Hawaii Cosmetology License Requirements

Earning a Hawaii cosmetology license (Beauty Operator — Cosmetologist category) requires 1,800 beauty school hours and a passing score on a theory examination administered by PSI Services LLC. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Meet the eligibility requirements. You must be at least 16 years old and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. If you do not have a diploma or GED, you may substitute one year of licensed beauty operator experience from another jurisdiction.
2. Complete 1,800 hours of training. Enroll at a board-licensed beauty school in Hawaii and complete the full cosmetology curriculum covering hair, skin, and nail services, sanitation, infection control, and Hawaii laws and rules. Alternatively, complete 3,600 hours through a board-registered apprenticeship program. A combination of school and apprenticeship hours is accepted (2 apprenticeship hours = 1 school hour), provided the training was completed no more than three years ago.
3. Submit a Beauty Operator license application to DCCA PVL. Mail your completed application with the non-refundable $20.00 application fee and all supporting documents (school transcript, proof of age, proof of education) to: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, DCCA PVL Licensing Branch, P.O. Box 3469, Honolulu, HI 96801. Or deliver in person to 335 Merchant Street, Room 301, Honolulu, HI 96813. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
4. Receive Board approval and register for the examination. The Licensing Branch reviews your application and, if approved, sends a notice of exam eligibility. Allow up to 24 hours after receiving the approval letter before registering. Register with PSI Services LLC at test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade or by phone at (833) 333-4754. You have 12 months from the approval letter to pass the examination.
5. Optional: Apply for a temporary permit. A temporary permit ($40.00 fee) allows you to work and train under the supervision of a qualified licensee while waiting to take and pass the examination. You must apply for it at the same time as your initial application — it is issued only once and will not be reissued.
6. Pass the beauty operator theory examination. The PSI examination covers cosmetology theory, anatomy, chemistry, infection control, sanitation, Hawaii laws, and applicable administrative rules. If you do not pass within 12 months, you must submit a new application to the Board.
7. Pay licensing fees and receive your Hawaii license. After passing, you will receive a "Fees Due" notice from the Board. Pay the required licensing fees: $165.00 if licensed in an even-numbered year, or $92.00 if licensed in an odd-numbered year. Your license card will arrive approximately 2–3 weeks after the Board meeting at which your application is ratified; the wall certificate follows within 4–6 weeks.

Out-of-state applicants who hold a current license in good standing from another jurisdiction may qualify through Pathway 3, using their license as evidence of training. If their home state required fewer training hours than Hawaii, they must also submit at least one year of licensed work experience verification. Hawaii has no reciprocity agreements — all applicants must pass the Hawaii examination.

Hawaii training hour requirements are established under Act 073 SLH 2022 and HAR Chapter 16-79 (Cosmetology Rules). All training must be completed at a board-licensed beauty school or through a board-registered apprenticeship program. Two apprenticeship hours count as one beauty school hour when combining both pathways.

Required training hours by Beauty Operator license category:

• Cosmetologist — 1,800 beauty school hours or 3,600 apprenticeship hours. Full-scope curriculum covering all aspects of hair services, skin care, nail care, sanitation, infection control, and Hawaii laws and administrative rules.
• Hairdresser — 1,250 beauty school hours or 2,500 apprenticeship hours. Hair-focused curriculum including haircutting, hairdressing, shampoo, scalp treatments, chemical services, and hair color.
• Esthetician — 600 beauty school hours or 1,200 apprenticeship hours. Skin care curriculum covering facials, makeup, chemical hair removal, and related esthetics services.
• Nail Technician — 350 beauty school hours or 700 apprenticeship hours. Nail curriculum covering manicuring, pedicuring, and nail care services.

Barber training requirements (HAR Chapter 16-73):

• Barber — 1,500 barber school hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours. Curriculum covering haircutting, shaving with a razor, scalp treatments, and barbering theory.

Beauty Instructor requirements:

• Must hold a current beauty operator license for at least one year; and complete 600 hours of instructor training at a board-licensed beauty school in the same category as the beauty operator license. If instructor training was fewer than 600 hours, the shortfall may be made up with one year of documented instructor experience.

Combination training: If you use both school and apprenticeship training, 2 apprenticeship hours equal 1 school hour, but training must have been completed within the last 3 years. Barber training hours may be recognized toward a hairdresser beauty operator license at the Board's discretion. Out-of-state training is accepted subject to verification and may qualify under the out-of-state license pathway (Pathway 3) when combined with at least one year of licensed work experience if the home state required fewer hours than Hawaii.

Hawaii requires a theory examination for all Beauty Operator (cosmetologist, hairdresser, esthetician, nail technician) and Barber license applicants. The examination is administered by PSI Services LLC, which replaced Prometric as Hawaii's testing vendor effective January 1, 2026.

