Nevada Cosmetology License Requirements

This page provides information for Nevada license requirements including how to apply for a new license, renew an existing one, reactivate an expired license and Nevada license reciprocity for when you need to transfer a license to this state or out of state. If available, we provide other useful information such as cosmetology school hours requirements, how to apply for additional license for professions like manicurists, nail technicians, instructors etc. If you did not find the answer you were looking for on this page or if you have questions or issues pertaining to cosmetology, then we recommend you contact the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology.

Nevada Cosmetology License Verification

If you need to verify a license for a salon or person, then you can do so by visiting the Nevada Board of Cosmetology license verification website. From there you can search for the person or business and see if there are any disciplinary actions on record. This will allow you to make an informed decision about the person and or business providing your service.

Nevada Esthetician License (900 Hour Requirement)

An esthetician is a licensed professional that provides skin care treatment and services. The scope of practice for an esthetician in the State of Nevada is:

• Beautifying, massaging, cleansing or stimulating the skin of the human body by the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams, or any device, electrical or otherwise, for the care of the skin
• Applying cosmetics or eyelashes to any person, tinting eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body and
• Removing superfluous hair from the body of any person by the use of depilatories, waxing, tweezers or sugaring, but does not include the branches of cosmetology of a cosmetologist, hair designer, shampoo technologist, hair braider, electrologist or nail technologist

How to Get Licensed

If you are just starting to research a career as an esthetician, please visit their Student Resources page for more information. The esthetic program in Nevada is 900 hours in length and takes an estimated twenty-six weeks or less to complete at 35 hours of schooling per week.

If you are currently enrolled as an esthetics student in the State of Nevada and you have completed the practical test at your school, you must schedule for your theory test and Nevada State Law test. Please contact your school representative to schedule your tests with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology.

If you have completed hours outside the State of Nevada (out of state or out of country hours) in an esthetic program, you must pass the theory test, Nevada State Law test, and practical test. You must be able to provide beauty school transcripts or documentation to be eligible for the tests. Please complete the Individual Application. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Cosmetologist License (1,600 Hour Requirement)

A cosmetologist is a licensed professional that provides hair, skin, and nail care treatment and services. The scope of practice for a cosmetologist in the State of Nevada is:

• Cleansing, stimulating or massaging the scalp or cleansing or beautifying the hair by the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams
• Cutting, trimming or shaping the hair
• Arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring or straightening the hair of any person with the hands, mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, or by other means, or similar work incident to or necessary for the proper carrying on of the practice or occupation
• Manicuring the nails of any person
• Beautifying, massaging, stimulating or cleansing the skin of the human body by the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creams or any device, electrical or otherwise, for the care of the skin
• Giving facials or skin care or applying cosmetics or eyelashes to any person
• Applying cosmetics or eyelashes to any person, tinting eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening hair on the body and
• Removing superfluous hair from the surface of the body of any person by the use of electrolysis where the growth is a blemish, or by the use of depilatories, waxing, tweezers or sugaring, except for the permanent removal of hair with needles

How to Get Licensed

If you are just starting to research a career as a cosmetologist, please visit their Student Resources page for more information. The cosmetology program in Nevada is 1,600 hours in length and takes an estimated fifty weeks or less to complete at 35 hours of schooling per week.

If you are currently enrolled as a cosmetology student in the State of Nevada and you have completed the practical test at your school, you must schedule for your theory test and Nevada State Law test. Please contact your school representative to schedule your tests with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology.

If you have completed hours outside the State of Nevada (out of state or out of country hours) in a cosmetology program, you must pass the theory test, Nevada State Law, and practical test. You must be able to provide beauty school transcripts or documentation to be eligible for the tests. Please complete the Individual Application and be sure to contact the school you attended and have the school send them a breakdown of the subjects via email, fax, or regular mail. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Cosmetology School Hours

Nevada Demonstrator of Cosmetics

A demonstrator of cosmetics is a licensed professional that demonstrates the application of cosmetics in a licensed salon for the sole purpose of selling cosmetics.

