All four Minnesota beauty licenses in one place. Minnesota uses its own state-specific three-part exam administered by PSI — not the NIC national exam. Three separate exam sections, a 3-year license cycle, CE required, and two separate regulatory boards. NICPrep's content overlaps with the general theory content but is not a 1:1 match to Minnesota's exam.
Minnesota · Cosmetology
1,550 hours (or 2,700 apprenticeship hours), Minnesota state-specific three-part exam via PSI, 75% passing on each section. 3-year license cycle with 8 hours of CE required at renewal. Initial operator fee $90; active renewal $60. Board: Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners.
Minnesota uses its own state-specific examination developed for the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, administered by PSI Services — it is not the NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination. The Minnesota exam has three separate sections: a General Theory section, a Minnesota State Laws and Rules section, and a Written Practical section. Content overlap with NIC-calibrated prep material is significant (infection control, hair services, chemistry, skin care, nail care), but the MN exam also includes a mandatory state-law section not covered by NIC-based prep. NICPrep is strong supplementary study material for the general theory content — but candidates must also study Minnesota-specific statutes and rules (Chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules Chapter 2105) for the state section.
The Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners governs cosmetologists, estheticians, and nail technicians at mn.gov/boards/cosmetologist-examiners. Barbers are governed by the separate Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners. Minnesota is one of only two states in this guide using a 3-year license cycle (North Carolina is the other).
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Verify school licensing at mn.gov/boards/cosmetologist-examiners. Programs typically run 10–18 months full-time. No cosmetology apprenticeship currently available in Minnesota.
Submit your Initial Operator License Application to the Board. Register with PSI at psiexams.com or call 1-800-733-9267 to schedule all three exam sections.
Schedule all three at PSI centers. Pay $35 (general theory) + $25 (state section) + practical fee. Can pay and schedule together as the "combination examination." Only retake failed sections. Results given immediately at the test site.
Once all three sections are passed, complete the operator license application with the Board. License is typically issued and mailed within 30 business days.
3-year license cycle · 8 hours of CE required per cycle:
Renewal fee: $60 (active operator renewal) · License mailed approximately 30 business days after renewal. Renew through the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners at mn.gov/boards/cosmetologist-examiners.
Minnesota offers licensure by reciprocity for individuals with a valid out-of-state cosmetology license that is active and in good standing without disciplinary actions. The license must have been active for at least 3 of the past 5 years. Candidates must still pass the Minnesota State Laws and Rules examination.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.
Full 10-test NIC Cosmetology exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
1,099 cards: Sci · Hair · Skin · Nail. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.
Minnesota · Esthetics
600 hours at a licensed school (no apprenticeship), Minnesota state-specific three-part exam via PSI, 75% passing on each section. Advanced Esthetician license available with additional training and a separate exam. 3-year license cycle, 8 hours CE required. Board: Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners.
Minnesota uses its own state-specific esthetics examination administered by PSI — not the NIC National Esthetics Theory Examination. The MN esthetics exam covers: safety and infection control (24%), skin analysis (16%), basic facial (26%), makeup (12%), and hair removal (22%). Content overlaps substantially with NIC prep material, but candidates must also study Minnesota laws and rules (Chapter 155A) for the mandatory state section.
Minnesota offers an Advanced Esthetician license for practitioners who want to expand their scope to more advanced skin care procedures. The Advanced Esthetician exam has a separate section covering advanced practice services (65 questions, 1.5 hours) with content on infection control for advanced services (10%), followed by advanced technique areas. Contact the Board for current training hour requirements for the Advanced Esthetician credential.
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Verify school licensing at mn.gov/boards/cosmetologist-examiners. Programs typically run 4–7 months full-time. No esthetics apprenticeship available in Minnesota.
Submit Initial Operator License Application. Register at psiexams.com. Pay exam fees for all three sections.
All sections at PSI centers statewide. Retake only failed sections. Also study Minnesota Chapter 155A and Chapter 2105 for the state section — NIC prep does not cover this content.
🇰🇷 NICPrep's esthetics prep is also available in Korean — coming soon.
Full 10-test NIC Esthetics exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
1,100 cards: Sci · Skin. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.
Minnesota · Barber
1,500 hours at a Board-approved school. Minnesota barbers are regulated by the separate Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners — a different board from the cosmetology board. Licensed cosmetologists can cross-train to add a barber license. Contact the Barber Board directly for current exam details.
Minnesota barbers are licensed by the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners, which is separate from the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Confirm current exam format, fee schedule, renewal requirements, and CE obligations directly with the Barber Board at 651-201-2742 or via their website. Licensed cosmetologists may take a crossover course to receive a barbering license — contact the Barber Board for crossover hour requirements.
Licensed Minnesota cosmetologists may take a crossover course to obtain a barbering license without completing the full 1,500 hours. Contact the Minnesota Board of Barber Examiners for the exact crossover hour requirement and licensing form.
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🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish — coming soon.
Full 10-test NIC Barber Styling exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
1,100 cards: Sci · Hair · Implements · Facial. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.
Minnesota · Nail Technology
350 hours at a licensed school, Minnesota state-specific three-part exam via PSI, 75% passing on each section. 3-year license cycle with 8 hours CE at renewal. Board: Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. Initial operator fee $90; renewal $60.
Minnesota uses its own state-specific nail technology examination administered by PSI — not the NIC National Nail Technology Theory Examination. Content overlaps with NIC nail tech prep material (infection control, nail anatomy, manicure/pedicure procedures, enhancements), but the mandatory Minnesota State Laws and Rules section requires separate study of Chapter 155A and Chapter 2105.
Ready to start studying? See pricing below ↓
Verify school licensing at mn.gov/boards/cosmetologist-examiners. Programs typically run 8–12 weeks full-time.
Submit Initial Operator License Application. Register at psiexams.com. Pay exam fees for all three sections.
General theory, state laws, and written practical — all at PSI centers statewide. Study Minnesota Chapter 155A and Chapter 2105 separately for the state section.
🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.
Full 10-test NIC Nail Technology exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
1,100 cards across 9 NIC domains. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.
Minnesota uses a state-specific exam — not NIC. But the general theory section overlaps heavily with NIC domains. NICPrep is strong supplementary prep; also study MN Chapter 155A and Chapter 2105 for the state section.