StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Missouri

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$246
Exam
NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination, NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old, Education equivalent to completion of the tenth grade. RSMo §329.070 requires apprentices/students to be at least 17 years of age with education equivalent to completion of the 10th grade (matching the age requirement independently confirmed for barber apprentices in §328's parallel provisions). Missouri's cosmetology statute does not require a mandatory criminal-history/background check as part of the standard license application; §329.140 allows the Board to discipline or deny a license after the fact based on criminal convictions related to the profession, but this is not a pre-application background-check requirement, so backgroundCheck is set to false. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500 hours in a board-approved school of cosmetology, or 3,000 hours as a registered apprentice (RSMo §329.040/§329.070; 20 CSR 2085 Chapter 9). Apprentices/students must have an education equivalent to completion of the 10th grade. Subject-hour breakdown within the 1,500-hour school curriculum includes, e.g., 130 hours hair cutting and shaping, 130 hours hair coloring, 225 hours hairsetting/styling, 110 hours manicuring, and 470 hours of school-defined curriculum. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination (fee: $88). Computer-based knowledge test at one of several Missouri testing centers. Uses National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) exam content. Registration is through provexam.com. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination (fee: $58). Hands-on, proctored skills demonstration, held at a limited number of Missouri sites. Uses National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) exam content. Registration is through provexam.com. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners issues your Cosmetologist License (Operator, Class CA — Hairdressing & Manicuring) for Missouri.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] None specified
License fee [1] $100
Renewal fee [1] $60
NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination [2] $88
NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] $58
Reciprocity Fee [1] $100
Exam Score Endorsement Fee [1] $100
Duplicate License Fee [1] $10

20 CSR 2085-3.010 lists a single 'Operators' Initial Application/License Fee' of $100 (no separately broken-out application fee), and a Renewal Fee of $60 (biennial). Prov, Inc.'s exam fees ($88 written, $58 practical) are billed separately by the vendor and are listed under exams, not here.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

All cosmetology licenses renew biennially and expire on September 30 of each odd-numbered year (20 CSR 2085-4.010). Missouri's statutes and rules do not list a continuing-education-hour requirement for cosmetologist/operator license renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

RSMo §329.130: the Board shall grant a license to practice cosmetology without examination to any applicant holding a current license from another state/territory/D.C. whose licensing requirements are similar to Missouri's, or who has practiced cosmetology for at least 2 consecutive years in another state/territory/D.C. The reciprocity fee is $100. A licensee currently under disciplinary action in another state is not eligible for reciprocity. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Missouri 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $88
  • $58
Total$246

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Missouri require for a cosmetology license?

1,500 hours at a board-approved school, or 3,000 hours as a registered apprentice.

Who administers the Missouri cosmetology exam?

Prov, Inc., under contract with the Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, using National-Interstate Council (NIC) exam content. The written exam costs $88 and the practical exam costs $58.

How often does a Missouri cosmetology license need to be renewed?

Every 2 years — all licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years. The renewal fee is $60, and no continuing education hours are required.

Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Missouri without retaking the exam?

Yes, if your license is from a state with similar requirements to Missouri's, or if you've practiced cosmetology for at least 2 consecutive years in another state, territory, or D.C. The reciprocity fee is $100.

What is the minimum age to apply for a cosmetology license in Missouri?

17 years old, with education equivalent to completion of the 10th grade.

Sources

  1. [1] pr.mo.gov/boards/cosmetology/Rules%20and%20Statutes.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] pr.mo.gov/cosbar-examination.asp — accessed 2026-07-10