Cosmetology Continuing Education Requirements by State
Continuing education (CE) hours required to renew a cosmetology license, by state — and which states require none at all.
Does My State Require Continuing Education?
Continuing education requirements for cosmetologists vary widely by state. Some states require a set number of CE hours — often covering sanitation, safety, or state law — before every renewal. Many others require none at all for a standard cosmetologist license, though instructor licenses in those states sometimes carry their own separate CE rules.
CE Hours by State
| State | CE Required | Renewal Period | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None | 2 years (birth month, odd-numbered years) | View → |
| Alaska | None | 2 years (expires August 31 of odd-numbered years) | View → |
| Arizona | None | 2 years (birthday) | View → |
| Arkansas | None | 2 years | View → |
| California | None | 2 years | View → |
| Colorado | None | 2 years (1 yr cosmetologist) | View → |
| Connecticut | None | 2 years (expires last day of birth month) | View → |
| Delaware | None | 2 years | View → |
| District of Columbia | 6 hrs | 2 years (expires April 15 of even-numbered years) | View → |
| Florida | 10 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Georgia | 5 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Hawaii | None | 2 years | View → |
| Idaho | None | 1 year | View → |
| Illinois | 14 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Indiana | None | 4 years | View → |
| Iowa | 6 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Kansas | None | 2 years | View → |
| Kentucky | None | 1 year | View → |
| Louisiana | None | 1 year | View → |
| Maine | None | Annual (expires October 31) | View → |
| Maryland | 6 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Massachusetts | None | 2 years | View → |
| Michigan | None | 2 years | View → |
| Minnesota | 8 hrs | 3 years (expires last day of birth month) | View → |
| Mississippi | None | 2 years | View → |
| Missouri | None | 2 years (expires Sept 30, odd years) | View → |
| Montana | None | 2 years | View → |
| Nebraska | 8 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Nevada | None | 2 or 4 years (expires on date of birth) | View → |
| New Hampshire | None | 2 years (from date of issuance) | View → |
| New Jersey | None | 2 years | View → |
| New Mexico | None | 2 years | View → |
| New York | None | 4 years | View → |
| North Carolina | 8 hrs | 3 years | View → |
| North Dakota | None | 1 year (expires December 31) | View → |
| Ohio | 4 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Oklahoma | None | 2 years | View → |
| Oregon | None | 2 years | View → |
| Pennsylvania | None | 2 years | View → |
| Rhode Island | None | 2 years (expires September 30 of every other year) | View → |
| South Carolina | 4 hrs | 2 years (expires March 10 of odd-numbered years) | View → |
| South Dakota | None | 1 year (expires on birthday) | View → |
| Tennessee | None | 2 years | View → |
| Texas | 4 hrs | 2 years | View → |
| Utah | None | 2 years | View → |
| Vermont | None | 2 years | View → |
| Virginia | None | 2 years | View → |
| Washington | None | 2 years | View → |
| West Virginia | None | 1 year | View → |
| Wisconsin | None | 2 years (expires March 31, odd years) | View → |
| Wyoming | None | 2 years | View → |
Alabama
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (birth month, odd-numbered years)
Alaska
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires August 31 of odd-numbered years)
Connecticut
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires last day of birth month)
District of Columbia
- CE Required
- 6 hrs
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires April 15 of even-numbered years)
Minnesota
- CE Required
- 8 hrs
- Renewal Period
- 3 years (expires last day of birth month)
Missouri
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires Sept 30, odd years)
Nevada
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 or 4 years (expires on date of birth)
New Hampshire
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (from date of issuance)
Rhode Island
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires September 30 of every other year)
South Carolina
- CE Required
- 4 hrs
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires March 10 of odd-numbered years)
Wisconsin
- CE Required
- None
- Renewal Period
- 2 years (expires March 31, odd years)
No states match your search.
Helpful Resources
License Renewal
See renewal fees and deadlines — CE hours are due before your renewal window closes.
Learn more →License Requirements
Review the training hours and exam standards required to get licensed in the first place.
Learn more →License Reciprocity
Moving states? Your new state's CE rules may not match the one you trained in.
Learn more →License Lookup
Confirm a license's current status using the official state lookup tool.
Learn more →CE hours don’t exist on their own
Continuing education hours are tied directly to your renewal deadline, and missing them can hold up a renewal even when every other requirement is met. The training hours and exam standards that got you licensed in the first place are covered on the license requirements page, and if you’re relocating, a new state’s CE rules may not match the one you’re currently licensed in — reciprocity rules, not CE alone, determine what carries over. If you’re ever unsure whether a license is current, the official state lookup tool is the fastest way to confirm.