All four South Carolina beauty licenses in one place. South Carolina uses NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing. 4 hours of CE required at every renewal. Renewal deadline: March 10 of odd-numbered years. No reciprocity — endorsement only. No apprenticeship for any license type. Advanced Esthetician legislation pending but not enacted.
South Carolina · Cosmetology
1,500 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC exam via Prov — 75% passing both written and practical. 4 hours CE required per biennial renewal cycle. Renewal: March 10 of odd-numbered years. No reciprocity — endorsement only. No apprenticeship. Apply through the LLR licensing portal.
South Carolina uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov (transitioned from PSI). NICPrep's cosmetology question bank is built from the NIC CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing on both written and practical. Apply through the LLR licensing portal at eservice.llr.sc.gov.
South Carolina requires 4 contact hours of Board-approved CE per biennial renewal cycle. Topics must cover board laws/regulations, client safety, and/or infection control/sanitation. CE may be completed in-person or online through Board-approved providers. First-time licensees are exempt from CE at their initial renewal. South Carolina does not offer reciprocity — out-of-state practitioners must apply by endorsement (which requires passing the NIC exam or having 2+ years of active licensure). A state law exam is also required for endorsement applicants.
The South Carolina State Board of Cosmetology (under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) governs cosmetology, esthetics, and nail tech licenses. Apply and manage licenses through the LLR eService portal at eservice.llr.sc.gov. Results are immediate for both NIC theory and practical exams via Prov.
Verify school approval through SC LLR Board of Cosmetology at llr.sc.gov/cosmo.
Upload supplemental forms (Affidavit of Eligibility, Notarized Signature Affidavit + passport photo). After processing, receive notice to schedule exams with Prov.
Written: $55 to Prov. Practical: $65 to Prov. Immediate results. Cannot retake same day if failed. $30 license fee after passing. If expired 3+ years: must retake and pass both NIC exams.
Renewal at LLR portal. $52 renewal fee. 4 hrs Board-approved CE required (first renewal exempt). CE providers listed at llr.sc.gov/cosmo.
Built from the NIC CIB — the exam Prov administers in SC. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
SC does not offer reciprocity. Endorsement requires: (1) passed NIC theory and practical exam in another state, OR (2) actively licensed for 2+ years AND completed 4 hrs of Board-approved CE. Also must pass a South Carolina state law exam. Endorsement fee: $60. License verifications must be sent directly from the original state board to SC LLR by mail or email.
South Carolina · Esthetics
450 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC exam via Prov — 75% passing. 4 hours CE required per biennial renewal. Renewal March 10 of odd years. No apprenticeship. Endorsement-only for out-of-state. Pending legislation (S.539) would create an Advanced Esthetician license (600 hrs) — not yet enacted as of May 2026.
South Carolina 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 both. 4 hrs CE required at each biennial renewal.
Bill S.539 (2025 session, pending) would create an "Advanced Esthetician" license category in South Carolina with 600 hours of training and expanded scope including microneedling, dermaplaning, chemical peels, high frequency, microcurrent, and galvanic treatments. As of May 2026, this bill had not been enacted. Confirm current status at the SC Legislature website (scstatehouse.gov) or llr.sc.gov before enrolling in programs based on advanced scope.
Verify school approval at llr.sc.gov/cosmo. Programs typically 3–5 months full-time.
Upload required affidavits. Receive notice to schedule with Prov after processing.
$55 written + $65 practical. Immediate results. $30 license fee after passing.
$52 renewal. Board-approved CE topics: board laws, client safety, infection control. First renewal exempt.
Built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — the exam Prov administers in SC. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
South Carolina · Barber
1,500 hours at a Board-approved barber school. NIC exam via Prov — 75% passing. Same biennial March 10 odd-year renewal as cosmetology. No CE required for barbers (unlike cosmetologists and estheticians). No apprenticeship for barber licensure. Endorsement-only for out-of-state.
South Carolina uses NIC National Barber Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing on both. Barbers are exempt from CE requirements — unlike cosmetologists and estheticians.
Verify school approval through SC LLR at llr.sc.gov/cosmo.
Include required affidavits and passport photo. Receive Prov scheduling authorization after processing.
$55 written + $65 practical. Immediate results. $30 license fee after passing.
Barbers are CE-exempt at renewal. $52 renewal fee.
Built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — the exam Prov administers in SC. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
South Carolina · Nail Technology
300 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC exam via Prov — 75% passing. 4 hours CE required per biennial renewal. Renewal March 10 of odd years. No apprenticeship. Endorsement-only for out-of-state. If expired 3+ years: must retake both NIC exams.
South Carolina uses the NIC National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov. NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — a direct-fit study resource. 75% passing. 4 hrs CE required at biennial renewal (first renewal exempt).
Verify approval at llr.sc.gov/cosmo. Programs typically 6–10 weeks full-time.
Include required affidavits. Receive Prov scheduling authorization.
$55 written + $65 practical. Immediate results.
$52 renewal. First renewal CE-exempt. Expired 3+ years: retake both NIC exams.
Built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — the exam Prov administers in SC. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
South Carolina uses NIC exams via Prov — 75% passing. Remember: 4 hrs CE required at each biennial renewal. NICPrep is built from the same NIC CIBs. Try 10 real questions, no signup required.