StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Idaho

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1600 hrs
Upfront cost
$298
Exam
Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination, Cosmetology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16.5 years old, At least two (2) years of high school, or an equivalent education as determined by the Board (Idaho Code Sec. 54-5810(1)(b))., pass a criminal background check. Idaho Code Sec. 54-5810(1)(d) requires an applicant to prove they have not engaged in conduct that would be grounds for discipline under Sec. 54-5823; in practice the Board implements this via a required Criminal Conviction Disclosure Form and review of criminal/discipline history rather than a fingerprint-based background check like some health occupations use. A high-school student enrolled in a licensed school may begin accruing instruction hours before turning 16 1/2. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,600 total hours at a board-approved cosmetology school (Idaho Code Sec. 54-5810(2)(c)(i)), OR 3,200 hours as a registered apprentice under a licensed cosmetology instructor (Sec. 54-5810(2)(c)(ii)); IDAPA 24.28.01.150.02.a separately caps a cosmetologist apprenticeship at 104 weeks. Idaho Code Sec. 54-5810 has been amended repeatedly since its 2018 enactment (amendments in 2019, 2020, and 2022), consistent with Idaho's broader occupational-licensing reform lowering training-hour requirements across several license types over that period; 1,600 hours is the figure currently in force under the statute as accessed — do not rely on older secondary sources citing a higher figure without checking this statute directly. [1]

  3. 3

    Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination

    Pass the Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination (fee: $88). Computer-based, 90-minute exam; may be taken at one of ProV's 8 Idaho written-test sites or remotely from home via Examroom.ai proctoring. Fee is the same whether testing for the first time or retaking the exam. [2]

  4. 4

    Cosmetology Practical Examination

    Pass the Cosmetology Practical Examination (fee: $120). Hands-on skills exam covering the NIC Core Practical Sections plus eyebrow hair removal and manicure; available at one of ProV's 3 Idaho practical-test sites or remotely via proctored remote practical exam instructions. Fee is the same whether testing for the first time or retaking the exam. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) with the $30 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) issues your Cosmetologist License for Idaho.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $30
License fee [3] $60
Renewal fee [3] $60
Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination [2] $88
Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] $120
Endorsement (reciprocity) license fee [3] $90
Annual renewal fee (available to licensees still on the pre-transition 1-year cycle through the 2026-2028 phase-in) [3] $30
Reinstatement fee [3] $35

Figures reflect the Board's new 2-year fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 (application $30 + individual license $60 = $90 for an original license; biennial renewal $60). This supersedes the older $25 application / $25 individual-license / $25 renewal figures published in the standing IDAPA 24.28.01.400 fee-ceiling table (last textually amended 7-1-24), which the Board's own May 2026 announcement confirms changed on 7-1-2026 as part of a division-wide move from annual to biennial licensing. Licensees not yet transitioned to the 2-year cycle continue to pay the new $30 annual renewal fee until their individual transition date (based on birth-year/original-licensure-year parity).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Idaho Code Sec. 54-5821 (as amended 2024) makes all Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board licenses subject to 'biennial renewal.' The Board is in the middle of a multi-year transition from 1-year to 2-year renewal cycles that began (for this board) July 1, 2026: current licensees move onto the 2-year cycle in 2026, 2027, or 2028 depending on their birth year (or original-licensure year, for establishments) being even or odd, while new applicants are issued at least a 2-year license immediately. No continuing-education-hour requirement was found in the Board's governing statute (Idaho Code Title 54, Ch. 58) or its administrative rules (IDAPA 24.28.01) for renewing a cosmetologist license, so ceHours is recorded as null rather than guessed.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Idaho Code Sec. 54-5816 allows licensure by endorsement, without examination, to an out-of-state licensee who meets Idaho's age/education/conduct requirements (Sec. 54-5810(1)(a),(b),(d)) and either (a) holds a license from a jurisdiction with standards not lower than Idaho's, or (b) has practiced the occupation at least 1 of the last 3 years; the endorsement license fee is $90 (effective 7-1-2026). Separately, out-of-state trained applicants who don't qualify for endorsement can credit practical work experience toward Idaho's hour requirement (IDAPA 24.28.01.100.02.e: 200 hours as a student or 400 hours as an apprentice per 6 months of cosmetology experience). Idaho is NOT a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact: as of this research, the compact commission's own Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map) lists only Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as having enacted or active legislation; Idaho does not appear on that list at all, so compacts is left empty per the source rules.

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

Cost calculator

  • $30
  • $60
  • $88
  • $120
Total$298

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Idaho require to become a licensed cosmetologist?

1,600 hours at a board-approved cosmetology school, or 3,200 hours as a registered apprentice, per Idaho Code Sec. 54-5810(2)(c). This is Idaho's current statutory figure — it has been amended several times since 2018 as part of broader occupational-licensing reform, so older sources may cite a stale, higher hour count.

Who administers Idaho's cosmetology licensing exam, and what does it cost?

ProV, Inc. administers Idaho's cosmetology exams under contract with the Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board; the exam content itself is the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology's (NIC) written and practical exams. The written exam costs $88 and the practical exam costs $120, whether it's your first attempt or a retake.

How much does an Idaho cosmetology license cost, and how often do I renew?

As of July 1, 2026, an original license costs $30 (application) plus $60 (license) = $90. Idaho is transitioning this board from annual to biennial (2-year) renewal; new licenses are issued for at least 2 years and cost $60 to renew biennially ($30/year if you're still on the old annual cycle during the phase-in).

Can I transfer my cosmetology license from another state to Idaho?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement ($90 fee) if you hold a license from a state with equal-or-higher standards, or have worked as a cosmetologist for at least 1 of the last 3 years. Idaho has not joined the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, so endorsement — not a compact multistate license — is currently the only reciprocity path.

Is there a continuing education requirement to renew my Idaho cosmetology license?

No. Idaho's Barber and Cosmetology Services Act and its administrative rules (IDAPA 24.28.01) do not impose a continuing-education-hour requirement for renewing a cosmetologist license.

Sources

  1. [1] legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title54/T54CH58/SECT54-5810/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] provexam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Prov_CIB_ID_Inc_Written_Site_Inst_2025.01.27.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] dopl.idaho.gov/pressrelease/big-changes-are-on-the-way-stay-informed-about-important-fee-and-licensure-updates-that-may-impact-your-renewal-cycle/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title54/T54CH58/SECT54-5816/ — accessed 2026-07-10