Oregon's licensing structure is unique nationally: no umbrella cosmetology license. Oregon issues separate field-of-practice certifications — Hair Design, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology. Oregon writes its own written exams and proctors them at the HLO office in Salem — no vendor, and no NIC content. A separate Oregon Laws and Rules exam is also required. Annual bloodborne pathogens (BBP) training required for renewal.
Free preview · No signup
10 questions from the NIC cosmetology bank and 10 terminology cards from the decks — the same items, the same rationales, the same study modes you get after checkout. Oregon writes its own exams, so these NIC questions cover the underlying science Oregon also tests; the blueprint differs. No email, no signup.
Oregon · Hair Design
Oregon's equivalent of a cosmetology license is the Hair Design certification: 1,110 hours (plus 455 required practical operations) at a Board-approved school, or a competency-based pathway. School administers the practical exam. Applicant then comes to HLO in Salem for two written exams: Oregon's own Hair Design written exam + the Oregon Laws and Rules exam. Annual BBP training required for renewal.
Oregon uses no exam vendor. The Health Licensing Office writes and proctors the Hair Design exam itself, in person at Salem: 100 questions, 90 minutes, 75% passing. Its outline is Oregon's own — Hair Services 53%, Anatomy and Physiology 16%, Product Knowledge and Chemistry 15%, Safety and Infection Control 6%, Implements 6%, Microbiology 4%. Roughly 41% of that is general cosmetology science a NIC bank covers well; the Oregon weighting and the separate 90-question Laws and Rules exam sit outside what it cover at all. NICPrep's cosmetology question bank covers significant overlapping content and is strong supplementary preparation. Note: A separate Oregon Laws and Rules exam ($45, 90 min, 75%) is also required; Oregon-specific statutes sit outside NICPrep's banks.
Oregon does not offer an umbrella "cosmetology" license. Every certification in Oregon is specific to a field of practice: Hair Design, Barbering, Esthetics, or Nail Technology. Chemical services — colouring, dyeing, relaxing, permanent waves — sit within Hair Design scope. However, barbers cannot perform chemical services; only those with a Hair Design certification may do so. Practitioners who want to offer multiple services in different fields must hold separate certifications for each.
All Oregon cosmetology certifications are administered by the Health Licensing Office (HLO), a division of Oregon Health Authority. The HLO office is located in Salem — written exams are taken in person at HLO. Contact: 503-378-8667 · hlo.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
School administers and scores the practical exam. School sends official transcript + passing practical score to HLO directly. Practical exam scores valid 5 years.
Bring valid government-issued photo ID. Application form available at HLO's website. Bring the form and sign it at HLO. HLO reviews your transcript submission before scheduling your exams.
Both 90 minutes, both at HLO Salem. $45 each. Both must be passed within 2 years of application date. Results available immediately.
Biennial 2-year certificate. Renewal requires annual BBP training attestation. Contact HLO: 503-378-8667.
Oregon · Esthetics
444 hours at a Board-approved school. School administers practical exam. Written exams at HLO Salem: Oregon's own Esthetics written (100 questions, $45) + Oregon Laws and Rules ($45). 75% passing on both. Annual BBP training required for renewal. Certified Advanced Esthetician license also available (separate program, 5 hrs CE/year).
HLO writes and proctors this one too: 100 questions, 90 minutes, 75% passing, to Oregon's own outline — Esthetic Services 42%, Anatomy and Physiology 21%, Product Knowledge and Chemistry 17%, Implements 8%, Safety and Infection Control 8%, Microbiology 4%. NICPrep's esthetics question bank covers significant overlapping content — strong supplementary preparation. Separate Oregon Laws and Rules exam also required ($45, 75%).
Oregon offers a Certified Advanced Esthetician (CAE) license for expanded scope including advanced non-ablative treatments. Requires completion of an approved advanced esthetics program beyond the standard 444 hours. Renewal requires 5 hours of CE per year focused on advanced nonablative esthetics. Separate board (Board of Certified Advanced Estheticians) governs this credential.
School conducts and scores the practical exam. School sends official transcript + practical score to HLO. Verify school approval at oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo.
Bring government-issued photo ID and signed application form. HLO verifies your transcript before exams.
Both 90 minutes, $45 each, at HLO Salem. Must be passed within 2 years of application date.
Biennial. Annual BBP training required at renewal.
Oregon · Barbering
746 hours at a Board-approved school + practical operations. Written exams at HLO Salem: Oregon's own Barbering written ($45) + Oregon Laws and Rules ($45), both 75%. Note: chemical services (colour, perms, relaxers) require a Hair Design certification. Annual BBP training required for renewal.
HLO's own outline, not NIC's — Barbering Services 42%, Anatomy and Physiology 25%, Implements 12%, Product Knowledge and Chemistry 11%, Safety and Infection Control 6%, Microbiology 4%. 100 questions, 90 minutes, 75% passing. NICPrep's barber question bank covers significant overlapping content. Separate Oregon Laws and Rules exam also required.
Oregon barbers are licensed specifically for shaving, trimming or cutting the beard, and arranging, cutting, styling, dressing, shampooing, cleansing, conditioning, and temporary curling of hair. Barbers cannot apply chemical treatments such as coloring, dyeing, relaxing, or permanent waves — those services require a Hair Design certification. This is a meaningful distinction for practitioners who want to offer both types of services.
Out-of-state barbers with an active, undisciplined barber license may be exempt from Oregon school and practical requirements but must still pass the Oregon Barbering written exam and the Oregon Laws and Rules exam at HLO Salem. HLO must receive direct verification from your home state board.
School conducts practical exam and sends official transcript + passing practical score to HLO. Verify school at oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo.
HLO verifies your transcript before exam scheduling.
Both $45 each, 90 minutes, at HLO Salem. Must be passed within 2 years of application.
Biennial. Annual BBP training required at renewal.
Oregon · Nail Technology
241 hours at a Board-approved school + practical operations. Written exams at HLO Salem: Oregon's own Nail Technology written ($45) + Oregon Laws and Rules ($45), both 75%. Annual BBP training required for renewal. This is one of the lower nail technology hour requirements nationally.
HLO's own outline — Nail Services 27%, Anatomy and Physiology 26%, Product Knowledge and Chemistry 18%, Implements 17%, Safety and Infection Control 8%, Microbiology 4%. Note how little of it is nail services: Oregon tests the science harder than the craft. 100 questions, 90 minutes, 75% passing. NICPrep's nail technology question bank covers significant overlapping content. Separate Oregon Laws and Rules exam also required.
School administers practical exam and submits transcript + passing practical score to HLO. Verify school at oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo.
HLO reviews transcript before exam scheduling.
Both $45 each, 90 minutes at HLO Salem. Both must be passed within 2 years of application.
Biennial. Annual BBP training required at renewal.
Oregon's written exams are administered for the Health Licensing Office, at 75% to pass, and Oregon tests its own rules alongside the practice content. We don't build a bank for them.
2026 CIB changes, domain study tips, and new-modality launches — a few emails a month, no spam.