Alaska Cosmetology License Requirements

To obtain a hairdresser license in Alaska, applicants must complete approved training, submit a notarized application, and pass the NIC written theory examination. All licensing is handled by the Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, which operates under the Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing (DCBPL). The following steps outline the licensure-by-examination process:

1. Complete 1,650 hours of hairdresser training at a board-approved school. Alternatively, complete 2,000 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program. Schools must be licensed by the Board of Barbers and Hairdressers; training hours are tracked through quarterly student reports submitted to the board by the school or instructor. If training was completed outside Alaska, the issuing state board or school must send official documentation directly to DCBPL — not the applicant.
2. Obtain an Affidavit of Completed Training. Before applying, your school or apprenticeship instructor must submit the Barber/Hairdresser Student Affidavit of Completed Training (form #08-4475) to the board confirming that all required hours have been completed.
3. Submit a notarized application and pay the required fees. Download the Hairdresser or Esthetician License Application (form #08-4193) from the board's Applications & Forms page. The application must be signed and notarized. Submit it with a $150 nonrefundable application fee and the $180 initial license fee ($330 total) to DCBPL, PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811. Faxed or emailed applications are not accepted.
4. Wait for board approval to schedule your examination. Applications are reviewed in the order received. Once approved, you will be notified by both the DCBPL office and Prov, Inc. that you are ready to schedule your NIC written theory examination. Do not attempt to register with Prov before receiving this notification — registrations submitted prematurely cannot be processed.
5. Schedule and pass the NIC written theory examination. Register through Prov at provexam.com and pay the exam fee directly to Prov. The exam covers hairdressing theory content developed by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). If you fail the written examination three or more times, you must complete additional training hours before retesting per 12 AAC 09.075(f).
6. Receive your license. After passing the examination, the board issues your hairdresser license. Licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years, and the biennial renewal fee is $180. There is no separate practical examination — the written exam is the only examination required.

Alaska's Board of Barbers and Hairdressers sets minimum training hour requirements for each license type under 12 AAC 09. Training must be completed at a school or in an apprenticeship program that has been approved by the board. Schools must hold a current school license and submit quarterly student hour reports to the division. Out-of-state training documentation must be sent directly to DCBPL by the issuing school or state board — not by the applicant.

Training Hours by License Type

• Hairdresser: 1,650 hours in an approved school, or 2,000 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship applicants must also provide proof of passing a proficiency test administered by their instructor.
• Esthetician: 350 hours in an approved school, or 350 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship. Apprenticeship applicants must provide proof of passing a proficiency test administered by their instructor.
• Manicurist: Completion of a 12-hour board-approved manicuring course in health, safety, and hygiene. This is one of the shortest manicurist training requirements in the country. No school enrollment or hundreds of hours are required.
• Manicurist with Advanced Endorsement: Additional training hours beyond the 12-hour course. Out-of-state manicurists with a minimum of 250 hours who have passed a written exam may apply for this endorsement directly.
• Hair Braider: Completion of a 35-hour board-approved hair braiding course.
• Barber and Non-Chemical Barber: Training requirements are set under 12 AAC 09 and completed in a board-approved barber school or apprenticeship.

Out-of-State Training

Graduates who trained outside Alaska must have the state board or school send official training documentation directly to DCBPL. A copy of a transcript or license is not acceptable — documentation must come from the issuing authority. If out-of-state hours fall short of Alaska's requirements, the deficit must be completed in a licensed Alaska school or board-approved apprenticeship program before applying.

Hairdresser Licensees and Manicuring

Under AS 08.13.220, a person holding a hairdresser license in Alaska may perform manicuring and limited esthetics services (including temporary hair removal from the face or neck, makeup application, and false eyelash application) without obtaining a separate manicurist or esthetician license.

Alaska requires a written NIC theory examination for hairdresser and esthetician applicants. Examinations are administered online through Prov, Inc. (provexam.com), the testing provider designated by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Alaska does not require a separate practical examination for hairdresser, esthetician, or manicurist applicants.

Examination Process

1. Submit your notarized application and all required fees ($330 total) to DCBPL. Applications are reviewed in the order received; paper processing takes several weeks.
2. After your application is reviewed and approved, both the DCBPL office and Prov will notify you that you are authorized to schedule your examination. Do not register with Prov before receiving this notification.
3. Register and pay the exam fee directly to Prov at provexam.com. The NIC candidate bulletin, available on the board's website, contains testing center locations and exam day procedures.
4. Take the computer-based NIC written theory examination. Content is developed and owned by NIC and covers hairdressing or esthetics theory depending on the license type sought.

