Cosmetology School Age Requirements
Every state regulates beauty businesses differently, which means that each state has their own requirements that you need to meet in order to get a cosmetology license. Cosmetology school requirements vary by age, hour and admittance criteria depending on where you're at in North America. Most cosmetology schools want students that will be eligible to take the state cosmetology licensing exam immediately after successfully completing their program, so finding out state cosmetology licensing requirements first thing if highly recommended if you’re considering beauty school.
Usually, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED in order to attend beauty school. Requirements for cosmetology school might also include age requirements for admission, which may range from age 16 to 23 years of age. We've put together a handy chart to condense the basic information.
| STATE | AGE REQUIREMENT | OTHER REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| ALABAMA | 16 years old | 10th grade education level |
| ALASKA | None | None |
| ARIZONA | 23 years old (if applicant has no high school equivalency) | 10th grade education level |
| ARKANSAS | 16 years old/18 for electrology | 2 years of high school education/Diploma for electrology |
| CALIFORNIA | 17 years old | 10th grade education level/12th for electrology |
| COLORADO | 16 years old | None |
| CONNECTICUT | 16 years old | 8th grade education level |
| DELAWARE | None | 10th grade education level/12th for teacher training |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 17 years old | 8th grade education level |
| FLORIDA | 16 years old | High school diploma |
| GEORGIA | 17 years old | Good moral character |
| HAWAII | 16 years old/17 for barbers | High school education or equivalent |
| IDAHO | 16.5 years old | 2 years of high school education |
| ILLINOIS | 16 years old | 8th grade education level + high school diploma or ATB test |
| INDIANA | 18 years old | 10th grade education level |
| IOWA | None | High school diploma |
| KANSAS | 17 years old | High school diploma |
| KENTUCKY | 16 years old | 10th grade education level/12th for electrology or instructor training |
| LOUISIANA | 16 years old | 10th grade education level |
| MAINE | 17 years old | 10th grade education level |
| MARYLAND | 17 years old | 9th grade education level |
| MASSACHUSETTS | 17 years old | 10th grade education level |
| MICHIGAN | 17 years old/18 for electrology | 9th grade education level |
| MINNESOTA | None | High school diploma |
| MISSISSIPPI | 17 years old | 12th grade education level |
| MISSOURI | 17 years old | 10th grade education level |
| MONTANA | 18 years old | High school diploma |
| NEBRASKA | 17 years old | High school diploma; first aid certification |
| NEVADA | 18 years old | 10th grade education level |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | None | 12th grade education level; good moral character |
| NEW JERSEY | 17 years old | High school diploma |
| NEW MEXICO | 17 years old | 2 years of high school education |
| NEW YORK | 17 years old | Test disease-free |
| NORTH CAROLINA | None | None |
| NORTH DAKOTA | None | High school diploma |
| OHIO | 16 years old | 10th grade education level |
| OKLAHOMA | 16 years old | 8th grade education level |
| OREGON | None | None |
| PENNSYLVANIA | 16 years old | 10th grade education level |
| RHODE ISLAND | 18 years old | High school diploma |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 16 years old | 10th grade education level |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | 18 years old | High school diploma |
| TENNESSEE | 16 years old | None |
| TEXAS | 17 years old | High school diploma |
| UTAH | None | Good moral character |
| VERMONT | 18 years old | High school diploma |
| VIRGINIA | None | None |
| WASHINGTON | 17 years old | None |
| WEST VIRGINIA | 18 years old | High school diploma; good moral character |
| WISCONSIN | 18 years old | High school diploma or ATB |
| WYOMING | 16 years old | 10th grade education level |
This should get you started, but it's definitely not a comprehensive resource of beauty school licensing requirements, so you're best bet is to check out the state licensing page, select the states you're interested in and get a full breakdown, including links to the board of cosmetology websites. You can also contact the schools you are interested in through our website and talk to them about their admissions requirements and how they match up with state laws.
BeautySchool.com offers you the ability to search for a beauty school in your area to find a quality cosmetology institution that fits your needs. Upon completing your program, you can obtain your state cosmetology license and begin a rewarding beauty career.