StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Delaware

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$128
Exam
NIC Cosmetology Theory (Written) Examination, NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, Division of Professional Regulation (DPR)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Completion of an education equivalent to a 10th-grade education, documented by certified high school transcript or other reliable documentation, pass a criminal background check. Delaware statute (24 Del. C. Ch. 51) does not specify a minimum age for cosmetologist licensure. Applicants may not have been convicted of a crime substantially related to the practice of cosmetology (the Board may grant a waiver after a hearing if it would not create an unreasonable public-safety risk), may not have pending related criminal charges or unresolved disciplinary complaints from another jurisdiction, and must show no current substance-abuse impairment. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500 classroom hours of continuous cosmetology training at an approved school, OR 3,000 apprenticeship hours (24 Del. C. §5100 et seq.); schools may vary daily/weekly scheduling as long as hours don't exceed 40 per week. The Board permits combining school and apprenticeship hours for some credentials, per the Board's FAQ. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Cosmetology Theory (Written) Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Theory (Written) Examination. Prometric took over Delaware cosmetology exam administration (from the prior vendor, PCS) with updated NIC content effective August 1, 2024. Combined theory + practical exam fee is commonly cited at $225, but this figure could not be confirmed on the Board's or Prometric's own fee-schedule pages during this research, so it is left null rather than carried over unverified. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination. See written-exam notes regarding the unverified $225 combined figure. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) with the $128 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) issues your Cosmetologist License for Delaware.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $128
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] None specified
NIC Cosmetology Theory (Written) Examination [2] None specified
NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] None specified
Reciprocity application fee [3] $128
Reinstatement application fee [3] $128

The $128 Examination Application fee (paid online at time of application, not to the Board office) is a combined application/exam-approval fee; no separate license-issuance fee is listed. The Board's official fee schedule states licensees 'are notified of the amount of the renewal fee at the time of renewal' rather than publishing a static number, so renewal is left null; the late/reinstatement penalty is 50% of the renewal fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Delaware requires no continuing education to renew a cosmetology license, per the Board's official FAQ. The renewal fee amount is disclosed to the licensee at the time of renewal rather than published as a fixed figure; a late fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee applies after expiration.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Delaware offers a Reciprocity Application pathway for the same $128 fee as the standard examination application; the Board's FAQ notes that training hours completed in other U.S. states or territories can be applied toward Delaware's requirement. Delaware was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed.

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

Cost calculator

  • $128
Total$128

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Delaware require for a cosmetologist license?

1,500 classroom hours at an approved school, or 3,000 apprenticeship hours.

Who administers Delaware's cosmetology licensing exam?

Prometric administers the NIC Cosmetology Theory and Practical exams, having taken over from the prior vendor (PCS) with updated content effective August 1, 2024.

How much does it cost to apply for a Delaware cosmetologist license?

A $128 Examination Application fee, paid online at the time of application. The renewal fee amount is disclosed to licensees at the time of renewal rather than published as a fixed figure.

Does Delaware require continuing education to renew a cosmetology license?

No. The Board's official FAQ states continuing education is not required for renewal.

Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Delaware?

Yes, through the Reciprocity Application pathway (same $128 fee), and training hours completed in another U.S. state or territory can generally be applied toward Delaware's requirement.

Sources

  1. [1] delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c051/sc01/index.html — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/cosmoexam/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-10