StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in New Mexico

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$110
Exam
Esthetician Licensing Examination (practical and written), Jurisprudence Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old. 16.34.5.8 NMAC requires applicants to be at least 17 years old, to have completed an approved course of study (or qualifying supervised work experience) within the preceding 12 months, to have paid the required fees, and to have passed the required exam. An earlier education-equivalency requirement (completion of the second year of high school) appears in brackets in the current rule text, the NMAC convention indicating it has been repealed/renumbered out of the current provision, so no separate education field is recorded here. Per the board's own Background Report Instructions page (https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/barbers-and-cosmetologists/background-report-instructions/), 'The Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists does not require background checks.' [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 600 hours or equivalent credit at a board-licensed school, per 16.34.5.12 NMAC (Esthetician License). Applicants who have not completed a formal course of study may substitute verified, licensed work experience: six full months of documented employment equals 150 hours of training credit (16.34.5.8(C) NMAC); work experience under six months does not count toward hours. [1]

  3. 3

    Esthetician Licensing Examination (practical and written)

    Pass the Esthetician Licensing Examination (practical and written). practical and written Required of applicants completing an approved esthetics course of study; applicants have 12 months after finishing school to pass both the practical and written exams, scheduled directly with PCS (1-888-822-3272). PCS's exam fee is not published on the board's official fee schedule, so it is recorded as null rather than guessed. [2]

  4. 4

    Jurisprudence Examination

    Pass the Jurisprudence Examination. online, laws and rules Completed as a step within the applicant's online NM-PLUS application (see Esthetician License Application Manual, 'Jurisprudence Exam' step); required of all esthetician applicants, including those applying by reciprocity. No separate fee is published; it is part of the standard application process. [3]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department) with the $10 application fee. Typical processing time: The application must be approved within 3-5 business days from the date of completion.. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department) issues your Esthetician License for New Mexico.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [4] $10
License fee [4] $100
Renewal fee [4] $100
Esthetician Licensing Examination (practical and written) [2] None specified
Jurisprudence Examination [3] None specified
Late fee (all license types) [4] $40
Reciprocity/endorsement application fee [4] $150
Duplicate license [4] $25

The $100 renewal fee covers the full 2-year license period (see renewal cycle below). The board's fee page groups this figure under a heading labeled 'Annual Renewal Fees,' but the board's own FAQ states licenses are issued/renewed on a 2-year cycle, so cycleYears is recorded as 2, not 1.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

The original issuance of a license is for a period of 2 years or less from the date of issuance, expiring on the last day of the licensee's birth month; renewal is thereafter on the same 2-year cycle. No esthetician-specific continuing-education hour requirement was found on the board's official pages; the board's published 12-hour CE requirement applies to instructor licenses, not to practitioner (esthetician) licenses, so ceHours is recorded as null rather than guessed.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

New Mexico offers licensure by reciprocity/endorsement: an applicant holding a current, honorable license from another state submits a reciprocity application, passes the online jurisprudence exam via the NM-PLUS portal, and pays the $150 reciprocity application fee (see fees page). Foreign-trained applicants may also apply by reciprocity if their training meets or exceeds New Mexico requirements. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet operational in any state (New Mexico included), so compacts is recorded as an empty list.

8 state-approved training providers in New Mexico — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $10
  • $100
Total$110

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for my esthetician license application to be approved?

The application must be approved within 3-5 business days from the date of completion, per the board's FAQ page.

When does my initial New Mexico esthetician license expire?

The original issuance of a license is for a period of 2 years or less from the date of issuance. The expiration date is the last day of the licensee's birth month.

How much is the esthetician license renewal fee?

The renewal fee is $100 for the 2-year period. A $40 late fee applies if the renewal is not completed by the expiration date.

How do I obtain an esthetician license in New Mexico if I'm already licensed in another state?

Complete the reciprocity application and submit it, along with the jurisprudence exam and the applicable fee, through the board's online NM-PLUS licensing portal.

Who administers the esthetician licensing exam in New Mexico, and how do I schedule it?

Professional Credentialing Services (PCS) administers the practical and written exams. Call 1-888-822-3272 or email cosandbar@pcshq.com to schedule your exam or ask about exam content.

Sources

  1. [1] rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/16.34.5-NMAC.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/barbers-and-cosmetologists/faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Esthetician-License-Application-Manual.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/barbers-and-cosmetologists/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-11