Idaho beauty licenses 2026 requirements.

NIC National · complete prep

Esthetics

Practice Test + Flashcards

$49 one-time · lifetime access

Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.

✓All 10 practice tests (1,100 questions)
✓5 domain flashcard decks (103 terminology cards)
✓All study modes included

Exam is English only

NIC National · complete prep

Barber

Practice Test + Flashcards

$49 one-time · lifetime access

Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.

✓All 10 practice tests (1,100 questions)
✓7 domain flashcard decks (98 terminology cards)
✓All study modes included

Exam is English only 🇪🇸 Español

NIC National · complete prep

Nail Technology

Practice Test + Flashcards

$49 one-time · lifetime access

Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.

✓All 10 practice tests (1,100 questions)
✓6 domain flashcard decks (81 terminology cards)
✓All study modes included

Exam is English only 🇻🇳 Tiếng Việt

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. CE-free. HB 514 allows sitting for exams at 80% of hours starting July 1, 2026.

At a glance

Training hours

1,600

Or 4,000-hr apprenticeship

Exam fee

$75

All or any part · Prov

Passing score

75% all parts

Theory · Practical · Jurisprudence

Renewal

Annual · $25

CE-free · dopl.idaho.gov

Idaho uses NIC exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit for the NIC portions

Idaho uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov. NICPrep's cosmetology question bank is built from the NIC CIB — a direct-fit study resource for the theory and practical portions. 75% passing on all parts. Note: Idaho also requires a separate Idaho Jurisprudence exam on state laws — NICPrep's banks cover the NIC theory domains; Idaho's own law content sits outside them.

Idaho examines in English only — the English NIC bundle is the one to study

Idaho sits the NIC examination in English. If you are studying in Spanish, you will still sit the paper in English — plan for that. Studying in another language is a study choice; the paper stays in English. The English NIC bundle is the edition built for the paper you will sit — the Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese editions carry the same blueprint in another language, which helps you learn and leaves the exam itself unchanged.

HB 514 (effective July 1, 2026) — students may now test at 80% of hours complete

Idaho HB 514 (signed February 23, 2026, effective July 1, 2026) allows students in all barber and cosmetology professions to sit for licensing exams after completing 80% of required education hours — previously, 100% completion was required before sitting for any exam. For cosmetology: students may test after 1,280 of 1,600 hours. This applies to all Idaho license types.

See Cosmetology prep and pricing →

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

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.
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.
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.
Receive your Idaho cosmetology license — renew annually at $25
Annual renewal. $25 license fee. CE-free. Online services available at dopl.idaho.gov.

Official cosmetology resources

🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.

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. CE-free. Starting July 1, 2026: may test at 80% of hours (480 hrs).

At a glance

Training hours

600

Or 1,200-hr apprenticeship

Exam fee

$75

All or any part · Prov

Passing score

75% all parts

Theory · Practical · Jurisprudence

Renewal

Annual · $27

CE-free · dopl.idaho.gov

Idaho uses NIC esthetics exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit for the NIC portions

Idaho uses the NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov. NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing on all parts. Plus Idaho Jurisprudence exam (state laws — not covered by NICPrep).

See Esthetics prep and pricing →

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

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.
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.
Submit Application for Licensure + fees to DOPL · Renew annually at $27
Application fee $25. License fee $27. Endorsement (reciprocity) $35. Annual renewal. CE-free.

Official esthetics resources

Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board

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. CE-free. HB 514 allows testing at 80% of hours (1,440 hrs) starting July 1, 2026.

At a glance

Training hours

1,800

Or 3,600-hr apprenticeship

Exam fee

$75

All or any part · Prov

Passing score

75% all parts

Theory · Practical · Jurisprudence

Renewal

Annual · $25

CE-free · Endorsement $80

Idaho uses NIC barber exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit for the NIC portions

Idaho uses NIC Barber Styling Theory and Practical Examinations via Prov. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing on all parts. Plus Idaho Jurisprudence exam. Note: Idaho barber endorsement (reciprocity) fee is $80 — higher than cosmetology endorsement ($35).

See Barber prep and pricing →

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

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.
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.
Submit Application for Licensure + $25 application + $25 license fee to DOPL
Annual renewal $25. Barber endorsement (reciprocity) $80. CE-free.

Official barber resources

Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board

🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish.

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. CE-free. HB 514 allows testing at 80% of hours (320 hrs) starting July 1, 2026.

At a glance

Training hours

400

Or 800-hr apprenticeship

Exam fee

$75

All or any part · Prov

Passing score

75% all parts

Theory · Practical · Jurisprudence

Renewal

Annual · $25

CE-free · dopl.idaho.gov

Idaho uses NIC nail technology exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit for the NIC portions

Idaho uses NIC National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations via Prov. NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing on all parts. Plus Idaho Jurisprudence exam on state laws.

See Nail Technology prep and pricing →

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

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.
Pass NIC nail technology theory, practical, and Idaho Jurisprudence exams via Prov — 75% each
$75 exam fee. Register at provexam.com.
Submit Application for Licensure + fees to DOPL · Renew annually at $25
Annual renewal $25. Endorsement (reciprocity) $35. CE-free.

Official nail technology resources

Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board

🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.

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 · CE-free

All Idaho beauty licenses renew annually. Renewal fees: $25 for cosmetologist and nail technician; $27 for esthetician. CE-free 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

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.