Cosmetologist License Requirements in Mississippi
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $50
- Exam
- Written (Theory) Examination, Practical Examination, Mississippi Law and Sanitation Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 16 years old, High school diploma, GED certificate, a state-approved high school equivalency program, or proof of enrollment in a community college. Board Rule 5.4 sets the minimum age at 16 (not 17, as some non-official aggregators claim) for the practitioner licensure examination application. The rules do not require a mandatory criminal-history/background check as part of the standard application; instead, Board Rule 5.12 ('Fresh Start Act Request') offers an optional pre-application process where an individual may ask the Board in advance whether a criminal record would disqualify them — this is applicant-initiated, not a mandatory check, so backgroundCheck is set to false. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500 hours of school training, OR 3,000 hours of apprenticeship training (Board Rule 5.2, sourced from MISS. CODE ANN. §§ 73-7-13, 73-7-13.1, 73-7-15, 73-7-18, 73-7-21). Both theory and practical hours must be completed under the supervision of a licensed instructor. A certified transcript demonstrating a passing grade of at least 70 plus the minimum hours is required with the practitioner licensure examination application. [1]
- 3
Written (Theory) Examination
Pass the Written (Theory) Examination. Written/computer-based knowledge test. A minimum scaled score of 70 is required (Board Rule 6.2). The Board's exam-registration is handled via ms.gov/msbc/exam-registration; exact fee amounts are not published on the Board's examination or fees pages, so left null rather than guessed. [2]
- 4
Practical Examination
Pass the Practical Examination. Hands-on, proctored demonstration of practitioner skills. A minimum scaled score of 70 on each portion is required (Board Rule 6.2). Exam fee not published; left null rather than guessed. [2]
- 5
Mississippi Law and Sanitation Examination
Pass the Mississippi Law and Sanitation Examination. Written test on Mississippi cosmetology statutes and sanitation rules. Must be passed within 1 year of application; a temporary practice permit valid for 365 days is issued after the application fee is paid but before the exam is completed. Fee not published; left null rather than guessed. [2]
- 6
Submit your application
Submit your application to Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. [1]
- 7
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering issues your Cosmetology Practitioner License for Mississippi.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | $50 |
| Renewal fee [1] | $50 |
| Written (Theory) Examination [2] | None specified |
| Practical Examination [2] | None specified |
| Mississippi Law and Sanitation Examination [2] | None specified |
| Application under Reciprocity or UROLA [1] | $55 |
| Delinquent Renewal Penalty (practitioner) [1] | $50 |
| Duplicate License [1] | $10 |
Board Rule 5.20 lists a single 'Practitioner license/renewal' fee of $50.00 that covers both initial licensure and biennial renewal — there is no separately broken-out application fee distinct from this $50 license fee, so application is left null. Licensees age 70 or older pay no renewal fee.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Renewal is biennial (Board Rule 5.15). Effective April 1, 2026, Mississippi eliminated the continuing-education requirement for practitioner (cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, nail technician) license renewal; the Board's rules (Chapter 7) now require continuing education only for instructor licensees (24 hours biennially) and master licensees (8 hours biennially) — not standard practitioners. A license lapsed more than 3 years requires retaking the Chapter 6 examinations to renew.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Board Rule 5.8: a holder of a practitioner license from another state with the same educational requirements as Mississippi may apply for reciprocity (Application for Practitioner Reciprocity, $55 fee), submitting license verification and proof of good standing sent from the issuing state/territory's board. Reciprocity applicants must still successfully pass the Chapter 6 examinations (written, practical, and Mississippi Law and Sanitation) — reciprocity is not exam-exempt in Mississippi. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Mississippi 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.
26 state-approved training providers in Mississippi — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $50
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Mississippi require for a cosmetology license?
1,500 hours at a licensed school, or 3,000 hours of apprenticeship training.
What is the minimum age to apply for a Mississippi cosmetology license?
16 years old, per Board Rule 5.4.
What exams does Mississippi require?
A written theory exam, a practical exam (both requiring a minimum scaled score of 70), and a Mississippi Law and Sanitation exam, which must be passed within 1 year of application.
How often does a Mississippi cosmetology license need to be renewed, and is continuing education required?
Every 2 years, for a $50 fee. Effective April 1, 2026, Mississippi eliminated continuing education requirements for standard practitioner renewal (CE is now required only for instructor and master licenses).
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Mississippi?
Yes, via reciprocity, if your license was issued by a state with the same educational requirements as Mississippi. The reciprocity application fee is $55, but you must still pass Mississippi's written, practical, and law/sanitation examinations.
Sources
- [1] msbcb.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MSBCB-Rules-and-Regulations-after-10.21.2025.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] msbcb.ms.gov/examination/ — accessed 2026-07-10