StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in North Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$200
Exam
NIC Cosmetology Theory & North Dakota State Law Examination, North Dakota State Law Examination (retake only), NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age or fingerprint/criminal-history background check requirement for individual cosmetologist licensure was found in N.D.C.C. chapter 43-11 or N.D. Admin. Code 32-05-01. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. N.D.C.C. 43-11-17 sets 1,500 hours as the current minimum cosmetology curriculum length at a board-licensed school. Many secondary/aggregator sources still cite an older 1,800-hour figure; this record uses the figure confirmed directly against the current North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-11 text, which supersedes the stale aggregator number. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Cosmetology Theory & North Dakota State Law Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Theory & North Dakota State Law Examination (fee: $90). Computer-based written exam combining NIC cosmetology theory and North Dakota state law/rules content in one scheduled sitting; minimum passing scaled score 75.00. $90 covers both the theory and state law components taken together in one exam sitting, per the Board's official 2024 Candidate Information Bulletin (Prov, Inc.). A theory-only retake is also $90; a state-law-only retake is $60 (recorded separately below). [2]

  4. 4

    North Dakota State Law Examination (retake only)

    Pass the North Dakota State Law Examination (retake only) (fee: $60). Computer-based written exam on North Dakota cosmetology laws, rules, and regulations. $60 fee applies when retaking only the state law portion (as opposed to the combined $90 theory+state-law sitting). [2]

  5. 5

    NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination. Hands-on practical skills demonstration; minimum passing scaled score 75.00. The Board's official Candidate Information Bulletin confirms practical exams are 'administered by the Board,' but does not list a separate dollar fee for the practical exam distinct from the original license fee shown in the fees group. [2]

  6. 6

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology. [3]

  7. 7

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology issues your Cosmetologist License for North Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $50
Renewal fee [3] $50
NIC Cosmetology Theory & North Dakota State Law Examination [2] $90
North Dakota State Law Examination (retake only) [2] $60
NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] None specified
Reciprocity (endorsement) fee [3] $105
Late renewal, within 1 year [3] $50
Late renewal, 1-5 years [3] $150

From the Board's official 'NEW FEE SCHEDULE' (effective 2026, per HB 1126 signed into law 2025 — the state's first fee increase since 2003): original Cosmetologist/Master Cosmetologist license fee $50, annual renewal $50. No separate 'application fee' distinct from the original license fee is itemized on the Board's schedule, so it is recorded as null rather than assumed equal to the license fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

N.D. Admin. Code 32-05-01 requires every license to be renewed on or before December 31 each year (annual cycle), for $50. Continuing education is not yet required for current renewal cycles: the rule specifies at least 4 hours of board-approved CE annually, but only 'commencing with the 2028 license renewal cycle, and for all renewal cycles occurring thereafter' — so ceHours is recorded as null for the present, with this upcoming 2028 requirement noted.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

N.D.C.C. 43-11-25 (Licensure by endorsement) allows the Board to issue a license without examination to an out-of-state applicant who is licensed by another jurisdiction with substantially similar or equivalent licensure standards, has maintained good standing for at least one year, has not had a license revoked/surrendered under investigation, and has no unresolved discipline. Applicants who don't meet the 'without examination' path may still qualify via endorsement by proving completed curriculum hours or substantially equal work experience (1,000 hours of work experience = 100 curriculum hours, capped at 500 hours if within the prior 3 years). The Board's fee schedule lists a $105 reciprocity fee. North Dakota is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant.

4 state-approved training providers in North Dakota — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $90
  • $60
Total$200

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does North Dakota require for a cosmetologist license?

1,500 hours at a board-licensed cosmetology school, per N.D.C.C. 43-11-17. Note: some other sources online still cite an older 1,800-hour figure that is no longer current.

Who administers the North Dakota cosmetology exams?

Prov, Inc. administers the NIC theory and North Dakota state law written exams ($90 combined) under contract with the Board. The Board itself administers the practical exam directly at its office.

How often do I renew my North Dakota cosmetologist license, and is continuing education required?

Annually, by December 31, for a $50 fee. Continuing education (4 hours/year) is not yet required — it begins with the 2028 renewal cycle under a new administrative rule effective January 1, 2026.

Can I transfer an out-of-state cosmetology license to North Dakota?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement. If your issuing state has substantially similar standards and you've held the license in good standing for at least a year, North Dakota can issue a license without a new exam; a $105 reciprocity fee applies.

Sources

  1. [1] ndlegis.gov/cencode/t43c11.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] provexam.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Prov_CIB_ND_Includes_Written_Site_Instructions_2024_06_19.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] ndcosmetology.com/Document.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ndlegis.gov/prod/acdata/pdf/32-05-01.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10