How to Get Licensed

You may apply for an infection control test and the Nevada State Law Test by completing the Individual Application. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Electrologist License (500 Hour Requirement)

An electrologist is a licensed professional that engages in the occupation of permanently removing excess or unwanted hair from the body only by the use of a needle.

How to Get Licensed

If you have completed hours outside the State of Nevada (out of state or out of country hours) in a electrologist program, you must pass the theory test, Nevada State Law, and practical test. You must be able to provide beauty school transcripts or documentation to be eligible for the tests. Please complete the Individual Application. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Hair Braider License (No Hour Requirement- Must pass theory, state law, and practical tests)

A hair braider is a licensed professional that engages in the practice of hair braiding. The scope of practice for a hair braider in the State of Nevada is:

• The natural form of hair manipulation by braiding, cornrowing, extending, lacing, locking, sewing, twisting, weaving or wrapping human hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers and hair extensions. The practice may be performed by hand or by using simple braiding devices, including, without limitation, clips, combs, hairpins, scissors, needles and thread
• Cleansing the scalp and
• The making of customized wigs from natural hair, natural fibers, synthetic fibers and hair extensions

The scope of practice for hair braider does not include:

• The use of penetrating chemical hair treatments, chemical hair coloring agents, chemical hair straightening agents, chemical hair joining agents, permanent wave styles or chemical hair bleaching agents applied to growing human hair
• The cutting or growing of human hair, except that the term includes the trimming of hair extensions or sewn weave-in extensions only as applicable to the braiding process or
• Any other activity defined as cosmetology

How to Get Licensed

If you have a signed affidavit that you have performed hair braiding services (described above) for at least one year on a relative (6th degree of consanguinity), you are eligible to take the theory test, Nevada State Law, and practical test. Once you pass the hair braiding tests, you will receive the license. Please complete the Individual Application. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Hair Designer License (1,200 Hour Requirement)

A hair designer is a licensed professional that engages in the practice of hair care treatment and services. The scope of practice for a hair designer in the State of Nevada is:

• Cleansing, stimulating or massaging the scalp, or cleansing or beautifying the hair by the use of cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions or creams
• Cutting, trimming or shaping the hair and
• Arranging, dressing, curling, waving, cleansing, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring or straightening the hair of any person with the hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, or by other means or similar work incident to or necessary for the proper carrying on of the practice or occupation

How to Get Licensed

If you are just starting to research a career as a hair designer, please visit their Student Resources page for more information. The hair design program in Nevada is 1,200 hours in length and takes an estimated thirty-six weeks or less to complete at 35 hours of schooling per week.

If you are currently enrolled as a hair design student in the State of Nevada and you have completed the practical test at your school, you must schedule for your theory test and Nevada State Law Test. Please contact your school representative to schedule your tests with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology.

If you have completed hours outside the State of Nevada (out of state or out of country hours) in a hair design program, you must pass the theory test, Nevada State Law Test, and practical test. You must be able to provide beauty school transcripts or documentation to be eligible for the tests. Please complete the Individual Application. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Instructor (PIL Program or Student Instructor Program Completion)

An instructor is licensed to instruct students enrolled at a licensed beauty school.

How to Get Licensed

If you are currently enrolled as a student instructor or a provisional instructor in the State of Nevada and you have completed your training hours, you must schedule for your theory test and Nevada State Law test. Please contact your school representative to schedule your tests with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Nail Technologist License (600 Hour Requirement)

A nail technologist is a licensed professional that engages in the practice of nail care treatment and services. The scope of practice for a nail technologist in the State of Nevada is:

• Care of another's fingernails or toenails
• Beautification of another's nails
• Extension of another's nails and
• Massaging of another's hands, forearms, feet or lower legs

How to Get Licensed

If you are just starting to research careers as a nail technologist, please visit their Student Resources page for more information. The nail technology program in Nevada is 600 hours in length and takes an estimated eighteen weeks or less to complete at 35 hours of schooling per week.

