Cosmetologist License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $50
- Exam
- Hairdresser/Cosmetologist Written and Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Hairdressing and Barbering
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, High school graduate or equivalent.. Section 4.1 of R5-10-HAIR requires applicants to be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or legally eligible to work in the U.S., of 'good moral character' (established by a signed statement on the application, not an independent background check), and a high school graduate or equivalent. No fingerprint or criminal-history background check requirement was found in the Department's rules. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Section 5.1.1 of the Department's Rules and Regulations for the Licensure of Barbers, Hairdressers/Cosmeticians, Manicurists, Estheticians, and Instructors (R5-10-HAIR, last amended September 2007) requires not less than 1,500 hours of continuous study and practice in an approved school for the hairdresser/cosmetician (now styled 'Hairdresser/Cosmetologist' in the Department's current fee schedule) license. This 1,500-hour figure was not superseded by any more recent hours-reduction rule found during this research, unlike some other states. [1]
- 3
Hairdresser/Cosmetologist Written and Practical Examination
Pass the Hairdresser/Cosmetologist Written and Practical Examination. Written exam (available in Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese in addition to English) and a practical exam. The state's own current consolidated fee schedule (216-RICR-10-05-2, rules.sos.ri.gov) lists a single 'Application by Examination' fee of $25 and a separate 'Reexamination' fee of $25 payable to the Department; it does not itemize a distinct PSI proctoring fee. Secondary sources report conflicting PSI exam fee figures ($50 combined vs. $75), so this is left null pending a directly verified PSI Rhode Island candidate bulletin (a Texas-specific PSI bulletin was mistakenly surfaced during this research and was not used). [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Hairdressing and Barbering with the $25 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Hairdressing and Barbering issues your Hairdresser/Cosmetologist License for Rhode Island.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $25 |
| License fee [3] | $25 |
| Renewal fee [3] | $25 |
| Hairdresser/Cosmetologist Written and Practical Examination [2] | None specified |
| Application by Verification (Endorsement/reciprocity) [3] | $25 |
| Reexamination [3] | $25 |
| Reinstatement (added to base renewal fee, per lapsed renewal cycle, max $100) [3] | $25 |
From the Department of Health's current consolidated licensing fee schedule (216-RICR-10-05-2, effective under R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-10-10/5-10-11 and Section 23-1-54): Application by Examination $25, Application by Verification (Endorsement) $25, Reexamination $25, Renewal $25, Reinstatement $25 per lapsed renewal cycle up to a $100 maximum. This current schedule supersedes the $50 figures shown in the Department's older (September 2007) R5-10-HAIR rules text, which appears to be stale on fee amounts even though its training-hours and general-qualification provisions are still current.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Per Section 10.1-10.3 of R5-10-HAIR, licenses expire every other September 30th on an odd/even-year basis tied to the license number (a 2-year cycle), and are renewed by paying the renewal fee before September 15 of the renewal year. No continuing education requirement was found for hairdresser/cosmetologist renewal.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Section 8.1 of R5-10-HAIR grants a license by verification (endorsement) to anyone licensed in another state with equivalent requirements, upon the Department's acceptance of their credentials, verified directly by the other state's licensing board. The Department's current fee schedule lists a $25 'Application by Verification (Endorsement)' fee, and offers a dedicated 'Cosmetologist Interstate Verification Form' for this process. Rhode Island 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.
3 state-approved training providers in Rhode Island — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $25
- $25
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Rhode Island require for a hairdresser/cosmetologist license?
1,500 hours of continuous study and practice at an approved school, per the Department of Health's licensing regulations.
Who administers the Rhode Island cosmetology exam?
PSI Services LLC, under contract with the Rhode Island Department of Health since November 2015. Both a written and a practical exam are required.
How often do I renew my Rhode Island cosmetologist license?
Every two years, on an odd/even-year cycle ending September 30, for a $25 renewal fee. No continuing education is required.
Can I transfer an out-of-state cosmetology license to Rhode Island?
Yes, by verification/endorsement, if your out-of-state requirements were equivalent to Rhode Island's and your license is verified directly by your home state's board. The Department charges a $25 fee for this pathway.
Sources
- [1] risos-apa-production-public.s3.amazonaws.com/DOH/4826.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] health.ri.gov/licensing/barbering-hairdressing-and-cosmetology — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-10-05-2 — accessed 2026-07-10