New Mexico Cosmetology License Requirements

Earning a New Mexico cosmetology license requires 1,600 hours of approved training and passage of both the NIC written and practical examinations, administered by Professional Credentialing Services (PCS). Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Enroll in a board-approved cosmetology school. All training must be completed at a school licensed by the New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Upon enrollment, the school registers you for a student permit through the board. Your permit number authorizes you to practice on the public after completing 15% of your required training hours.
2. Complete 1,600 hours of training. The curriculum covers theory, sanitation, shampoo and scalp treatments, chemical rearranging, hairstyling, hair coloring, haircutting, facials, nail services, and New Mexico law and regulations. Your school submits an official transcript of completed hours to the board.
3. Apply for initial licensure through NM-PLUS. Create an account at nmrldlpi.my.site.com, submit the online application, upload a recent color headshot photograph, and pay the $100.00 initial license fee. Applications are valid for one year from the date of submission.
4. Contact PCS to schedule your examinations. Call PCS at 1-888-822-3272 or email cosandbar@pcshq.com to schedule both the written theory and practical NIC examinations. The minimum passing scaled score for both exams is 70. You have 12 months from completing training to take your exams.
5. Receive your license. After passing both exams and completing the application, the board issues your New Mexico cosmetology license. Student permits are extended for up to 120 days while you await exam results and final licensure.

Applicants licensed in another state may apply by reciprocity by submitting the reciprocity application, jurisprudence exam, and $150.00 fee through the NM-PLUS portal. No temporary license is issued during the reciprocity review period.

New Mexico training hour requirements are established in 16.34.8 NMAC (Part 8 — Schools). All training must be completed at a school licensed by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. One contact hour equals a minimum of 50 minutes of instruction.

Required training hours by license type:

• Cosmetologist — 1,600 course hours. Curriculum includes: theory (75 hrs), sterilization and sanitation (75 hrs), shampoo and scalp treatments (45 hrs), chemical rearranging and perms (150 hrs), hairstyling (75 hrs), hair coloring and bleaching (150 hrs), haircutting (150 hrs), facials (350 hrs), manicuring and pedicuring, and New Mexico law and regulations.
• Esthetician — 600 course hours. Curriculum emphasizes theory (75 hrs), sterilization and sanitation (75 hrs), and facials (350 hrs), with additional content covering skin analysis, chemical hair removal, makeup, lash services, and advanced skin treatments.
• Manicurist/Pedicurist — 600 course hours. Curriculum covers nail theory, sterilization and sanitation, manicuring, pedicuring, nail enhancements, and New Mexico law.
• Manicurist/Esthetician (combined) — 900 course hours. Combines nail and skin-care curricula into a single combined program.
• Master Barber — 1,200 course hours. Curriculum includes barbering theory, sanitation, haircutting, shaving, chemical services, and business practices.
• Instructor — 1,000 hours of instructor training at an approved school, or at least two years of current and consecutive verified work experience as a licensed practitioner in the relevant discipline, plus passage of the instructor examination.

Hours must be completed within the 24 months immediately preceding the initial license application. Students are eligible to practice on the public after accruing 15% of required hours. A student externship program is available after completing 75% of the contracted course of study, allowing supervised work in a licensed establishment for up to one day or eight hours per week until graduation.

New Mexico requires both a written theory examination and a practical examination for cosmetology licensure. Both exams use the National-Interstate Council (NIC) examination content and are administered by Professional Credentialing Services (PCS).

To schedule examinations, contact PCS directly at 1-888-822-3272 or email cosandbar@pcshq.com. You must submit your application through the NM-PLUS portal and complete your training hours before scheduling. Applicants have 12 months from completing school to take and pass their exams.

Examination details:

• Written theory exam — Tests knowledge of cosmetology principles, anatomy, chemistry, sanitation, infection control, and New Mexico laws and regulations.
• Practical exam — Tests hands-on skills across hair, skin, and nail services. Performed on a live model or mannequin per exam specifications.
• Minimum passing score — A scaled score of 70 is required for both the written and practical examinations. Scores below 70 require the applicant to retake the failed portion.

Instructor candidates are required to pass only the instructor theory examination; no separate practical exam is required for instructor licensure. The instructor exam is administered by PCS and covers curriculum development, teaching methods, and New Mexico regulatory requirements applicable to schools.

After passing both exams, PCS transmits results to the board. The initial license fee of $100.00 must be paid to the board through the NM-PLUS portal. Once all requirements are satisfied, the board issues the New Mexico cosmetology license.

New Mexico cosmetology licenses renew every two years through the NM-PLUS online portal at nmrldlpi.my.site.com. The renewal fee is $100.00. Licenses expire at the end of the licensee's birth month.

To renew, log in to the NM-PLUS portal. Your license will appear in the "My Licenses" section when it is ready for renewal. Upload a recent passport-size color photograph (front-view face) and pay the $100.00 renewal fee. The portal accepts credit and debit card payments; if the payment screen does not load, disable browser pop-up blockers and try again.

No continuing education is required for practitioner renewal — cosmetologists, estheticians, manicurists, electrologists, and barbers renew by paying the fee and uploading the photograph before the expiration date.

A $40.00 late fee applies when renewing after the expiration date. Individual licenses that remain expired for more than one year are considered non-renewable; those practitioners must submit a new initial licensure application. Establishment and enterprise licenses that remain expired for more than 30 days are subject to the late fee; after one year, a new application is required.

Instructor renewal differs: instructor licenses renew annually on March 31 and require 12 hours of continuing education in professional development or improvement of instructional proficiency. CE hours must be earned between April 1 and March 30 of the following year. Certificates of completion must be submitted with the renewal. Hours do not carry over.

The New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists issues the following practitioner, establishment, and specialty licenses under the Barbers and Cosmetologists Act:

• Cosmetologist — Full-scope hair, skin, and nail services. Requires 1,600 training hours and passage of NIC written and practical exams. Renewal: every 2 years, $100 fee, no CE.
• Hairstylist — Hair-focused services. Issued as a separate license category under board rule.
• Esthetician — Skin care including facials, chemical hair removal, makeup, and lash services. Requires 600 training hours and NIC exams. Renewal: every 2 years, $100 fee.
• Electrologist — Permanent hair removal by electrolysis. Stand-alone practitioner license; renewal every 2 years at $100.
• Manicurist/Pedicurist — Nail services on hands and feet. Requires 600 training hours and NIC exams. Renewal: every 2 years, $100 fee.
• Manicurist/Esthetician (combined) — Nail and skin-care services under a single license. Requires 900 training hours. Renewal: every 2 years, $100 fee.
• Master Barber — Full barbering services including shaving. Requires 1,200 training hours and NIC exams. Renewal: every 2 years, $100 fee.
• Instructor — Authorizes teaching at a board-approved school. Requires 1,000 instructor training hours or 2 years verified work experience, plus instructor theory exam. Renewal: annually by March 31, $100 fee, 12 CE hours required.
• Barber/Cosmetology Crossover — Issued to a licensed barber or cosmetologist who completes a crossover course and passes the exam in the alternate discipline. Combines both licenses.

Business licenses issued by the board include: Establishment license (original $200, renewal $50/year), School license ($500 original and renewal), and Booth Establishment license ($200 original, $50 renewal). A Continuing Education Provider approval is available at $50 per year.