Cosmetology license in Ohio: cost, hours and steps
Ohio's own board gives the cosmetology exam, and its two fees, $40 and $45, add up to $85.
Cosmetology license fees in Ohio
$85
paid to the state and its exam and fingerprint vendors
| Application and license | $45 |
| Exams | $40 |
| Training: 1,500 school hours | about 50 weeks |
| Renewals in 5 years, every 2 years | 2 × $65 = $130 |
Cosmetologist license. Fees read on official pages, October 20, 2026.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial examination, cosmetology/branch of cosmetology (board-administered, practical + theory) | $40 |
| New personal license, Cosmetology | $45 |
Compiled by Radif Partners · How the totals are built · Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board · read October 20, 2026
The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board charges $85 for a first cosmetology license: $40 for the initial examination, which the board administers itself rather than through a testing company, and $45 for the new personal license. That is the 2nd lowest total of the 15 states priced here, far under the median of $163. The fee table lists one initial examination fee for cosmetology and its branches without saying whether it covers the practical and theory parts together, so this page counts it once. Applications go through the state's eLicense system. Ohio requires 1,500 program hours covering hair, skin and nail services, about 50 weeks at 30 hours a week. The license renews every two years for $65, and each renewal needs 4 hours of continuing education: a laws and rules course and an infection control course.
A board-run exam
Ohio is one of the few states priced here where the licensing board gives the cosmetology exam itself. Its fee page lists the initial examination for cosmetology or a branch of cosmetology at $40, filed through elicense.ohio.gov. The same record lists a $35 retake exam fee and a $50 charge for a no-show. Because the fee table does not say whether the initial fee covers one part or both, the calculator treats it as a single charge and does not model retakes; if you need to retest, ask the board which fee applies to your case.
The license fee
After passing, the new personal license for cosmetology costs $45. The fees page shows a date of October 28, 2024, which may be the date the page was last updated rather than the date the fees took effect. No fingerprint fee is part of the first license in the fees read.
Program hours
The board's hour table sets the cosmetologist program at 1,500 hours, spread across hair, skin and nail services. The minimum age was not verified because the statute site could not be reached for this page. Ohio also licenses branches of cosmetology, which share the same examination fee line; if you only want skin care, the esthetician license page compares that route across states.
Ohio cosmetology program length at your pace
Cosmetology training in Ohio
50 weeks
| Required hours | 1,500 |
| Months at that pace | 11.5 |
| First-license fees | $85 |
Two-year renewals with 4 hours of courses
Personal renewals cost $65 every two years. For the 2025 to 2027 renewal period the board requires one hour of board laws and rules and three hours of infection control and safety. Over ten years that is 5 renewals and $325 in fees, more than the first license itself.
Ohio cosmetology license over ten years
Cosmetology license in Ohio, 10 years
$410
| First license | $85 |
| Renewals | 5 × $65 |
| Continuing education | 20 hours |
Reciprocity
A cosmetologist holding a current license in another state for at least one year can apply by reciprocity. The application fee is $73.50, non-refundable and paid through eLicense, and applicants also complete a one-hour human trafficking course. Ohio's total sits near the bottom of the state comparison; across the border, Indiana also comes in low while Kentucky comes to $220.
Every cosmetology fee in Ohio, with its source
| Fee | Amount | In the total | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial examination, cosmetology/branch of cosmetology (board-administered, practical + theory) | $40 | counted | source |
| New personal license, Cosmetology | $45 | counted | source |
| Renewal | Value |
|---|---|
| Cycle | every 2 years |
| Fee | $65 |
| Continuing education | 4 hours per cycle |
| Required training | 1,500 school hours. Ohio program hours requirement: Cosmetologist 1500 hours (hair, skin and nail services). |