StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Oregon

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1150 hrs
Upfront cost
$155
Exam
Hair Design Field of Practice Written Examination, Oregon Laws and Rules Examination (OLRE), Hair Design Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Oregon Health Authority, Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No minimum age requirement was found in the HLO's official application packet. The packet's 'Fitness for issuance' and 'Fingerprint / Criminal Background Check' sections state the HLO 'may require an applicant to complete a fingerprint check through the Oregon State Police' and 'may also conduct a criminal background check of convictions to determine whether the applicant has been convicted of a crime that may affect the applicant's fitness to practice' — this is discretionary rather than guaranteed for every applicant, but is recorded as true since it is an established, officially documented part of the application process. Applicants currently on parole or probation must submit a release letter from their supervising officer. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1150 hours of training at a state-approved program. Oregon does not issue a single general 'Cosmetologist' license — the Board of Cosmetology instead certifies separate fields of practice (Barbering, Hair Design, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Natural Hair Care). 'Hair Design' is the closest equivalent to a general cosmetologist certification. Per the HLO's official Cosmetology Certification Application Information Packet (revised 7/1/2024), Hair Design requires 1,110 curriculum hours at an Oregon school, PLUS 20 hours of Oregon Laws and Rules instruction and 20 hours of Career Development (1,150 hours total). Two other pathways exist besides the Oregon-school pathway: reciprocity (holding an active out-of-state license) and a 'qualification through non-credentialed' route for applicants trained outside Oregon without an active out-of-state license, both of which can waive part or all of the Oregon-school hour requirement in favor of a skills assessment and the written exams. [1]

  3. 3

    Hair Design Field of Practice Written Examination

    Pass the Hair Design Field of Practice Written Examination (fee: $45). 100 multiple-choice questions, computer touch-screen, 90 minutes (2.5 hours for ESL candidates); minimum passing score 75%. Walk-in basis, no appointment needed. From the HLO's official fee schedule in the Cosmetology Certification Application Information Packet. [1]

  4. 4

    Oregon Laws and Rules Examination (OLRE)

    Pass the Oregon Laws and Rules Examination (OLRE) (fee: $45). 90 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes (2.5 hours for ESL candidates); minimum passing score 75%. Required in addition to the field-of-practice exam for every pathway. Same fee schedule as the field-of-practice exam. [1]

  5. 5

    Hair Design Practical Examination

    Pass the Hair Design Practical Examination. Hands-on skills demonstration in the field(s) of practice. No separate HLO-charged fee was found for the school-administered practical exam distinct from the school's own tuition/testing charges. [1]

  6. 6

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Oregon Health Authority, Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology with the $30 application fee. [1]

  7. 7

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Oregon Health Authority, Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology issues your Hair Design Certificate for Oregon.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $30
License fee [1] $35
Renewal fee [1] $35
Hair Design Field of Practice Written Examination [1] $45
Oregon Laws and Rules Examination (OLRE) [1] $45
Hair Design Practical Examination [1] None specified
Reciprocity application (per field of practice) [1] $100
Reciprocity certification (per field of practice) [1] $65
Exam retake (per field of practice) [1] $45

From the HLO's official fee schedule: original (Oregon-pathway) application $30 per field of practice, original certification (valid 2 years) $35 per field of practice. Reciprocity applicants pay higher fees ($100 application + $65 certification) instead. Exam fees ($45 each for the field-of-practice exam and the Oregon Laws and Rules exam) are recorded separately in the exams group above.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Hair Design certification is valid for two years. Starting with renewals on or after July 1, 2025, HLO requires all cosmetology field-of-practice holders (including Hair Design) to complete and maintain current Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training as a condition of renewal, per the HLO's official BBP Training FAQ (revised 4/2/2026). BBP training certifications are valid for only 1 year, so a licensee on Hair Design's 2-year cycle may need to complete BBP training twice per renewal cycle. This is not expressed as a numeric 'CE hours' requirement (it is a pass/fail training certification, not an hours tally), so ceHours is recorded as null; the BBP requirement itself is noted here rather than omitted.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Under Pathway 2 (Reciprocity) in the HLO's application packet, an applicant with an active, non-disciplined license from another U.S. state, territory, or another country may have all or part of the Oregon-school requirement waived and be permitted to sit for the written exams (field-of-practice exam + Oregon Laws and Rules exam) directly, via an Affidavit of Licensure (AOL) confirming the out-of-state license is current and in good standing. Being licensed elsewhere does not guarantee Oregon certification is granted. Reciprocity fees are higher than the standard pathway: $100 application + $65 certification per field of practice (vs. $30 + $35 for the standard Oregon-school pathway). Oregon 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $30
  • $35
  • $45
  • $45
Total$155

Frequently asked questions

Does Oregon have a general 'Cosmetologist' license?

No. Oregon certifies separate fields of practice (Hair Design, Barbering, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Natural Hair Care) rather than one combined cosmetologist license. Hair Design is the closest equivalent.

How many training hours does Oregon require for a Hair Design certificate?

1,150 hours total: 1,110 hours of hair design curriculum plus 20 hours of Oregon Laws and Rules instruction and 20 hours of Career Development, all at an Oregon school (unless qualifying through the reciprocity or non-credentialed pathway).

Who administers the Oregon Hair Design exams?

The Health Licensing Office administers both the Hair Design written exam and the Oregon Laws and Rules exam directly at its Salem office ($45 each, walk-in, no appointment). The practical exam is administered by the applicant's Oregon school.

How often do I renew my Oregon Hair Design certificate, and is continuing education required?

Every two years, for $35. Starting with renewals on or after July 1, 2025, current Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training is required at renewal; no other continuing education hours are required.

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

Yes, through the reciprocity pathway, if your license is active and in good standing. You'll still need to pass Oregon's field-of-practice and Oregon Laws and Rules written exams, and reciprocity fees ($100 application + $65 certification per field) are higher than the standard pathway.

Sources

  1. [1] oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Forms/COS-Certification_Application_Information_Packet.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Documents/COS-Bloodborne%20Pathogen%20Training-FAQs.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10