Oklahoma Cosmetology License Requirements

Obtaining an Oklahoma cosmetology license requires completing a Board-approved training program, passing the state-administered written and practical examinations, and submitting a license application with the required fee. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Enroll in a Board-approved cosmetology school or apprenticeship. You must be at least 16 years old and have completed at least eighth grade. When enrolling, submit a Student Registration form (Form 101) with a $5 registration fee to the Board. If school attendance presents a documented hardship, you may apply for a Board-approved apprenticeship program by submitting a letter of hardship to the Executive Director — apprentices train 2,250 hours under a licensed Master Instructor in an approved establishment.
2. Complete 1,500 clock hours of cosmetology training. Your school tracks and submits monthly hour reports to the Board (Form 104). Curriculum covers hair services (cutting, coloring, chemical waving, thermal styling), skin care, nail care, sanitation and infection control, and Oklahoma state laws and regulations. Credit hours are accepted: 50 credit hours equals 1,500 clock hours.
3. Register for the examination upon course completion. Within 10 days of completing your course, you and your school submit an Affidavit of Completion (Form 199) and an Exam Registration Application (Form 201) along with a $35 exam registration fee. The Board mails you a Notice to Appear, your work permit, and exam instructions. Pre-registration within 100 hours of completion is permitted only in March, April, and May.
4. Pass the written and practical examinations. Both exams are administered by the Board at its testing center at 2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 74, Oklahoma City. A minimum score of 75% is required on each. The exam fee is $50. You may elect to take the written portion via computer-based testing through PSI (1-800-211-2754) by noting this preference on your re-registration form.
5. Submit your license application and fee. Complete Individual License Application (Form 301) with a $40 application fee. Once approved, your license is issued. Your license expires on the last day of your birth month and renews every two years at $80.

Oklahoma requires 1,500 clock hours (or 50 credit hours) of approved cosmetology training for a basic cosmetology license. Training must be completed at a Board-approved school or through a Board-approved apprenticeship program. All applicants must be at least 16 years old and have completed at least eighth grade to enroll in a cosmetology program.

Curriculum for the basic cosmetology course covers hair services (cutting, coloring, bleaching, chemical waving, thermal styling, and finishing), scalp and skin care, nail care, sanitation and infection control protocols, and Oklahoma cosmetology laws and rules. New curriculum standards effective December 1, 2025 apply under the Board's updated rules (OAC 175:10-3-34).

Training Hours by License Type

• Basic Cosmetology: 1,500 clock hours or 50 credit hours
• Manicurist/Nail Technician: 600 clock hours or 30 credit hours
• Esthetician/Facialist: 600 clock hours or 30 credit hours
• Cosmetician: 600 clock hours or 30 credit hours
• Hairbraiding Technician: 600 clock hours or 30 credit hours
• Master Instructor (Cosmetology/Barber): 1,000 clock hours or 34 credit hours
• Facial/Esthetics Instructor: 1,000 clock hours or 34 credit hours
• Manicurist/Nail Tech Instructor: 1,000 clock hours or 34 credit hours
• Apprenticeship (Cosmetology, Facialist, Manicurist, Barber): 2,250 hours (requires Board approval based on demonstrated hardship)

A high school diploma or GED is required to enroll in any Instructor course. For other courses, eighth grade completion is sufficient.

Hours accumulated after July 1, 2004, remain creditable if you withdraw and later re-enroll. Hours from another state may be transferred using Form 151 with a $30 certification fee. A $5 student registration fee is due to the Board at enrollment (Form 101).

The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering administers its own state licensing examinations at its testing center located at 2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 74, Oklahoma City, OK 73107. Both the written and practical portions must be passed with a minimum score of 75%.

Written Examination

The written theory exam tests knowledge of cosmetology sciences, sanitation, infection control, and Oklahoma state laws and rules. As an alternative to the Board-administered written exam, candidates may elect computer-based testing through PSI. To use this option, submit an Exam Re-Registration form and the $35 fee to the Board along with a note requesting the PSI option. Contact PSI at 1-800-211-2754 or visit test-takers.psiexams.com/okcos to schedule your appointment at a PSI facility near you. PSI testing fees are the candidate's responsibility.

Practical Examination

The Board-administered practical exam is performed on a mannequin head and mannequin hand — no live models are permitted. The Board provides over-the-chair mannequin head stands. Mannequin hands must have artificial nails glued on and polished; jointed hands are not allowed. Candidates supply all testing materials per the Board's testing supply guide.

