Cosmetologist License Requirements in Alaska
- Training hours
- 1650 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $420
- Exam
- NIC Cosmetology/Barbering Theory Written Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age or criminal background check requirement for the hairdresser license is stated on the Board's application instructions, FAQ, or fee pages. Bloodborne pathogen and CPR course requirements apply to related license types (e.g. body piercer) but were not listed as a hairdresser prerequisite. [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1650 hours of training at a state-approved program. Alaska does not issue a 'cosmetologist' license — the license was split into separate Hairdresser and Esthetician licenses in the 1980s. Hairdresser license requires 1,650 school clock hours OR 2,000 apprenticeship hours (work experience can count toward the apprenticeship hour requirement for waiver-of-examination applicants). A separate proficiency (practical) exam administered by the school/instructor at the conclusion of training replaced the state Practical Examination component effective December 7, 2020. [1]
- 3
NIC Cosmetology/Barbering Theory Written Examination
Pass the NIC Cosmetology/Barbering Theory Written Examination (fee: $90). Computer-based testing at a Prov testing center or via remote proctoring; results provided within 24 hours. A separate Proficiency (practical) Examination, administered by the licensee's school or apprenticeship instructor (not the state or Prov), must also be passed at the conclusion of training and documented on the Completion of Training form; it replaced the state-administered Practical Examination effective December 7, 2020. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) with the $150 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) issues your Hairdresser License for Alaska.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $150 |
| License fee [3] | $180 |
| Renewal fee [3] | $180 |
| NIC Cosmetology/Barbering Theory Written Examination [2] | $90 |
| Written Examination (Prov, Inc.) [3] | $90 |
| Temporary license fee [3] | $100 |
Per 12 AAC 02.140: $150 nonrefundable application fee plus $180 initial biennial hairdresser license fee ($330 total, payable to the State of Alaska), plus a $90 written exam fee paid directly to Prov, Inc. Biennial renewal is also $180.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
All Board of Barbers and Hairdressers licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years regardless of issue date, so the effective renewal interval can be less than 2 years for a newly issued license. No continuing-education hour requirement was found on the Board's official pages.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Alaska calls this 'licensure by waiver of examination': available if the applicant holds a current, active license in at least one other state with requirements equal to or greater than Alaska's, verifies at least 1,650 training hours (school) or 2,000 hours (apprenticeship, work experience countable), and provides proof of having passed a theory written exam and a proficiency/practical exam. License verification and transcripts must come directly from the issuing state board/school. Alaska is not a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact — its licensing categories (hairdresser/esthetician/barber split) don't map onto the compact's single 'cosmetologist' license definition, and no enactment by Alaska was found on cosmetologycompact.gov.
Cost calculator
- $150
- $180
- $90
Frequently asked questions
Does Alaska have a 'cosmetologist' license?
No. Alaska split the cosmetologist license into separate Hairdresser and Esthetician licenses in the 1980s; hairdressers perform hair services (plus limited manicuring/pedicuring within their scope) under the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers.
How many training hours does Alaska require for a hairdresser license?
1,650 school clock hours, or 2,000 apprenticeship hours. Work experience can count toward the apprenticeship-hour requirement for waiver-of-examination (reciprocity) applicants.
Who administers the Alaska hairdresser written exam, and what does it cost?
Prov, Inc. administers the NIC theory written examination for $90, paid directly to Prov. A separate proficiency (practical) exam is administered by the applicant's school or apprenticeship instructor, not Prov or the state.
How much does it cost to apply for an Alaska hairdresser license?
A $150 nonrefundable application fee plus a $180 initial license fee ($330 total, paid to the State of Alaska), plus the $90 Prov written exam fee.
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology or hairdresser license to Alaska?
Yes, through 'licensure by waiver of examination' if you hold a current, active license in another state whose requirements are equal to or greater than Alaska's, with your training hours and exam results verified directly by the issuing state board or school.
Sources
- [1] commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/professionallicensing/boardofbarbershairdressers/faqs.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofBarbersHairdressers/ExaminationInformation.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/bah4193.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10