If you are currently enrolled as a nail technology student in the State of Nevada and you have completed the practical test at your school, you must schedule for your theory test and Nevada State Law Test. Please contact your school representative to schedule your tests with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology.

If you have completed hours outside the State of Nevada (out of state or out of country hours) in a nail technology program, you must pass the theory test, Nevada State Law Test, and practical test. You must be able to provide beauty school transcripts or documentation to be eligible for the tests. Please complete the Individual Application. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Provisional Instructor (500 Hour Requirements)

A provisional instructor is a licensed instructor-in-training. They must be supervised by a licensed instructor.

How to Get Licensed

If you are interested in becoming a licensed instructor in the State of Nevada, you must first have a current cosmetology, nail technology, aesthetics, or hair design license and have one year of salon experience. The provisional instructor program is 500 hours in length and takes an estimated fifteen weeks or less to complete at 35 hours of schooling per week. Please contact a school representative for more information regarding an instructor career.

Nevada Shampoo Technologist (50 Hour Requirement)

A shampoo technologist is a licensed professional that engages in the practice of shampoo technology under the immediate supervision of a licensed cosmetologist. The scope of practice for a shampoo technologist in the State of Nevada is:

• Cleansing of the hair or scalp, including, without limitation
• Brushing and combing the hair
• Applying shampoo and conditioner to the hair and
• Rinsing the hair, including, without limitation, rinsing the hair to remove shampoos, conditioners, tints, relaxers and other solutions
• Removing rollers, permanent rods, hairpins, clips or similar hair fasteners from the hair
• Cleaning and disinfecting the shampoo bowl

How to Get Licensed

The shampoo technologist program is an online course delivered by Milady. You may register for the online course by clicking here. Even without training in hair services, you are eligible to take the Shampoo Technology Course delivered by Milady. Once the course has been successfully completed, you are eligible to take the Nevada State Law Test in order to obtain your license. Please complete the Individual Application and by passing the Nevada State Law Test.

If you are currently enrolled in a cosmetology or hair design program in the State of Nevada and you have completed at least 50 hours in your school, you are eligible to take the Nevada State Law Test in order to obtain your license. Please contact your school representative to schedule your tests with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology. If you are licensed in another state, district, or territory you may be eligible for reciprocity (transferring your license to Nevada).

Nevada Student Instructor

A student instructor is a licensed educator-in-training. They must be supervised by a licensed instructor.

How to Get Licensed

If you are interested in becoming a licensed instructor in the State of Nevada, you must first have a current cosmetology, nail technology, esthetics, or hair design license and have one year of salon experience. The student instructor program is 700 hours in length and takes an estimated twenty weeks or less to complete at 35 hours of schooling per week. Please contact a school representative for more information regarding an instructor career.

Nevada Apprenticeship

A licensed apprentice is an individual that is learning a cosmetology-related occupation in a licensed salon. Individuals may apply for an apprenticeship program with Board if the individual will learn at a salon that is sixty miles away from the closest licensed beauty school. Apprentice programs are available for the following license types:

• Aesthetics
• Cosmetology
• Electrology
• Hair Design
• Nail Technology

How to Get Licensed

If you are just starting to research a career in the cosmetology industry, please visit their Student Resources page for more information. Individuals that are interested in an apprenticeship should first locate a licensed salon that is willing to provide on-the-job training. Please note, the salon must be sixty miles from the closest licensed beauty school. Once you have located a salon that will provide training, an Apprentice Application is submitted and reviewed by the Board. Once approved, a license is issued and training can begin. The required hours for each apprenticeship program is:

• Aesthetics (1,800 Hours)
• Cosmetology (3,600 Hours)
• Electrology (1,000 Hours)
• Hair Design (2,400 Hours)
• Nail Technology (1,200 Hours)

Time cards are required to be submitted by the apprentice and salon on a monthly basis. This tracks the documented progress of the apprentice. Once you have completed the required hours, the apprentice can apply for the licensing test by submitting an Individual Application. You must be able to provide training documentation from the salon to be eligible for the tests.

