Cosmetologist License Requirements in Colorado
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- Written and Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. No minimum age is stated for cosmetologist licensure on the Office's official pages or in 4 CCR 731-1. Applicants with a criminal conviction may submit a written statement with background information regarding the conviction (Rule 5.2(C)); under HB24-1004 (Ex-Offenders Practice in Regulated Occupations, signed June 4, 2024), a regulator may only consider a conviction for a 3-year period from the date of conviction or end of incarceration, absent a subsequent conviction in that window. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 50 credit hours or 1,500 contact/clock hours at a school approved by the Division of Private Occupational Schools (private) or the Colorado Community College System (public), per 4 CCR 731-1, Rule 2.1(A)(2). Curriculum must cover shampooing/rinsing/conditioning, hair coloring, haircutting, hairstyling, chemical texture services, manicuring/pedicuring, artificial nails, facials/skin care, facial makeup, hair removal, laws/rules, management/ethics, and disinfection/safe work practices. [1]
- 3
Written and Practical Examination
Pass the Written and Practical Examination. PSI administers both the written and practical cosmetologist examinations under contract with the Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure; candidates apply and schedule directly through PSI Online. PSI's specific fee amount is not published on the Board's official pages (candidates see it in the PSI portal at scheduling time), so it is left null rather than guessed. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA). [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure (Division of Professions and Occupations, DORA) issues your Cosmetologist License for Colorado.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | None specified |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | None specified |
| Written and Practical Examination [2] | None specified |
The Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure does not publish static dollar amounts for the application, exam, license, endorsement, or renewal fees on its official pages — fees are calculated and displayed at the time of application/renewal inside DPO Online Services (for state fees) and the PSI portal (for exam fees), so all are left null rather than carrying over unverified third-party figures.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year.
Unlike Colorado's barber, esthetician, hairstylist, and nail technician licenses (which expire biennially on March 31 of even-numbered years), Cosmetologist licenses in Colorado expire annually on April 30 every year, with the exact date dependent on the original issuance date. There is a 60-day grace period after expiration during which the licensee may continue to provide services. No continuing-education hour requirement is stated for cosmetologist renewal on the Board's official pages (a CE information sheet exists for other purposes, e.g. reinstatement/endorsement contexts).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Colorado offers 'Licensure by Endorsement' (4 CCR 731-1, Chapter 4, under §12-8-118 C.R.S.) for applicants with a current, unrestricted, good-standing license from another state/territory/country: they must show graduation from an approved school, training hours equal to or greater than Colorado's Chapter 2 requirements, passage of a written exam administered/accepted by the other jurisdiction, and either passage of a practical exam accepted by that jurisdiction OR at least 1,000 hours of work experience in the license type within the 2 years before applying. If requirements aren't fully met, the applicant may need to take all or part of Colorado's written and practical exams. Colorado enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact — the 7th state to do so, triggering formation of the Compact Commission (per cosmetologycompact.gov's enactment announcements) — but the Commission has not yet begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research (targeted late 2026/early 2027), so it is not listed under compacts.
22 state-approved training providers in Colorado — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Colorado require for a cosmetologist license?
50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours at an approved private or public cosmetology school (4 CCR 731-1, Rule 2.1).
Who administers Colorado's cosmetology licensing exams?
PSI administers both the written and practical exams. Candidates apply and schedule directly through PSI Online (1-800-733-9267).
When does a Colorado cosmetologist license expire?
Annually, on April 30, with the exact expiration date dependent on the license's original issuance date — unlike barber, esthetician, hairstylist, and nail technician licenses, which renew biennially.
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Colorado?
Yes, through Licensure by Endorsement, if you hold a current, unrestricted, good-standing license from another state, meet Colorado's training-hour equivalent, and have passed a written exam plus either a practical exam or 1,000 hours of recent work experience.
Does a past criminal conviction disqualify me from a Colorado cosmetology license?
Not automatically. Under HB24-1004 (2024), the Office may only consider a conviction for 3 years from the conviction date or end of incarceration, provided there's no additional conviction in that window; applicants may also submit a written statement with background information.
Sources
- [1] sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] dpo.colorado.gov/BarberCosmetology/Education — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] dpo.colorado.gov/BarberCosmetology/Applications — accessed 2026-07-10