Maryland Cosmetology License Requirements

A Maryland cosmetologist license is granted by the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists, which sits within the Maryland Department of Labor's Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Schools themselves are regulated separately by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), and exams are delivered by PSI Services. Here is the path from student to licensed cosmetologist:

1. Confirm you meet the basic prerequisites. You must be at least 17 years old and have completed the 9th grade or hold a GED.
2. Choose your training route. Maryland accepts either 1,500 hours at an MHEC-approved cosmetology school or a 24-month apprenticeship in a licensed beauty salon under a senior cosmetologist sponsor. Apprentices work at least 20 hours per week and submit monthly training reports to the Board.
3. Complete the one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness Training. Required by House Bill 1547 effective January 1, 2026; the training must come from a Department-approved provider and is a one-time requirement.
4. Apply to PSI for the cosmetologist examination. Submit the application online at test-takers.psiexams.com. Pay $77 for both theory and practical (or $47 each separately). PSI no longer accepts mailed, faxed, or emailed applications.
5. Pass both PSI exams within a two-year window. Theory and practical scores must both be passed within two years of each other to be considered valid by the Board.
6. Receive your registration number from the Board. Within roughly 10 business days of passing both exams, the Board emails instructions for completing the original license application.
7. Submit the original license application and $28 fee. Apply online through the Maryland eLicensing system; your license is delivered as a PDF to the email address on file.
8. Affiliate with a licensed salon or barbershop. Under §5-605 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, you must be affiliated with a licensed salon or barbershop to perform services.

Already licensed in another state? Maryland offers Licensure by Endorsement. The issuing state must send official license verification (including disciplinary history) directly to barbers.cos@maryland.gov — applicant-submitted documents are not accepted. Eligible endorsement applicants may receive a waiver of both the theory and practical examinations subject to Board approval.

Training hours in Maryland are tied to the specific license you intend to hold rather than a single statewide standard. All training programs must be conducted at a school approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) or, for high-school programs, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Apprenticeship is available as an alternative route for most categories.

Required Training by License Type

• Cosmetologist — 1,500 hours of school instruction or 24 months as a registered apprentice in a licensed beauty salon.
• Limited Hairstylist — 1,200 hours of school instruction in hair services or 15 months as a registered apprentice.
• Limited Esthetician — 600 hours of esthetic services instruction or 12 months as a registered apprentice.
• Limited Nail Technician — 250 hours of nail technician instruction or 8 months as a registered apprentice.
• Limited Blow Dry Stylist — 350 hours of blow-drying instruction (no apprenticeship route available).
• Senior Cosmetologist — no additional training hours; instead, the candidate must hold an active Maryland cosmetologist license for at least two years and pass a 100-question theory exam.

Apprenticeship Rules

Apprentice permits are limited credentials, generally issued for one or two years with one renewal allowed. The sponsor must be a senior cosmetologist (or, for the hairstylist track, a two-year licensed hairstylist), and apprentices must work at least 20 hours per week and mail monthly training reports to the Board.

Foreign and Out-of-State Training

Applicants who completed training outside Maryland but are not yet licensed must have their education evaluated by the Board before being authorized to test. The training institution emails official transcripts (with the school's seal), the applicant's email and mailing address, and — if applicable — proof of any name change to barbers.cos@maryland.gov. Foreign-trained applicants must additionally provide certified line-by-line English translations and the original-language diploma or degree certificate. If the training school is closed, contact MHEC at (410) 767-3300 (private postsecondary) or MSDE at (410) 767-0100 (public high-school programs).

The Maryland Board of Cosmetologists contracts both the theory and practical examinations to PSI Services. The Board does not administer testing in-house, and appointments scheduled through the Board's central scheduler are not for exams. Effective March 31, 2025, PSI no longer accepts applications by mail, fax, or email — submission is online only.

Exam Format and Fees

• Cosmetologist: theory + practical $77; either portion alone $47.
• Esthetician: theory + practical $77; either portion alone $47.
• Nail Technician: theory + practical $77; either portion alone $47.
• Senior Cosmetologist: theory only ($47), 100 questions; available only after holding an active Maryland cosmetologist license for two or more years.

Application Process

1. Visit test-takers.psiexams.com and select your test (theory or practical).
2. Sign in to an existing PSI account or create a new one — only one account per test-taker is permitted.
3. Complete the application; if any field is missing, PSI will email a hold notice describing what to submit.
4. Once approved, schedule by phone with PSI registrars at (855) 898-0714 (Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–10:00 PM, Sat–Sun 9:00 AM–5:30 PM ET) or online.

The Board recommends that first-time test-takers apply for both the theory and practical examinations at the same time. There is no expiration on retesting eligibility, but both scores must be passed within a two-year window of each other to remain valid.

