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Montana beauty licenses
2026 requirements.

All Montana beauty licenses in one place. Montana uses NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing. Montana has one of the higher cosmetology hour requirements nationally at 2,000 hours. Biennial renewal December 31. No CE. Age 18+, HS diploma required. Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, Helena MT — under the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).

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License types
Prov
Exam vendor
Board-verified
Data source
May '26
Verified

Montana · Cosmetology

Cosmetology license — 2026.

2,000 hours at a Board-approved school — among the highest cosmetology hour requirements in the US. NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing both written and practical. Biennial renewal December 31 at $45 (license fee). No CE. Age 18+, HS diploma. 301 S. Park Ave, Helena MT 59620 · 406-444-6880.

At a glance
Training hours
2,000
Board-approved school
License fee
$45
All cosmetology license types · MT Board
Passing score
75% both
NIC via Prov · written + practical
Renewal
Biennial · Dec 31
~$80 renewal fee · No CE
Montana uses NIC exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit

Montana 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. 75% passing on both. Montana's 2,000-hour requirement is among the highest nationally — programs typically take 15–20 months full-time.

Step-by-step: how to get licensed

  1. Complete 2,000 hours at a Montana Board-approved cosmetology school

    Age 18+, HS diploma. Programs typically 15–20 months full-time. Verify school at boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov.

  2. Submit Application for Licensure by Examination to Montana Board with required documentation

    Documents: proof of education, training verification, photo ID. Mail to Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, P.O. Box 200513, Helena, MT 59620-0513.

  3. Register with Prov and pass NIC theory and practical exams — 75% each

    Register at provexam.com. Both written and practical required. 75% passing on each.

  4. Receive your Montana cosmetology license · Renew biennially December 31 (~$80)

    No CE required for cosmetologists. Instructors: CE required. Reciprocity available if training equivalent to or greater than Montana's requirements.

Practice tests

Practice Test

$39 one-time · lifetime access

Full 10-test NIC Cosmetology exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.

  • 10 tests × 110 questions = 1,100 total
  • Every domain weighted to NIC percentages
  • Study mode + timed exam mode
  • Free 10-question preview · no signup
Flashcards

Flashcards

$19 one-time · lifetime access

1,099 cards: Sci · Hair · Skin · Nail. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.

  • 1,099 cards: Sci · Hair · Skin · Nail
  • Front: question · Back: answer + rationale
  • Shuffle mode within each domain
  • Per-deck progress tracking
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Montana · Esthetics

Esthetics license — 2026.

650 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC esthetics exams via Prov — 75% passing. Age 18+, HS diploma. $45 license fee. Biennial renewal December 31. No CE for practitioners. Reciprocity available if training substantially equivalent.

At a glance
Training hours
650
Board-approved school
License fee
$45
All cosmetology license types
Passing score
75% both
NIC via Prov · written + practical
Renewal
Biennial · Dec 31
~$80 renewal fee · No CE
Montana uses NIC esthetics exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit

Montana uses NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations via Prov. NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing. Programs typically 4–6 months.

Official esthetics resources

Practice tests

Practice Test

$39 one-time · lifetime access

Full 10-test NIC Esthetics exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.

  • 10 tests × 110 questions = 1,100 total
  • Every domain weighted to NIC percentages
  • Study mode + timed exam mode
  • Free 10-question preview · no signup
Flashcards

Flashcards

$19 one-time · lifetime access

1,100 cards: Sci · Skin. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.

  • 1,100 cards: Sci · Skin
  • Front: question · Back: answer + rationale
  • Shuffle mode within each domain
  • Per-deck progress tracking
↑ Back to top

Montana · Barber

Barber license — 2026.

1,500 hours at a Board-approved barber school (or 1,100-hour barber school for out-of-state endorsement). NIC Barber Styling exams via Prov — 75% passing. Age 18+, HS diploma. $45 license fee. Biennial renewal December 31. No CE for practitioners. Instructor: 12 months licensed experience required before pursuing instructor credential.

At a glance
Training hours
1,500
Board-approved barber school
License fee
$45
All cosmetology license types
Passing score
75% both
NIC via Prov · written + practical
Renewal
Biennial · Dec 31
~$80 renewal fee · No CE
Montana uses NIC barber exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit

Montana 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 both.

Practice tests

Practice Test

$39 one-time · lifetime access

Full 10-test NIC Barber Styling exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.

  • 10 tests × 110 questions = 1,100 total
  • Every domain weighted to NIC percentages
  • Study mode + timed exam mode
  • Free 10-question preview · no signup
Flashcards

Flashcards

$19 one-time · lifetime access

1,100 cards: Sci · Hair · Implements · Facial. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.

  • 1,100 cards: Sci · Hair · Implements · Facial
  • Front: question · Back: answer + rationale
  • Shuffle mode within each domain
  • Per-deck progress tracking
↑ Back to top

Montana · Manicurist

Manicurist license — 2026.

350 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC Nail Technology exams via Prov — 75% passing. Age 18+, HS diploma. $45 license fee. Biennial renewal December 31. No CE. Montana does not issue a separate "nail technician" license — the credential is called "Manicurist."

At a glance
Training hours
350
Board-approved school
License fee
$45
All cosmetology license types
Passing score
75% both
NIC via Prov · written + practical
Renewal
Biennial · Dec 31
~$80 renewal fee · No CE
Montana uses NIC nail technology exams via Prov — NICPrep is a direct fit

Montana 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. Programs typically 8–12 weeks full-time.

Official manicurist resources

Practice tests

Practice Test

$39 one-time · lifetime access

Full 10-test NIC Nail Technology exam simulation with instant rationales and per-domain breakdown.

  • 10 tests × 110 questions = 1,100 total
  • Every domain weighted to NIC percentages
  • Study mode + timed exam mode
  • Free 10-question preview · no signup
Flashcards

Flashcards

$19 one-time · lifetime access

1,100 cards across 9 NIC domains. Front: question. Back: answer plus full rationale.

  • 1,100 cards across 9 NIC domains
  • Front: question · Back: answer + rationale
  • Shuffle mode within each domain
  • Per-deck progress tracking
↑ Back to top

Montana · All license types

Rules that apply to every Montana beauty license.

NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing

Montana uses NIC National Examinations administered by Prov (provexam.com). Both written theory and practical exams required at 75% passing for all license types. Age 18+, HS diploma or GED required for all Montana beauty licenses. License fee: $45 for all practitioner license types. Contact the Board: Professional Licensing Customer Service (406) 444-6880 · DLIBSDHELP@MT.GOV.

Biennial renewal December 31 · No CE for practitioners

Montana beauty licenses (cosmetology, esthetics, barber, manicurist) renew biennially on December 31. Renewal fee approximately $80. No CE required for any cosmetology, esthetics, barber, or manicurist practitioner. CE is required for instructors only. Reciprocity available for out-of-state applicants whose training is equivalent to or greater than Montana's requirements.

2,000-hour cosmetology requirement

Montana's 2,000-hour cosmetology training requirement is among the highest in the United States — alongside Wyoming, Nebraska, and historically South Dakota. Plan for a 15–20 month full-time program. Barber requires 1,500 hours; esthetics 650 hours; manicurist 350 hours.

Official Montana licensing portal

Last verified May 2026 against Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov) and multiple Montana licensing sources. NIC via Prov confirmed from official Montana Board services page. NICPrep is an independent prep resource and is not affiliated with Montana DLI, Prov, or the State of Montana.

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Next step

Study exactly what Montana's NIC exam tests.

Montana uses NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing. 2,000-hour cosmetology requirement. NICPrep is built from the NIC CIBs.