expired.
About 14 states (plus DC) require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal. CE hours range from 4 to 24 depending on the state and renewal cycle length. Most CE can be completed online through approved providers.
10 CE hours including HIV/AIDS, sanitation, laws & rules. CE-exempt after 10+ years with clean record.
5 CE hours after first renewal: 3 hrs health & safety + 2 hrs industry topics
14 CE hours, all completable online. Domestic violence + sexual harassment topics required.
6 CE hours required
6 CE hours (effective Jan 2026): 2 hrs required topics + 4 hrs elective
8 CE hours per 3-year cycle
8 CE hours required
4 CE hours required
24 CE hours over 3 years (8 per year). Among the highest requirements.
4 CE hours: board laws + infection control. First-time and 30+ year exemptions.
4 CE hours: laws, client safety, infection control
16 CE hours. Among the highest requirements.
4 CE hours: sanitation + human trafficking prevention + cosmetology topics. TDLR.
4 CE hours required
6 CE hours required
The majority of states do not require any continuing education for cosmetology license renewal. In these states, you simply pay the renewal fee and your license stays active. Some of these states have been considering adding CE requirements, so check your state board for any recent changes.
Every state's renewal period, CE hours, and approximate fee at a glance. Tap any state for details.
No CE required
No CE required
No CE required. Renew by birthday.
No CE required
No CE required. Renew via BreEZe portal. Expires on birth month.
No CE required
No CE required
No CE required
10 CE hours including HIV/AIDS, sanitation, laws & rules. CE-exempt after 10+ years with clean record.
5 CE hours after first renewal: 3 hrs health & safety + 2 hrs industry topics
No CE required
No CE required
14 CE hours, all completable online. Domestic violence + sexual harassment topics required.
No CE required
6 CE hours required
Annual renewal (July). No CE required.
Annual renewal. No CE required. One of the lowest fees.
Annual renewal by birthday. No CE required. Mail-in only.
Annual renewal. No CE required. Lowest fee in the country.
6 CE hours (effective Jan 2026): 2 hrs required topics + 4 hrs elective
No CE required
No CE required
8 CE hours per 3-year cycle
No CE required
No CE required for cosmetologists
No CE required
8 CE hours required
4 CE hours required
No CE required
No CE required
No CE required
Longest renewal period in the country. No CE required.
24 CE hours over 3 years (8 per year). Among the highest requirements.
No CE required
4 CE hours: board laws + infection control. First-time and 30+ year exemptions.
No CE required
No CE required
No CE required
No CE required
4 CE hours: laws, client safety, infection control
No CE required
16 CE hours. Among the highest requirements.
4 CE hours: sanitation + human trafficking prevention + cosmetology topics. TDLR.
No CE required. Online-only starting Jan 2026.
No CE required
No CE required. Highest renewal fee.
No CE required. Late renewal: $139.
No CE required
4 CE hours required
No CE required
6 CE hours required
The renewal process is similar in most states. Follow these steps:
Log in to your state board of cosmetology website or look up your license to find your expiration date. Most states send renewal notices by email, but don't rely on that. Set your own reminder 60 to 90 days before your license expires.
If your state requires CE, complete the required hours through an approved provider before your renewal deadline. Most CE courses are available online and can be done at your own pace. Keep your completion certificates. You may need to upload them or enter certificate numbers during renewal.
Most states let you renew online through their board website. You will need your license number and a payment method. A few states (like Louisiana) still require a mailed paper form. Double-check that your contact information is current.
Pay the required fee online or by check. If you are renewing late, expect to pay an additional late fee. Some states charge 1.5 to 2 times the regular fee for late renewals. The sooner you renew after expiration, the less you will pay.
After submitting, verify that your license status shows as active on your state board's license lookup tool. Print or save your renewal confirmation. Most states process online renewals within a few business days, but it can take longer during peak renewal periods.