Updated Candidate Information Bulletins

PSI updated its Candidate Information Bulletins for tests delivered on or after February 26, 2026. Use the version matching your test date:

• Maryland Cosmetologist CIB
• Maryland Esthetician CIB
• Maryland Nail Technician CIB
• Maryland Hairstylist CIB

Accommodations and Out-of-State Candidates

Testing accommodations and the Maryland Judiciary Court Interpreter Registry are available for the theory portion only. Candidates who completed training outside Maryland (or who are licensed in another state) must obtain a letter of eligibility from the Board before scheduling — email barbers.cos@maryland.gov, and the Board will send the letter to both you and PSI on your behalf.

All Maryland cosmetology licenses run on a fixed two-year cycle from the date of issuance. The cosmetologist renewal fee is $28; limited-practice and senior cosmetologist licenses also renew at $28. Renewal is completed online through the Maryland Department of Labor eLicensing system.

Renewal Steps

1. Watch for the renewal notice. The Board mails renewal information about 60 days before expiration. If it does not arrive — or you need a paper application — call (410) 230-6190 or email barbers.cos@maryland.gov at least 30 days before expiration.
2. Renew online. Visit the eLicensing renewal portal, enter your registration number exactly as shown on your data card, and create or recover your password.
3. Pay the $28 renewal fee. Credit card payments are processed through the portal. Fees are nonrefundable.
4. Receive your PDF license by email. Effective March 1, 2024, the Board no longer mails paper licenses by default; renewed credentials arrive at the email on file. You must have a current email address in your account to receive correspondence.

Continuing Education (effective January 1, 2026)

House Bill 1600 introduced a continuing education requirement for Maryland cosmetology licensees. Each two-year renewal cycle requires 6 total CE hours:

• 2 hours of required topics — health, safety, welfare, sanitation, and/or Board laws and regulations (any combination drawn from those five categories).
• 4 hours of elective topics — within the licensee's scope of practice (e.g., business, the practice of cosmetology, esthetics, nail techniques, product knowledge).

CE coursework must be completed within the renewal cycle and from a Board-approved provider. Milady-issued certificates are submitted by the licensee through the Board's Continuing Education Upload Portal; certificates from other approved providers are uploaded by the provider directly to the Board within 14 days of completion. Full requirements are at COMAR 09.22.04.03.

Domestic Violence Awareness Training

House Bill 1547 (effective January 1, 2026) adds a separate one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness Training requirement for original applicants and renewing licensees. It is a one-time requirement, must be from a Department-approved provider, and certificates are emailed to bctraining.verification@maryland.gov.

Late Renewal and Reinstatement

The cosmetologist late renewal fee is $56. Practitioner licenses that have expired automatically incur a $28 reinstatement fee. Salon permit late fees are $112, increasing to a $225 new-shop inspection fee if reinstated more than 45 days after expiration.

Maryland uses a tiered license structure that distinguishes a full cosmetologist scope from several narrower limited-practice credentials, plus a senior tier reserved for experienced practitioners. Apprentice permits run parallel to most credentials, and salon and mobile-unit permits are issued separately at the business level.

Practitioner Licenses

• Cosmetologist (Cat 08) — full scope across hair, skin, and nails. 1,500 hours of training or 24 months of apprenticeship; original and renewal fees of $28; late renewal $56.
• Senior Cosmetologist (Cat 04) — issued to a cosmetologist with two years of active licensure who passes the 100-question senior theory exam. Required to sponsor most apprentices. Original and renewal $28.
• Limited Hairstylist (Cat 13) — hair services only. 1,200 hours of training or 15-month apprenticeship.
• Limited Esthetician (Cat 15) — skin care services only. 600 hours of training or 12-month apprenticeship.
• Limited Nail Technician (Cat 14) — nail services only. 250 hours of training or 8-month apprenticeship.
• Limited Blow Dry Stylist (Cat 16) — blow-drying only. 350 hours of training; no apprenticeship route. All limited credentials renew at $28.
• Temporary Eyelash Extension Technician License — recently launched limited credential covering eyelash extension services only.

Apprentice Permits

• Apprentice Cosmetologist (Cat 19) — two-year original permit with one two-year renewal; sponsorship by a senior cosmetologist required; $11 original and renewal.
• Apprentice Hairstylist (Cat 18) — one-year permit with one renewal; 15 months of training; $11.
• Apprentice Esthetician (Cat 22) — one-year permit with one renewal; 12 months of training; $11.
• Apprentice Nail Technician (Cat 20) — one-year permit; 8 months of training; $11.

Business Permits

• Full Service Salon Permit (Cat 02) and Limited Service Salon Permit (Cat 01) — original and renewal $225; renewal $56; late $112; after 45 days $225.
• Mobile Salon License — separate permit for cosmetology services delivered from a mobile unit.

Not licensed in Maryland: microblading and cosmetic tattooing are not regulated by the Board, and cosmetic tattooing is prohibited in Maryland salons.