Idaho beauty licenses
2026 requirements.

Idaho · Cosmetology

Cosmetology license — 2026.

1,600 hours at a Board-approved school (or 4,000-hour apprenticeship — double). NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing, plus the Idaho Jurisprudence exam covering state laws. Annual renewal at $25. No CE. HB 514 allows sitting for exams at 80% of hours starting July 1, 2026.

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

1. Complete 1,600 hours at a DOPL-approved cosmetology school (or 4,000-hr apprenticeship)

   Starting July 1, 2026: may sit for exams after 1,280 hours (80%). Verify school approval at dopl.idaho.gov.

2. Register with Prov and pass the NIC theory, practical, and Idaho Jurisprudence exams — 75% each

   Exam fee: $75 for all or any part. Register at provexam.com. All three exams must be passed at 75% to receive licensure.

3. Submit Idaho Application for Licensure with $25 application fee and $25 license fee to DOPL

   Boise address: Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board, 700 West State Street, PO Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0063.

4. Receive your Idaho cosmetology license — renew annually at $25

   Annual renewal. $25 license fee. No CE required. Online services available at dopl.idaho.gov.

Idaho · Esthetics

Esthetics license — 2026.

600 hours at a Board-approved school (or 1,200-hour apprenticeship — double). NIC esthetics exams via Prov — 75% passing, plus Idaho Jurisprudence exam. Annual $27 renewal. No CE. Starting July 1, 2026: may test at 80% of hours (480 hrs).

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

1. Complete 600 hours at a DOPL-approved esthetics school (or 1,200-hr apprenticeship)

   HB 514 (July 1, 2026): may test after 480 hours (80%). Programs typically 3–5 months full-time.

2. Pass NIC esthetics theory, practical, and Idaho Jurisprudence exams via Prov — 75% each

   $75 exam fee for all or any part. Register at provexam.com.

3. Submit Application for Licensure + fees to DOPL · Renew annually at $27

   Application fee $25. License fee $27. Endorsement (reciprocity) $35. Annual renewal. No CE.

Idaho · Barber

Barber license — 2026.

1,800 hours at a Board-approved barber school (or 3,600-hour apprenticeship — double). Idaho's barber hour requirement is among the higher nationally. NIC barber exams via Prov — 75% passing, plus Idaho Jurisprudence exam. Annual $25 renewal. No CE. HB 514 allows testing at 80% of hours (1,440 hrs) starting July 1, 2026.

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

1. Complete 1,800 hours at a DOPL-approved barber school (or 3,600-hr apprenticeship)

   HB 514 (July 1, 2026): may test after 1,440 hours (80%). Barber programs typically 15–20 months full-time.

2. Pass NIC barber theory, practical, and Idaho Jurisprudence exams via Prov — 75% each

   $75 exam fee. Register at provexam.com or contact DOPL at dopl.idaho.gov.

3. Submit Application for Licensure + $25 application + $25 license fee to DOPL

   Annual renewal $25. Barber endorsement (reciprocity) $80. No CE required.

Idaho · Nail Technology

Nail technician license — 2026.

400 hours at a Board-approved school (or 800-hour apprenticeship — double). NIC nail technology exams via Prov — 75% passing, plus Idaho Jurisprudence exam. Annual $25 renewal. No CE. HB 514 allows testing at 80% of hours (320 hrs) starting July 1, 2026.

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

1. Complete 400 hours at a DOPL-approved nail school (or 800-hr apprenticeship)

   HB 514 (July 1, 2026): may test after 320 hours (80%). Programs typically 8–12 weeks full-time.

2. Pass NIC nail technology theory, practical, and Idaho Jurisprudence exams via Prov — 75% each

   $75 exam fee. Register at provexam.com.

3. Submit Application for Licensure + fees to DOPL · Renew annually at $25

   Annual renewal $25. Endorsement (reciprocity) $35. No CE required.

Idaho · All license types

Rules that apply to every ID beauty license.

THREE required exams — NIC theory, NIC practical, and Idaho Jurisprudence

Idaho requires all beauty license applicants to pass three separate exams through Prov: (1) NIC Theory Examination, (2) NIC Practical Examination, and (3) Idaho Jurisprudence Examination covering Idaho cosmetology laws, rules, and sanitation. All three must be passed at 75%. The $75 exam fee covers all or any part. Register at provexam.com. The Idaho Jurisprudence exam is state-specific law content — NICPrep covers the NIC theory and practical content but not Idaho state law.

HB 514 — Early exam eligibility at 80% of hours (July 1, 2026)

Idaho HB 514 (signed February 23, 2026, effective July 1, 2026) changed when students can sit for licensing exams. Previously, 100% of required hours had to be completed. Starting July 1, 2026, students may apply to sit for exams after completing 80% of their required training hours. This applies to all Idaho beauty license types — cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, barber, and electrology.

Annual renewal — $25 · No CE required

All Idaho beauty licenses renew annually. Renewal fees: $25 for cosmetologist and nail technician; $27 for esthetician. No CE required for any practitioner license type. Reinstatement penalty if current year not paid: $35. Online services available at dopl.idaho.gov.

Apprenticeship doubles hours

Idaho allows apprenticeship as an alternative to school training, but apprenticeship requires exactly double the school hours: cosmetology 4,000 hrs (vs 1,600 school); esthetics 1,200 hrs (vs 600); nail tech 800 hrs (vs 400); barber 3,600 hrs (vs 1,800). Given the significantly higher hour requirement, most candidates choose the school pathway.

Official Idaho licensing portal

• Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (DOPL)
• Prov — Idaho NIC exam scheduling

Last verified May 2026 against the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (dopl.idaho.gov) and Prov/beautylicenseguide.com. HB 514 confirmed from multiple Idaho legislative and licensing sources (signed Feb 23, 2026, effective July 1, 2026). NICPrep is an independent prep resource and is not affiliated with Idaho DOPL, Prov, or the State of Idaho.