StateLicensed

Nail Technician License Requirements in Alabama

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
750 hrs
Upfront cost
$255
Exam
Written Examination, Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, Completion of at least 10 grades of secondary school (or the equivalent). Applicants must be at least 16 years old, have completed at least 10 grades of secondary school (or the equivalent), and be legally permitted to work in the United States. No criminal background check is mentioned on the Board's official licensing pages. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 750 hours of training at a state-approved program. 750 school clock hours of instruction OR 1,200 apprenticeship clock hours (the two tracks may not be combined). [1]

  3. 3

    Written Examination

    Pass the Written Examination (fee: $75). Candidates must pass the written examination before they can apply for the practical examination. They have 2 years from program completion to pass both exams, with up to 3 attempts allowed per exam in that period. [2]

  4. 4

    Practical Examination

    Pass the Practical Examination (fee: $130). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering issues your Manicurist License for Alabama.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $50
Renewal fee [3] $100
Written Examination [2] $75
Practical Examination [2] $130
Written Examination (PSI) [3] $75
Practical Examination (PSI) [3] $130
Late renewal fee [3] $54

No separate application fee beyond the original license fee ($50) and exam fees ($75 written + $130 practical, paid to PSI). Late renewal (after the birth-month deadline in an odd-numbered year) adds a $54 fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Individual manicurist licenses renew during the licensee's birth month in odd-numbered years (a 2-year cycle). No continuing-education hours are required to renew a personal manicurist license in Alabama.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Alabama accepts out-of-state license transfers via reciprocity: the applicant requests a certification of licensure from their current state, then submits Alabama's reciprocity application ($100 non-refundable fee, plus a $75 written exam fee and/or $130 practical exam fee if the Board determines the applicant's home-state training/testing/tenure doesn't fully meet Alabama's requirements). Out-of-state certification requests cost $25 per state. Separately, Alabama enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (per cosmetologycompact.org), but the Compact Commission has not yet begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research, and it is unconfirmed if it will cover manicurist-only licenses, so no compacts are listed under compacts.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $75
  • $130
Total$255

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Alabama require for a manicurist license?

750 school clock hours, or 1,200 apprenticeship clock hours — the two paths cannot be combined.

Who administers the Alabama manicurist licensing exam?

PSI Services administers both the Written ($75) and Practical ($130) examinations.

When do Alabama manicurist licenses renew?

During the licensee's birth month in odd-numbered years. There is no continuing-education requirement for renewal.

Can I transfer an out-of-state manicurist license to Alabama?

Yes, through the Board's reciprocity process. You must first have your current state send a certification of licensure to Alabama, then submit the reciprocity application with a $100 fee; depending on how your training compares to Alabama's requirements, you may also need to pass the written and/or practical exam.

What is the fee to renew a personal manicurist license in Alabama?

The personal renewal fee is $100. Renewals postmarked after the last day of your birth month will be assessed a late fee of $54.

Sources

  1. [1] aboc.alabama.gov/licensing/license-types — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] aboc.alabama.gov/exams/exam-requirements-fees — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] aboc.alabama.gov/licensing/fees — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] aboc.alabama.gov/faqs — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] aboc.alabama.gov/licensing/transfer-license — accessed 2026-07-11