How to register for the examination: After the Board approves your application, you will receive a written notice of exam eligibility. Allow up to 24 hours after receiving the approval letter before attempting to register. Register online at test-takers.psiexams.com/hitrade or call PSI at (833) 333-4754. Examination eligibility is valid for 12 months from the date of the approval letter. If you do not pass within 12 months, you must submit a new application to the Board.

Examination waiver: If you have already obtained a passing score on either the NIC or PSI Services LLC examination in another jurisdiction, you may qualify for an examination waiver. Attach proof of the passing score (score report or pass report from the out-of-state licensing authority) to your application. Pay the applicable licensing fee — not just the $20 application fee — when submitting a waiver application.

Examination fees: The $20 non-refundable application fee is paid to DCCA when submitting your license application. PSI charges separate fees for the examination itself, payable directly to PSI. If you are requesting to take the examination out of state, submit a written request with your license application; out-of-state locations are limited to PSI secured testing centers.

For beauty instructor licensure, an instructor theory examination is also required unless an exam waiver applies. The instructor exam is administered by PSI and covers curriculum development, instructional methods, and Hawaii rules applicable to beauty schools.

Hawaii beauty operator, barber, beauty instructor, barber shop, and beauty shop licenses all expire on December 31 of every odd-numbered year (biennial renewal). Beauty school licenses expire December 31 of each calendar year (annual renewal). No continuing education is required for any renewal.

Biennial renewal fees (Beauty Operator, Barber, Beauty Instructor):

• Active status: $146.00
• Inactive status: $12.00

Biennial renewal fees (Beauty Shop, Barber Shop):

• Active status: $176.00
• Inactive status: $12.00

Annual renewal fee (Beauty School):

• Active status: $380.00

Renew online through MyPVL at mypvl.dcca.hawaii.gov. Paper renewal forms are mailed approximately 1.5 months before the expiration date. If no form arrives by end of November (odd-numbered years), contact the DCCA Licensing Branch at (808) 586-3000 to obtain one. Failing to receive a renewal form does not waive your obligation to renew on time.

Restoration (late renewal): Forfeited barber, beauty operator, beauty shop, barber shop, and beauty instructor licenses may be restored within three years after the expiration date. Barbers may restore online; all other license types must restore by hardcopy only. Restoration fees are higher than standard renewal fees — for example, Beauty Operator restoration is $171.00 (active) or $37.00 (inactive); Barber restoration is $196.00 (active) or $62.00 (inactive). After the three-year window, restoration requires a written explanation with supporting documentation and Board approval.

Hawaii's Board of Barbering and Cosmetology issues the following license types under Act 073 SLH 2022, HAR Chapter 16-73 (barbers), and HAR Chapter 16-79 (beauty operators):

Beauty Operator licenses (four categories, all biennial renewal by Dec 31 of odd years):

• Cosmetologist — Full scope of hair, skin, and nail services. Training: 1,800 school or 3,600 apprenticeship hours. Theory exam required. Renewal: $146.00 active.
• Hairdresser — All hair services including cutting, chemical services, and styling. Training: 1,250 school or 2,500 apprenticeship hours. Theory exam required. Renewal: $146.00 active.
• Esthetician — Skin care services including facials, chemical hair removal, and makeup. Training: 600 school or 1,200 apprenticeship hours. Theory exam required. Renewal: $146.00 active.
• Nail Technician — Manicure and pedicure services. Training: 350 school or 700 apprenticeship hours. Theory exam required. Renewal: $146.00 active.

Other individual practitioner licenses:

• Barber — Haircutting, shaving, and scalp treatments using a razor. Training: 1,500 school or 3,000 apprenticeship hours. Theory exam required. Renewal: biennial odd years, $146.00 active.
• Beauty Instructor — Teaching at a board-licensed beauty school in the applicable category (cosmetology, hairdressing, esthetics, or nail technology). Requires holding a beauty operator license for at least 1 year and 600 instructor training hours (or 1 year of instructor experience). Theory exam required. Renewal: biennial odd years, $146.00 active.

Business licenses:

• Beauty Shop — Required for any establishment providing beauty operator services. Renewal: biennial odd years, $176.00 active. Chair/booth renters must hold their own shop license.
• Barber Shop — Required for any barbering establishment. Renewal: biennial odd years, $176.00 active.
• Beauty School — Required for any school offering board-approved cosmetology or barber training. Renewal: annual by December 31, $380.00 active. Requires a $10,000 surety bond.

An additional Beauty Operator classification may be added to an existing license (e.g., adding Esthetician to a Hairdresser license) through a separate application. Apprentice registration is available for individuals training under a single licensed supervisor.