StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1250 hrs
Upfront cost
$145
Exam
Pennsylvania Cosmetology Licensure Examination (Theory and Practical)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology, Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Tenth grade or its equivalent, plus completion of an accredited cosmetology curriculum., pass a criminal background check. No numeric minimum age was found on the Board's official Cosmetology Licensure Guide; it does note modified requirements for applicants over 35 or veterans (not age-of-entry related). A Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) from the state police (or equivalent state agency) is required for every state the applicant has lived, worked, or completed professional training/studies in during the past 5 years; the CHRC report must be dated within 180 days of application submission. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1250 hours of training at a state-approved program. Per the Board's official Cosmetology Licensure Guide, applicants must complete a minimum of 1,250 hours of instruction in cosmetology at a licensed school, over not less than 8 consecutive months as a day-time student (part-time/evening schedules take longer in calendar time but the hour total is the same). An apprenticeship alternative exists at a higher 2,000-hour requirement, completed under a licensed cosmetologist rather than at a school. [1]

  3. 3

    Pennsylvania Cosmetology Licensure Examination (Theory and Practical)

    Pass the Pennsylvania Cosmetology Licensure Examination (Theory and Practical) (fee: $93). State theory and procedural examination; computer-based. The $93 testing fee (part of a combined $119 initial application total that also includes the Board's $26 application fee) is drawn from the Board's own Cosmetologist Licensure Snapshot page. This fee is set by Pearson VUE rather than codified in 49 Pa. Code Section 7.2 (which covers only the Board's own application/renewal/reciprocity fees), so it should be reverified directly against Pearson VUE's current Pennsylvania cosmetology candidate handbook before being marked verified. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology, Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs with the $26 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology, Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs issues your Cosmetologist License for Pennsylvania.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $26
License fee [3] $26
Renewal fee [3] $97
Pennsylvania Cosmetology Licensure Examination (Theory and Practical) [2] $93
Licensure by reciprocity [3] $89
Pearson VUE examination fee [3] $93

From 49 Pa. Code Section 7.2 (fee schedule effective July 1, 2024): application $26, biennial renewal $97, licensure by reciprocity $89. There is no separate 'license issuance' fee beyond the $26 application fee in the Board's own regulation; the $93 Pearson VUE exam fee is billed separately (see exams group). Total to become initially licensed via the standard Oregon-school-equivalent pathway (school + exam) is roughly $26 + $93 = $119, matching the Board's own Licensure Snapshot page.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Cosmetologist licenses expire biennially on January 31 of either odd- or even-numbered years depending on original issuance date, per the Board's Renewal Information page. Pennsylvania does not require continuing education for cosmetologist license renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Per the Board's own Cosmetology Licensure Guide, a licensed cosmetologist from another state may qualify for reciprocity ($89 fee) only if currently licensed in a state with which Pennsylvania has a reciprocity understanding AND has at least 2+ years of licensed work experience. The Guide explicitly states Pennsylvania does NOT have reciprocal agreements with Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, or Utah — meaning cosmetologists licensed only in New Jersey, New Mexico, or Rhode Island cannot use Pennsylvania's reciprocity pathway and must instead meet Pennsylvania's standard licensure requirements. Pennsylvania 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $26
  • $26
  • $93
Total$145

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Pennsylvania require for a cosmetologist license?

1,250 hours at a licensed cosmetology school (over at least 8 consecutive months as a day student), or 2,000 hours through an apprenticeship alternative.

Who administers the Pennsylvania cosmetology exam?

Pearson VUE, under contract with the State Board of Cosmetology. The combined testing fee is $93, on top of the Board's own $26 application fee.

How often do I renew my Pennsylvania cosmetologist license?

Every two years, by January 31, for a $97 fee. No continuing education is required.

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

Only if you're licensed in a state Pennsylvania has a reciprocity agreement with and have at least 2 years of licensed work experience ($89 fee). Pennsylvania does not have reciprocity with Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, or Utah — cosmetologists from those states must meet Pennsylvania's standard licensure requirements instead.

Is a background check required for a Pennsylvania cosmetology license?

Yes. Applicants must submit a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) from the state police (or equivalent) for every state they've lived, worked, or trained in over the past 5 years, dated within 180 days of application.

Sources

  1. [1] pa.gov/agencies/dos/resources/professional-licensing-resources/licensure-processing-guides-and-timelines/cosmetology-guide — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/cosmetology/cosmetologist-licensure-snapshot — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/cosmetology/renewal-information — accessed 2026-07-10