In order to obtain a license in Nevada, you must pass the theory test, Nevada State Law Test, and practical test. You must be able to provide beauty school transcripts or documentation to be eligible for the tests. A license is issuance once all three tests have been completed with a score of 75% or higher.

How to Open a Nevada Salon

Opening a salon with the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology can be a simple process. The law requires prospective salon owners to submit a Salon Application twenty days before the scheduled opening date. They typically complete Salon Opening Inspections within 3-7 business days after the application has been processed.

Before submitting a Salon Application, it is important for a prospective salon owner to be familiar with the rules and regulations in the State of Nevada. The Salon Opening Checklist summarizes the requirements for passing an opening inspection.

Once a prospective salon owner is in compliance with the Salon Opening Checklist and the rules and regulations, a Salon Application should be submitted in a timely manner in order for a Salon Opening Inspection to be performed before the scheduled opening date. This inspection is scheduled between the Inspection Team and the salon owner and/or representatives.

At the time of the inspection, the inspector will review the Salon Opening Checklist to ensure that the salon is in compliance. If the salon is in compliance, the salon license will be issued. If the salon is not in compliance with the Salon Opening Checklist, then the salon owner must correct the items not in compliance. If a salon fails a Salon Opening Inspection, a Salon Re-Inspection Fee of $25 must be paid in order for another inspection to be scheduled.

It is important that you to contact your local/city/county/state government agencies for any applicable licensing requirement. The licensing fees collected by the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology are used directly to manage the operations of our Inspection Services and Testing Services which are designed to reduce the risk of unsafe, unsanitary, and unlawful practices in the beauty-service industry by insuring competent individuals are practicing in safe and clean salons.

Open a School in Nevada

Opening a school in Nevada includes multiple governmental agencies involvement. They recommend that each prospective school owner take time to review the requirements outlined below. Once the information below has been thoroughly reviewed, please contact them at info@nvcosmo.com to schedule a meeting to discuss the school opening process in more detail.

Application Requirements

• A detailed floor plan of the proposed school
• The name, address and number of the license of the manager or person in charge and of each instructor
• Evidence of financial ability to provide the facilities and equipment required by regulations of the Board and to maintain the operation of the proposed school for 1 year
• Proof that the proposed school will commence operation with an enrollment of a number of students acceptable to the Board
• The applicable fee for a license
• A copy of the contract for the enrollment of a student in a program at the school of cosmetology
• The name and address of the person designated to accept service of process
• Is suitably located
• Contains adequate floor space and adequate equipment
• Has a contract for the enrollment of a student in a program at the school of cosmetology that is approved by the Board and pays a license fee
• For 2 years, not less than $500 and not more than $800 or
• For 4 years, not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,600 and
• Meets all requirements established by regulations of the Board

Please visit their School Applications page for the School Application.

School Size Requirements

Each school of cosmetology must meet with following minimum size requirements:

• Cosmetologists, for each 25 such students in attendance, at least 5,000 square feet of floor space
• Hair designers, for each 20 such students in attendance, at least 3,500 square feet of floor space
• Estheticians, for each 20 such students in attendance, at least 3,500 square feet of floor space or
• Nail technologists, for each 20 such students in attendance, at least 2,500 square feet of floor space and
• Provide properly equipped lecture rooms of sufficient size to accommodate all students
• Provide separate lockers with sufficient space to store the student's equipment and
• Provide a document signed by the fire marshal who has jurisdiction over the location of the school stating that the placement of the equipment and the square footage provided for the maximum number of proposed students complies with all applicable laws, regulations and codes relating to protection from fire
• Please see the School Applications page for more information.