No Practical Examination

Alaska does not require a separate practical examination for hairdresser or esthetician applicants. Only the NIC written theory exam is required. This distinguishes Alaska from many other states, where applicants must pass both a written and a hands-on practical examination.

Manicurist Examination

Basic manicurist applicants are not required to take the NIC written theory examination. Manicurist licensure requires only completion of a 12-hour board-approved health, safety, and hygiene course plus a notarized application. A written exam (available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean) is required only for Manicurist with Advanced Endorsement applicants.

Failing the Examination

An applicant who fails the written examination three or more times must complete additional hours of training before retesting. See 12 AAC 09.075(f) for the specific requirements. Applicants requiring language accommodation must submit a written request before the exam registration deadline; interpreters are not permitted in the examination room.

Alaska hairdresser, barber, esthetician, and manicurist licenses are renewed on a biennial (two-year) basis. All individual licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when they were originally issued. The current renewal period runs from September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2027. There is no grace period — practicing with a lapsed license is illegal under Alaska law.

Renewal Fee

• Biennial license renewal (for licenses first issued on or before August 31, 2024): $180.00
• Prorated renewal (for licenses first issued on or after September 1, 2024): $90.00

How to Renew

Renew online through the MY LICENSE self-service portal at ProfessionalLicense.Alaska.Gov/MYLICENSE. Online renewal is fastest — in most cases the license renews immediately after payment. Paper renewal forms are available on the board's Applications & Forms page and may be mailed with payment to DCBPL, PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811. Allow 4–6 weeks for paper renewal processing.

Continuing Education Requirements

Alaska does not require continuing education for hairdresser, barber, esthetician, or manicurist license renewals. No CE hours must be reported or documented at the time of renewal. This is relatively uncommon among state cosmetology regulators, most of which require CE for renewal.

Address and Name Changes

It is the licensee's responsibility to maintain a current mailing address and email address with the division. Update contact information through the MY LICENSE portal. If you have had a legal name change since your last license was issued, complete a Change of Name form before submitting your renewal to avoid discrepancies on your license certificate.

The Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers issues individual operator licenses, instructor licenses, and business licenses. Alaska's licensing scope is broader than most state cosmetology boards — it includes body art (tattooing, body piercing, permanent cosmetic coloring) alongside traditional cosmetology disciplines, all under the same regulatory authority.

Hairdresser

Authorizes cutting, styling, coloring, perming, bleaching, and similar services on the hair of a living person, as well as beard trimming. Also covers manicuring and limited esthetics without a separate license. Requires 1,650 school hours or 2,000 apprenticeship hours. Biennial renewal: $180.

Esthetician

Authorizes skin care, facial treatments, makeup application, and temporary removal of superfluous hair on the scalp, face, and neck. Requires 350 school or apprenticeship hours. Biennial renewal: $180.

Manicurist

Authorizes nail services on hands and feet, including artificial nail application. Requires only a 12-hour board-approved course in health, safety, and hygiene — no lengthy school enrollment required. Biennial renewal: $180.

Manicurist with Advanced Endorsement

An enhanced manicurist license for those with more extensive nail training. Out-of-state manicurists with 250+ training hours and a written exam may apply for this endorsement. Biennial renewal: $180.

Barber and Non-Chemical Barber

The barber license covers all barbering services including chemical treatments. The non-chemical barber license covers haircuts and beard trims only, with no chemical services. Both are licensed under the same board as hairdressers. Biennial renewal: $180.

Hair Braider

Authorizes natural and synthetic hair braiding and extensions. Requires a 35-hour board-approved course. Biennial renewal: $180.

Instructor

Required to teach in any board-licensed school. Must hold a current license in the subject area being taught. Biennial renewal: $180.

Body Piercer, Tattooist, Permanent Cosmetic Colorist

Alaska is one of a small number of states that includes body art under its cosmetology regulatory structure. All three require board licensure and are typically completed through board-approved apprenticeships. Biennial renewal: $180.

School and Shop Owner

A school license is required for any institution offering board-regulated training programs. A shop owner license is required for any location where board-regulated services are performed for compensation. Mobile unit and temporary shop licenses are also available for qualifying operations.