Cosmetologist License Requirements in Minnesota
- Training hours
- 1550 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $195
- Exam
- General Theory Test, Written Practical Test, Minnesota Laws and Rules Test
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Issuing board
- Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 17 years old. Minnesota Rules part 2105.0145 requires applicants (not previously licensed in another state) to be at least 17 years old and to have completed the required training hours and 3 board-approved exams; it does not list a criminal background check as an application requirement, so backgroundCheck is set to false. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1550 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,550 hours of coursework at a Minnesota-licensed cosmetology school (or an out-of-state equivalent for transfer applicants), covering the full nail technician and esthetician curricula plus the balance in hair services. If an applicant's training is more than 5 years old, a skills course certificate no more than 1 year old must be submitted. No standard apprenticeship pathway substitutes for school hours for first-time in-state applicants. [1]
- 3
General Theory Test
Pass the General Theory Test. Written/computer-based knowledge test. One of three board-approved exams (General, Written Practical, and Minnesota Laws & Rules) that must all be passed; results must be no more than 1 year old at application. PSI's fee schedule is not published on the Board's own site, so fee is left null rather than guessed. [1]
- 4
Written Practical Test
Pass the Written Practical Test. Written/computer-based test assessing practical procedures. One of three required board-approved exams. Fee not published by the Board; left null rather than guessed. [1]
- 5
Minnesota Laws and Rules Test
Pass the Minnesota Laws and Rules Test. Written/computer-based test on Minnesota Statutes chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules chapters 2105/2110. One of three required board-approved exams. Fee not published by the Board; left null rather than guessed. [1]
- 6
Submit your application
Submit your application to Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners with the $40 application fee. [2]
- 7
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners issues your Cosmetologist License (Operator) for Minnesota.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $40 |
| License fee [2] | $155 |
| Renewal fee [2] | $100 |
| General Theory Test [1] | None specified |
| Written Practical Test [1] | None specified |
| Minnesota Laws and Rules Test [1] | None specified |
| Renewal application fee [2] | $15 |
Per Minnesota Statutes section 155A.25, subdivision 1a(b): initial practitioner license is $155 plus a $40 initial application fee ($195 total); renewal is $100 plus a $15 renewal application fee ($115 total) every 3 years. PSI's exam fees are billed separately by the vendor and are not published in this fee statute.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 3 years. 8 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Per Minnesota Statutes section 155A.271: 8 continuing-education credit hours per 3-year renewal period — a 4-hour Core course (1 hour laws/rules, 3 hours health/safety/infection control) and a 4-hour Professional Practice course (product chemistry, machine/instrument use, business management, or license-relevant techniques).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Minnesota offers a Domestic License Transfer pathway: applicants complete the Domestic License Transfer Application and have each state in which they've held a license send a Certification of Licensure directly to the Board, plus submit passing results from required exams. A separate Foreign License Transfer pathway exists for applicants trained/licensed outside the U.S., involving credential verification through AEQUO International, a Minnesota school's evaluation of training equivalency, a Practical Skills Test, and all three written PSI tests. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Minnesota does not appear on the compact's enactment map at all (no active or enacted legislation tracked), and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. Verified via archive snapshot 2024-05-07 (mn.gov blocks automated fetches with a bot-manager captcha).
17 state-approved training providers in Minnesota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
- $155
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Minnesota require for a cosmetologist license?
1,550 hours at a Minnesota-licensed cosmetology school, covering the full nail technician and esthetician curricula plus hair services.
What exams does Minnesota require, and who administers them?
Three board-approved exams administered by PSI Services: a General Theory Test, a Written Practical Test, and a Minnesota Laws and Rules Test. All must be passed within 1 year of application.
How often does a Minnesota cosmetologist license need to be renewed?
Every 3 years, with 8 hours of continuing education required per cycle: a 4-hour Core course (laws/rules, health/safety/infection control) and a 4-hour Professional Practice course.
How much does an initial Minnesota cosmetologist license cost?
$195 total ($155 license fee plus $40 application fee). Renewal is $115 total ($100 renewal fee plus $15 application fee) every 3 years.
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Minnesota?
Yes, through the Domestic License Transfer Application. Each state where you've held a license must send a Certification of Licensure directly to the Minnesota Board, and you must submit passing results from required exams.
Sources
- [1] revisor.mn.gov/rules/2105.0145/ — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/155A.25 — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/155A.271 — accessed 2026-07-10
- [4] mn.gov/boards/cosmetology/practitioners/license-transfers/ — accessed 2026-07-10