StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Connecticut

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$100
Exam
Written Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Successful completion of at least the 9th grade or its equivalent. No minimum age requirement is stated on the Department's official hairdresser licensure pages. No criminal background check requirement is mentioned for the hairdresser license itself, though the reciprocity pathway does bar applicants with pending professional disciplinary action or unresolved complaints in another jurisdiction. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Not less than 1,500 hours of study in a school approved by the Connecticut State Board for Barbers, Hairdressers and Cosmeticians (or a school recognized by the Connecticut State Board of Education), OR completion of an equivalent apprenticeship program. [1]

  3. 3

    Written Examination

    Pass the Written Examination. 100 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours; written exam only (no separate state practical exam). Exam scores are submitted directly to the Department by Prometric. Prometric's own exam fee amount is not published on the Department's official hairdresser pages, so it is left null rather than guessed. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section with the $100 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section issues your Hairdresser License for Connecticut.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $100
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $100
Written Examination [1] None specified

The $100 application fee (payable via the state's eLicense online system) covers both the licensure application and issuance — no separate license-issuance fee is listed. Renewal is also $100, paid biennially.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Licenses renew biennially by the last day of the licensee's birth month for a $100 fee. Connecticut does not require continuing education hours to renew a hairdresser license.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Connecticut licenses by reciprocity applicants who hold a current hairdresser license from another state, D.C., or U.S. territory issued on the basis of completed education/training plus an examination, for the same $100 application fee, with license verification sent directly from the issuing state. An alternative pathway exists for applicants whose original license required no exam: they must show at least 5 years of practice via license verification plus corroborating documentation (employer/coworker/client correspondence, tax returns listing cosmetology as an occupation). No license is issued if the applicant has pending professional disciplinary action. Connecticut was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed.

9 state-approved training providers in Connecticut — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $100
Total$100

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Connecticut require for a hairdresser license?

1,500 hours at an approved school, or completion of an equivalent apprenticeship program.

Who administers Connecticut's hairdresser licensing exam?

Prometric administers a 100-question, 2-hour written examination — there is no separate state practical exam. Prometric submits scores directly to the Department.

How much does a Connecticut hairdresser license cost?

A $100 application fee, submitted online through the state's eLicense system. Renewal is also $100, due biennially.

Does Connecticut require continuing education to renew a hairdresser license?

No. Connecticut is one of the states that does not require continuing education hours for hairdresser license renewal.

Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology or hairdresser license to Connecticut?

Yes, via reciprocity, for the same $100 fee, if your license was issued based on completed training and an exam, with verification sent directly from your licensing state. If your original license didn't require an exam, you can instead document at least 5 years of practice.

Sources

  1. [1] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/hairdresser/hairdresser-licensure-by-examination — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/hairdresser/hairdresser-licensure — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/hairdresser/hairdresser-licensure-based-on-an-out-of-state-license — accessed 2026-07-10