StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in New Hampshire

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1200 hrs
Upfront cost
$255
Exam
NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination, NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    High school diploma or its equivalent. RSA 313-A:11, I requires 'good professional character' and completion of high school or its equivalent, but does NOT state a minimum age — unlike some aggregator sites that claim a 16-year-old minimum, the statute itself (fetched live, current as amended through 2025) sets no numeric age floor for cosmetologists. The initial application requires a 'Questionnaire for Applicants and Licensees' (self-disclosure of character/disciplinary/criminal history questions), not a mandatory fingerprint-based background check, so backgroundCheck is set to false. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1200 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,200 hours of training in a board-approved school of cosmetology, OR 3,000 hours distributed over at least 18 months under a licensed cosmetologist who has practiced in New Hampshire for at least 2 years (RSA 313-A:11, I(c)). IMPORTANT: many aggregator/directory sites still cite 1,500 hours for New Hampshire — that figure is STALE. RSA 313-A:11 was amended by 2024, 327:20 (eff. July 1, 2024) and again by 2025, 91:1 (eff. Aug. 9, 2025), and the CURRENT statutory text, fetched live directly from the New Hampshire General Court's official statute site on 2026-07-10, reads 1,200 hours, not 1,500. This is a genuine, recent hours reduction, not a research error. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination (fee: $90). Written/computer-based exam, available remotely or at a Prov testing center; covers cosmetology science, chemistry, anatomy, sanitation, and New Hampshire state law. Minimum passing score is 75%. Fee confirmed directly from Prov, Inc.'s official New Hampshire Cosmetology Candidate Information Bulletin. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination (fee: $110). Hands-on, proctored skills demonstration at a Prov testing site. Minimum passing score is 75%. Fee confirmed directly from Prov, Inc.'s official New Hampshire Cosmetology Candidate Information Bulletin. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics with the $55 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) — Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics issues your Cosmetologist License for New Hampshire.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $55
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $55
NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination [2] $90
NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] $110
Reinstatement Fee [3] $55

OPLC's official license-fee table lists a single $55 fee that applies identically to Application, Renewal, and Reinstatement for the practitioner-level Barber/Cosmetology/Manicurist/Esthetician category — there is no separate 'license issuance' fee beyond the $55 application fee. Prov, Inc.'s exam fees ($90 written, $110 practical) are billed separately and are listed under exams, not here. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-07-08 (oplc.nh.gov 403s automated fetches; the fee page was read via its Wayback Machine capture).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

All OPLC-issued licenses (except 1-year apprentice licenses) are valid for 2 years from issuance (RSA 310:8, II — fetched live from the official statute, superseding any conflicting license-term language elsewhere in statute). RSA 313-A:8, III delegates continuing-education criteria to Board rulemaking, but no continuing-education-hour requirement for the standard cosmetologist license was found on the Board's fee schedule, application forms, or renewal materials, so ceHours is left null rather than guessed; this is consistent with secondary reporting that New Hampshire currently requires no CE for cosmetologist renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Under HB 594 (signed June 28, 2023, effective August 27, 2023), OPLC 'shall issue licenses to professionals who present evidence of an active license in good standing from another jurisdiction... provided that the jurisdiction's licensing requirements are substantially similar to New Hampshire's license requirements' — applicants qualifying under this universal-recognition reciprocity no longer need to submit transcripts, exam results, experience evidence, or reference letters. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), New Hampshire 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 2025-05-24 (oplc.nh.gov 403s automated fetches; the reciprocity page was read via its Wayback Machine capture).

5 state-approved training providers in New Hampshire — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $55
  • $90
  • $110
Total$255

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does New Hampshire require for a cosmetology license?

1,200 hours at a board-approved school, or 3,000 hours over at least 18 months under a licensed New Hampshire cosmetologist. This is a recent reduction (RSA 313-A:11 was amended in 2024 and again in 2025) — many directory sites still list an outdated 1,500-hour figure.

Who administers the New Hampshire cosmetology exam?

Prov, Inc., under contract with OPLC, using National-Interstate Council (NIC) exam content. Both a written exam ($90) and a practical exam ($110) are required, each with a 75% minimum passing score.

How much does a New Hampshire cosmetology license cost, and how often is it renewed?

$55 for application, renewal, or reinstatement. All licenses are valid for 2 years from issuance.

Is continuing education required to renew a New Hampshire cosmetology license?

No continuing-education-hour requirement was found for standard cosmetologist renewal.

Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to New Hampshire?

Yes. Under HB 594 (2023), New Hampshire must issue a license to anyone with an active, good-standing license from another jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially similar to New Hampshire's, without requiring transcripts, exam results, or reference letters.

Sources

  1. [1] gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXX/313-A/313-A-11.htm — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] oplc.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt441/files/inline-documents/prov_cib_nh_cosmetology_inc_written_site_inst_2025.01.20.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] oplc.nh.gov/board-barbering-cosmetology-and-esthetics-license-fees — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXX/310/310-8.htm — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] oplc.nh.gov/reciprocity-licensing — accessed 2026-07-10