StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in South Carolina

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$167
Exam
NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination, NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, At least a 10th-grade education or equivalency (by tests used in the public schools or approved by the Board). S.C. Code § 40-13-140 allows the Board to deny licensure based on a prior criminal record (as provided in § 40-1-140), but SC does not impose a mandatory SLED fingerprint or criminal background check as a precondition of cosmetology licensure. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-02-14 (llr.sc.gov did not respond directly to automated fetches). [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500 clock hours at a Board-approved cosmetology school (S.C. Code Regs. 35-3(A)). A Master Hair Care Specialist licensee may instead qualify for a Crossover Cosmetologist license with 5 years of work experience under that license (or fewer years plus additional school hours, per Reg. 35-26) rather than completing a full new 1,500-hour program. No general apprenticeship alternative to school-based training exists for a standard Cosmetologist license. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination (fee: $78). Computer-based multiple choice, administered at a Prov testing center; minimum passing score 75.00. Exam content developed by the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Fee is the same whether testing for the first time or retesting. Prices per the Prov Candidate Information Bulletin dated 2025-08-15; verify current pricing before publishing a verified page. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination (fee: $89). Hands-on demonstration covering Core Practical Sections, Basic Facial, eyebrow/upper-lip hard-wax hair removal, manicure & polish, and nail tip application & blending; minimum passing score 75.00. Candidates must pass both the written and practical exams to be licensed. Hours must be completed and the state exam taken within 24 months of finishing training or the hours become invalid (Reg. 35-5(F)(7)). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) issues your Registered Cosmetologist for South Carolina.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $52
NIC Cosmetology Written (Theory) Examination [2] $78
NIC Cosmetology Practical Examination [2] $89
Endorsement/Reciprocity fee (Registered Cosmetologist) [3] $60
Reinstatement fee (license lapsed ≤ 3 years) [3] $152

SC LLR's fee schedule lists no separate state application or license-issuance fee for a first-time Registered Cosmetologist obtained by exam — candidates pay Prov directly for the written ($78) and practical ($89) exams (see exams above), and the board fee schedule for that category only lists renewal, endorsement, and reinstatement amounts. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-02-16 (llr.sc.gov did not respond directly to automated fetches).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 4 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Renewal is biennial. The first licensing period is exempt from continuing education (Reg. 35-23(B)); starting with the second renewal, 4 contact hours of Board-approved CE (state law/regulations, client safety, and/or infection control/sanitation) are required each period. A license expired 3 years or less may be reinstated by paying the reinstatement fee and completing the CE requirement; after 3 years lapsed the license is no longer renewable and both the written and practical exams must be retaken as a new applicant.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

South Carolina is not shown as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10, so no compact is listed. Endorsement licensure is available under Reg. 35-13 to a cosmetologist currently licensed in good standing in another state/territory/DC who either (a) passed a nationally recognized entry examination, or (b) has at least 2 years of licensed experience elsewhere and completes 4 hours of SC-specific continuing education (state law/regulations, client safety, sanitation/infection control); the $60 endorsement fee applies.

24 state-approved training providers in South Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $78
  • $89
Total$167

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does South Carolina require for a cosmetology license?

1,500 clock hours at a Board-approved cosmetology school. Master Hair Care Specialists may qualify for a crossover license with several years of experience instead of completing a full new program.

Who administers South Carolina's cosmetology licensing exam?

Prov, Inc., under contract with SC LLR, using NIC written and practical exams. The written exam costs $78 and the practical exam costs $89, each requiring a passing score of 75.

How often do South Carolina cosmetologists renew their license?

Every 2 years. The first renewal period requires no continuing education; every renewal after that requires 4 hours of Board-approved CE.

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

Yes, through endorsement licensure: show a passing score on a nationally recognized exam, or document at least 2 years of licensed experience plus 4 hours of SC-specific continuing education, and pay the $60 endorsement fee.

Is South Carolina part of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?

No. As of mid-2026, South Carolina does not appear as an enacted or pending member on the compact commission's official member map.

Sources

  1. [1] scstatehouse.gov/coderegs/Chapter%2035.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] provexam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SC_Prov_Cosmetology_CIB_2025.08.15.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] llr.sc.gov/cosmo/fees.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] llr.sc.gov/cosmo/examins.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10