Cosmetologist License Requirements in Indiana
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $89
- Exam
- Cosmetologist Written Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 4 years
- Issuing board
- Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, 10th-grade education or equivalent; applicants under 18 (as young as 17) must instead be a graduate of high school or equivalent.. The official licensing page requires disclosure of a U.S. Social Security Number (IC 4-1-8-1; IC 25-1-5-11(a)) but does not describe a formal fingerprint-based criminal background check specific to individual cosmetologist applications. Indiana Code Title 25-1-1.1 allows the board to consider criminal convictions case-by-case in licensing decisions, but this is a disclosure/character-review mechanism rather than a mandated background check, so backgroundCheck is set to false rather than true. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Cosmetologists must complete 1,500 hours of education at an Indiana-approved Beauty Culture school; enrollment requires completion of 10th-grade education or equivalent. A 2025 legislative proposal (House Bill 1329) would have cut the requirement to 1,000 hours, but it was not enacted — as of this research the official PLA licensing page still lists 1,500 hours as the current requirement, unchanged from historical practice. One year of licensed practice in another jurisdiction can substitute for training hours at a rate of 100 hours per year, for reciprocity/provisional applicants with at least 1,000 hours already completed. [1]
- 3
Cosmetologist Written Examination
Pass the Cosmetologist Written Examination (fee: $49). Computer-based written exam: 100 general items plus 10 Indiana-specific state items (110 scored), plus 5-10 unscored experimental items; 120 minutes; 75% correct required to pass. Offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. PSI's current Indiana candidate bulletin (effective 5/27/2025) covers only a written examination for cosmetologist licensure by exam — no separate state-administered practical/skills exam is described; practical competency is assessed within the approved school program itself. Eligibility to test is submitted by the applicant's education provider once the training program is complete. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) with the $40 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) issues your Cosmetologist License for Indiana.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $40 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $40 |
| Cosmetologist Written Examination [2] | $49 |
| Reinstatement (lapsed license) [1] | $80 |
The PLA fee schedule lists a single $40 'Individual Beauty Culture License' fee that covers both the application and the license itself — there is no separate line-item license fee distinct from the $40 application fee. Renewal is also $40; reinstating a lapsed license costs $80. The $49 PSI written-exam fee is billed separately by the vendor (see exams) and is not included in these state fees.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 4 years.
Under IC 25-8-4-17, a cosmetologist license (other than an instructor license, which renews with the instructor's practitioner license) expires four (4) years after the initial expiration date set by the licensing agency — a notably longer cycle than many states use. Renewal notices are sent (emailed or mailed) approximately 90 days before expiration, and Indiana does not require continuing-education hours to renew a cosmetology license.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Indiana offers ordinary licensure by reciprocity/endorsement: an applicant must hold a valid license from a jurisdiction that imposes substantially equal requirements, or the board may approve a combination of education hours plus actual licensed practice from a jurisdiction whose requirements are not substantially equal. Separately, Indiana enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact via House Bill 1133 (2025) — the official Compact Commission's compact map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) lists Indiana's status as 'Enacted.' However, per the Commission's own FAQ, the compact is not yet operational: activation begins only after 7 states enact it (that threshold has been met) and the activation/rulemaking process takes 18-24 months, with no operational start date announced as of this research. Because the compact is enacted but not yet operational, it is not listed in compacts[] per this project's sourcing rules.
27 state-approved training providers in Indiana — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
- $49
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Indiana require for a cosmetologist license?
1,500 hours of education at an Indiana State Board-approved Beauty Culture school. A 2025 bill (HB 1329) proposed reducing this to 1,000 hours, but it did not pass — 1,500 hours remains the current requirement.
Who administers the Indiana cosmetology exam, and what does it cost?
PSI Services LLC administers a computer-based written exam (110 scored questions, 120 minutes, 75% to pass) for $49. No separate state-administered practical exam is required; practical skills are assessed within the approved school program.
How much does it cost to get licensed and renew in Indiana?
The application/license fee is $40, renewal is also $40, and reinstating a lapsed license costs $80. The $49 PSI written-exam fee is billed separately by the vendor.
How often do I need to renew my Indiana cosmetology license?
Every 4 years — a longer cycle than most states use. Indiana does not require continuing-education hours to renew a cosmetology license.
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Indiana?
Yes, via reciprocity/endorsement if your current license is from a jurisdiction with substantially equal requirements, or through a combination of education hours and licensed practice. Indiana has also enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (HB 1133, 2025), but the compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses.
Sources
- [1] in.gov/pla/professions/cosmetology-and-barber-home/cosmetology-and-barber-licensing-information/ — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/4316 — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] in.gov/pla/files/1.1.23-Cosmetology-Statutes-and-Rules.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10