Cosmetologist License Requirements in New Mexico
- Training hours
- 1600 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $313
- Exam
- NIC Cosmetology Theory Examination, NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination, New Mexico Barbers and Cosmetologists Jurisprudence (State Law) Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Regulation and Licensing Department)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 17 years old, Education equivalent to completion of the second year of high school (16.34.5.8 NMAC).. 16.34.5.8 NMAC sets a minimum age of 17. 16.34.2.15 NMAC lists specific disqualifying felony convictions (e.g. homicide, sexual offenses, child abuse, fraud) that may bar licensure, but no formal fingerprint-based criminal background check process for standard practitioner licensure was found on the board's own pages, so this is not recorded as a mandatory background check requirement. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 16.34.5.10 NMAC: cosmetologist license requires successful completion of a 1,600-hour (or equivalent credit) course of instruction in a licensed school of cosmetology. Applicants without a completed course may substitute verified work experience (150 training hours per 6 full months of employment) per 16.34.5.8(C) NMAC. [1]
- 3
NIC Cosmetology Theory Examination
Pass the NIC Cosmetology Theory Examination (fee: $130). Computer-based multiple-choice theory exam. Fee sourced from PCS's own New Mexico cosmetology/barbering exam page (the board's contracted testing vendor), not a secondary aggregator. Combined theory+practical fee is $203; theory-only re-exam is $130. [2]
- 4
NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination
Pass the NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination (fee: $73). Hands-on practical exam performed on mannequins at a PCS testing center. Practical-only re-exam fee is $73 per PCS's own fee page. [2]
- 5
New Mexico Barbers and Cosmetologists Jurisprudence (State Law) Examination
Pass the New Mexico Barbers and Cosmetologists Jurisprudence (State Law) Examination. Open-book multiple-choice exam on the New Mexico Barbers and Cosmetologists Act, statutes, rules and regulations; minimum passing score 75%. No separate fee for the jurisprudence exam was found on the board's own materials; it is administered directly by the board rather than through PCS. [3]
- 6
Submit your application
Submit your application to New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Regulation and Licensing Department) with the $10 application fee. [4]
- 7
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Regulation and Licensing Department) issues your Cosmetologist License for New Mexico.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [4] | $10 |
| License fee [4] | $100 |
| Renewal fee [4] | $100 |
| NIC Cosmetology Theory Examination [2] | $130 |
| NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] | $73 |
| New Mexico Barbers and Cosmetologists Jurisprudence (State Law) Examination [3] | None specified |
| Reciprocity (license transfer from another state) [4] | $150 |
| Late renewal fee (all license types) [4] | $40 |
| Duplicate license [4] | $25 |
Figures from the board's official Fees page: $10 general application fee, $100 original Cosmetologist License fee, $100 annual renewal fee. Exam fees ($130 theory / $73 practical) are billed separately by PCS and are recorded on the exam entries above, not in this fee group.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year.
Cosmetologist licenses renew annually ($100 fee); a $40 late fee applies after expiration. New Mexico does not require continuing education for practicing cosmetologists (only instructor licenses carry a 12-hour/year CE requirement under 16.34.9 NMAC).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
New Mexico offers expedited licensure by endorsement (16.34.6 NMAC) to applicants holding a current license in good standing from an 'eligible jurisdiction' and with no disqualifying conviction. However, 16.34.6.8(B) NMAC explicitly disapproves expedited cosmetologist licensure for applicants from California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Puerto Rico (education/training requirements deemed inconsistent with New Mexico's); those applicants must go through standard (non-expedited) reciprocity, which still requires board review. A $150 reciprocity fee applies to standard license transfers. New Mexico is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact map, so it is not a Compact participant.
13 state-approved training providers in New Mexico — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $10
- $100
- $130
- $73
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does New Mexico require for a cosmetologist license?
1,600 clock hours (or equivalent credit) of instruction at a licensed New Mexico school of cosmetology, per 16.34.5.10 NMAC.
Who administers the New Mexico cosmetology exams?
Professional Credential Services (PCS), under contract with the Board, administers the NIC theory ($130) and practical ($73) examinations. The Board itself administers a separate open-book jurisprudence (state law) exam.
How often do I renew my New Mexico cosmetologist license, and is continuing education required?
Annually, for a $100 fee. New Mexico does not require continuing education hours for practicing cosmetologists (only instructors have a CE requirement).
Can I transfer an out-of-state cosmetology license to New Mexico?
Yes, through reciprocity, for a $150 fee. Expedited (fast-track) licensure is available for most states, but New Mexico's rules specifically exclude expedited processing for cosmetologists licensed in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Puerto Rico due to differing training requirements; those applicants use the standard reciprocity process instead.
Is New Mexico part of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No. As of this research, New Mexico has not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact and does not appear on the official compact commission's enacted or pending-legislation map.
Sources
- [1] rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/16.34.5-NMAC.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] pcshq.com/cosmetology-barbering-new-mexico/ — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Barbers_and_Cosmetologists_Jurisprudence_Exam_11.16.21.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [4] rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/barbers-and-cosmetologists/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-10
- [5] rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/16.34.6-NMAC.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10