School Equipment Requirements

• Closed waste containers of sufficient size and in sufficient quantity to permit the disposal of all refuse and waste matter by the school and its students
• One device approved by the Board for use by the students to record their hours of training at the school
• One chair and writing surface for each student in classes on theory
• Mirrors, worktables and styling chairs of sufficient number to accommodate the students enrolled
• At least one textbook per student in either physical or electronic format and adequate reference material, charts, teaching aids and other materials to support the instruction in the school
• Adequate and safe electrical outlets

Cosmetology Requirements

• Twenty-five work stations with styling chairs
• Seven shampoo bowls
• Five hair dryers which may be portable or stationary
• Two facial chairs
• Eight nail technology tables with two chairs per table
• One chair for each student in attendance
• One writing surface for each student in attendance
• Two mannequins for each student in attendance
• One tripod or mannequin clamp for each student in attendance
• One kit for each student in attendance which contains an adequate number of blow dryers, shampoo capes, smocks or aprons, brushes, combs, haircutting implements, esthetic supplies and nail technology supplies
• An adequate number of marcelling irons, flat irons and curling irons to allow students to perform the tasks required by the curriculum
• An adequate amount of other supplies and instruments to allow students to perform the tasks required by the curriculum
• An adequate amount of wet disinfectants

Hair Design Requirements

• Twenty work stations
• Twenty styling chairs
• Seven shampoo bowls
• Five hair dryers which may be portable or stationary
• One chair for each student in attendance
• One writing surface for each student in attendance
• Two mannequins for each student in attendance
• One tripod or mannequin clamp for each student in attendance
• One kit for each student in attendance which contains an adequate number of shampoo capes, smocks or aprons, brushes, combs and haircutting implements
• An adequate number of marcelling irons, flat irons and curling irons to allow students to perform the tasks required by the curriculum
• An adequate amount of other supplies and instruments to allow students to perform the tasks required by the curriculum
• An adequate amount of wet disinfectants

Esthetic Requirements

• Five facial chairs
• Five facial machines designed to perform esthetic procedures within the legal scope of services
• Five facial steamers
• Five towel warmers
• Five waxing units
• One chair for each student in attendance
• One writing surface for each student in attendance
• One mannequin for each student in attendance
• One tripod or mannequin clamp for each student in attendance
• One kit for each student in attendance which contains an adequate amount of facial supplies
• An adequate amount of skin care products to allow students to perform the tasks required by the curriculum
• An adequate amount of wet disinfectants

Nail Technology Requirements

• Ten manicure tables with two chairs per table
• Five pedicure chairs with foot basins
• One chair for each student in attendance
• One writing surface for each student in attendance
• An adequate number of mannequin hands or fingers for each student in attendance
• One mannequin hand clamp for each student in attendance
• One kit for each student in attendance which contains an adequate amount of implements and nail care supplies for manicures and pedicures
• An adequate amount of nail care products for each student in attendance
• An adequate amount of wet disinfectants

Please complete the School Application to apply.

Nevada License Reciprocity

If you are licensed in another state, you may be eligible for reciprocity. Reciprocity is Nevada's recognition of your license in esthetics, cosmetology, hair braiding, hair design, nail technology and your license to instruct from another state, district, territory, or country. The total cost for submitting a reciprocity application is $325.

In order to be eligible for reciprocity in the State of Nevada, your license must be active and in good standing in another state. Applicants must complete an Individual Application and submit the required information and pass a 25-question Nevada State Law Test with a 75% or higher to become licensed. Nevada does not recognize Florida licenses titled Facial Specialist or Full Specialist. The scopes of practice for these licenses are not comparable to a license in the State of Nevada.

In order for them to verify your licensing information in another state, they will review you License Certification from your current state. A License Certification is an official document with your important license information from your current licensing state. If you are licensed in one of the following states, they will look up your licensing information online when we receive your application. No need to contact your current licensing state.

• Alabama
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Utah
• Wisconsin

However, if you are licensed in a state listed below, you must contact your state board and have a License Certification sent to them.

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming
• or other US Territory

Certification Request

A Certification Request is a request for a license or hour certification to be sent by the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology to another state board of cosmetology or to a school. The cost for a Certification Request is $10 and is completed within two business days.

Duplicate License Request

To request a duplicate license, please complete the Duplication License Application.