Cosmetologist License Requirements in Wyoming
- Training hours
- 1600 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $148
- Exam
- State Board Written and Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Wyoming Board of Cosmetology
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 16 years old, Completion of the 10th grade or an equivalent level of education. Age and education prerequisites are drawn from the Board's Chapter 2 (Personal Licensing Requirements and Procedures), corroborated across multiple secondary summaries citing the same figures; the Chapter 2 rule text itself could not be directly opened during this research session, so these figures should be reverified against the Board's current rules before publishing a verified page. No criminal background check or fingerprinting requirement was found in the Board materials reviewed. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1600 hours of training at a state-approved program. The Board's school curriculum rules require a cosmetology program to consist of no less than 8 months of education and no less than 1,600 hours of theory and practical instruction (roughly apportioned: 850 hours Science of Hair/General Hairstyling/Chemical Services, 450 hours Science of Esthetics/General Esthetics, 330 hours Science of Nail Technology/General Nail Technology). No general apprenticeship alternative to school-based training was found for the standard Cosmetologist license; a student may not serve patrons in the school's clinic area until completing at least 15% of the total required hours. [1]
- 3
State Board Written and Practical Examination
Pass the State Board Written and Practical Examination (fee: $100). Written (theory) and hands-on practical components; minimum passing score generally cited as 75%, though this specific figure was not independently confirmed against the Board's current rules text. The Board's fee schedule (Chapter 13) lists a single $100 examination fee covering both required exam components, plus a separate $60 fee to retake a single phase or the theory exam only. This figure comes from a rules document whose header is labeled with 2016-2018 effective dates, but a secondary legal-code mirror shows the same dollar amounts still current as of a January 2024 rule amendment; verify directly with the Board before publishing a verified page. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Wyoming Board of Cosmetology. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Wyoming Board of Cosmetology issues your Cosmetologist for Wyoming.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | $48 |
| Renewal fee [2] | $48 |
| State Board Written and Practical Examination [2] | $100 |
| Endorsement fee (out-of-state licensees) [2] | $225 |
| License reinstatement fee [2] | $175 |
| Retake single phase or theory exam only [2] | $60 |
The Board's fee schedule (Chapter 13) sets a $48 per-year personal license fee covering Cosmetologist, Nail Technician, Esthetician, Hairstylist, and Instructor categories; no separate 'application' fee distinct from the license/exam fees was found. The $100 exam fee (see exams) is a separate charge. As with the exam fee, these dollar amounts are from a rules document with an ambiguous 2016-2018 header but appear to still be current per a secondary legal-code mirror showing a January 2024 amendment with identical figures — reverify directly with the Board before publishing a verified page.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
A first-time Wyoming cosmetology license is issued for 1 year from the month of acquisition; after that, renewal moves to a 2-year cycle expiring in the licensee's birth month (with a pro-rated fee for the transition), per the Board's fee-schedule rule (Chapter 13, Section 2(c)). No continuing education requirement was found in the Board rules chapters reviewed, so ceHours is left null rather than assumed to be zero; verify directly with the Board.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Wyoming does not appear as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-11. Wyoming instead runs its own endorsement process for a $225 fee, and the Board's own FAQ notes that endorsement/reciprocity transfers do not require surrendering an active license held in another state — an applicant may hold active licenses in multiple states simultaneously.
2 state-approved training providers in Wyoming — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $48
- $100
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Wyoming require for a cosmetology license?
At least 1,600 hours of theory and practical instruction over a minimum of 8 months at a Board-approved cosmetology school.
What exams do I need to pass?
A written (theory) exam and a hands-on practical exam, both covered by a single $100 exam fee per the Board's fee schedule.
What does it cost to get licensed in Wyoming?
A $100 exam fee plus a $48 per-year personal license fee. The license is issued for 1 year initially, then moves to a 2-year renewal cycle tied to the licensee's birth month.
Can I transfer an out-of-state cosmetology license to Wyoming?
Yes, through the Board's endorsement process for a $225 fee. You can hold active licenses in Wyoming and another state at the same time.
Is Wyoming part of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No. As of mid-2026, Wyoming does not appear on the compact commission's official member map.
Sources
- [1] cosmetology.wyo.gov/rules-regulations — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] rules.wyo.gov/DownloadFile.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] cosmetology.wyo.gov/faq — accessed 2026-07-11