StateLicensed

Nail Technician License Requirements in Delaware

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
300 hrs
Upfront cost
—
Exam
NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination, NIC Nail Technology Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, Completion of at least the 10th grade or its equivalent.. A standard criminal background check is not routinely required for all applicants, but criminal history is evaluated during the application process. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 300 hours of training at a state-approved program. Requires completion of a 300-hour course of instruction in an approved school of nail technology, OR a 600-hour apprenticeship under a licensed nail technician or cosmetologist. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination

    Pass the NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination. Administered by Prometric using National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) standards. Fee is paid directly to Prometric. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Nail Technology Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Nail Technology Practical Examination. Administered by Prometric using National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) standards. Fee is paid directly to Prometric. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

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

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering issues your Nail Technician for Delaware.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] None specified
NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination [2] None specified
NIC Nail Technology Practical Examination [2] None specified

No application fee is paid directly to the Delaware Board for license by examination (candidates apply and pay directly to the exam vendor Prometric); the Board charges a $103 application fee for license by reciprocity. No separate license fee is charged. The Board's official fee schedule states that the renewal fee amount is notified to the licensee at the time of renewal and is not published on the public fee schedule.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 0 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses expire on March 31 of each even-numbered year. Delaware does not require continuing education for renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Available to applicants who hold a current, active license in another state, U.S. territory, or District of Columbia. Method 1 applies if the other state's hour requirements are equal to or greater than Delaware's (300 school or 600 apprentice hours). Method 2 applies if they require fewer hours, which requires proof of at least 1 year of continuous full-time experience within the last 5 years under a valid license. Both methods require passing a professionally developed national written and practical exam.

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

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of education do I need for licensure?

The professional/technical training required is 300 classroom hours for a Nail Technician license.

Can I do an apprenticeship to get a license?

Yes. For a Nail Technician license, you must complete 600 apprenticeship hours.

Do I need to be a high school graduate to apply for a license?

If you're applying for any kind of license other than an Instructor, you must have education equivalent to completing at least the 10th grade.

Am I required to complete continuing education?

No.

Do I need to have a U.S. Social Security Number?

If you have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), you must enter it on your online license application. The license will not be issued until you provide the SSN. However, if you have never been issued a U.S. SSN, you must attest online that you do not have one.

Sources

  1. [1] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/reciprocity/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/cosmoexam/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/renewal/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title24/5100.shtml — accessed 2026-07-12