The practical exam covers eight disciplines:

1. Thermal iron curling (3/4-barrel iron; mannequin dried, not pre-curled)
2. Hairstyling/dry styling
3. Haircutting (scissors, thinning shears, and razor with guard)
4. Permanent waving (white, grey, and pink rods)
5. Chemical services — relaxer (cholesterol; no applicator bottle)
6. Facial services (cleansing, astringent, mock mask)
7. Soft strip waxing — upper lip area (mock wax product only)
8. Manicuring (on mannequin hand with artificial nails; red polish required)

Exam Fees and Work Permits

Exam registration fee: $35.00. Total exam fee: $50.00. Upon receipt of your completed registration, the Board mails a work permit allowing legal practice while awaiting your exam date. You may receive a maximum of two work permits. Failing the exam or failing to appear without an excused emergency voids the work permit.

Oklahoma cosmetology, barber, esthetics/facialist, and manicurist/nail technician licenses renew every two years effective November 1. The two-year individual renewal fee is $80. Oklahoma does not require continuing education (CE) hours for cosmetology, barber, esthetics, or manicurist license renewal. Licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month.

Online Renewal (Preferred)

Renew through the Board's self-service portal at okcosmo.portalus.thentiacloud.net. The portal launched in November 2024 and replaced the prior system — all licensees must register for a new account. New applicants register via the Applicant Portal; returning licensees register via the Licensee Portal Online Registration link, then log in to renew and print their license online.

Mail or In-Person Renewal

Submit the renewal application form (mailed attached to your license each year) with payment by cashier's check, money order, or business check payable to OSBCB. Personal checks and temporary checks are not accepted. Mail to: 2401 NW 23rd Street, Suite 74, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, or deliver in person during office hours (7:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday–Friday). If your renewal form is lost, include a note with your name, address, date of birth, and file number, plus an additional $5.

Late and Lapsed Renewals

A $10 late penalty applies when a license has been expired more than two months (based on postmark date). Licenses expired up to five years may be reinstated by paying all back fees and penalties. Licenses expired more than five years require completing a Board-specified number of review hours and re-passing both the written and practical examinations. Contact the Board at (405) 521-2441 for the specific review hours required for your license type.

The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering issues the following individual license and certificate categories under the Oklahoma Cosmetology and Barbering Act. Each requires specific training hours and a separate examination:

Cosmetologist — 1,500 clock hours

The broadest personal care license in Oklahoma. Authorizes bleaching, cleansing, curling, cutting, coloring, dressing, styling, waving, and related hair and scalp services, as well as nail care and skin services within the scope of cosmetology practice. Initial application fee: $40. Two-year renewal fee: $80.

Barber — Barber curriculum hours

Regulated by the same Board as cosmetology. Authorizes haircutting, shaving, beard trimming, and other services to the upper body for cosmetic purposes. Two-year renewal fee: $80.

Esthetician/Facialist — 600 clock hours

Authorizes skin care, make-up application, and hair removal services (excluding electrolysis), including eyelash application and facial hair removal by tweezing, depilatories, or waxing. Note: Eyelash extensions and enhancements may only be performed by a licensed Cosmetologist or Esthetician/Facialist. Two-year renewal fee: $80.

Manicurist/Nail Technician — 600 clock hours

Authorizes nail care, cutting, trimming, polishing, coloring, and beautifying the hands and feet in a licensed establishment. Two-year renewal fee: $80.

Threading Technician

Authorizes temporary hair removal by twisting and rolling thread along the skin surface to lift hair from the follicle. A separate threading technician application (Form 221) is required.

Eyelash Extension Tech Certificate

Available only to licensed Cosmetologists or Estheticians. Permits the application of eyelash extensions and tab enhancements. Two-year certificate renewal fee: $80.

Cosmetician — 600 clock hours

Authorizes a limited scope of cosmetic services. Distinct from the full cosmetologist license.

Hairbraiding Technician — 600 clock hours

Authorizes traditional and natural hairbraiding services. Requires at least eighth grade completion. Application via Form 331.

Instructor Licenses — 1,000 clock hours

Three instructor categories are issued: Master Instructor (Cosmetology/Barber), Facial/Esthetics Instructor, and Manicurist/Nail Tech Instructor. Each requires 1,000 clock hours (34 credit hours) of instructor training, a high school diploma or GED, and a current cosmetology, manicurist, or facialist license. Instructor renewal fees: $90–$130 per 2-year period. Work permits are not issued for instructor candidates.

Massage Therapist

Licensed under the Advisory Board on Massage Therapy. Requires 500 hours of formal education and passage of the MBLEx examination administered by FSMTB (866-962-3926). Biennial renewal at $100, with 5 CEUs required per year. Massage therapy license applicants must provide proof of current liability insurance for renewal.

Establishment Licenses

Salons, cosmetic studios, barber establishments, nail establishments, and mobile establishments must each hold a separate establishment license. Initial establishment fee: $120 (Form 501 for individual owners, Form 510 for corporations/LLCs). Establishment renewal fee: $90. Owner-only establishment licenses expire on the last day of June each year.