All four Tennessee beauty licenses in one place. Tennessee uses NIC exams via PSI at 70% passing — a direct fit for NICPrep. One combined board for all modalities, CORE portal for applications, and a required 1-hour domestic violence awareness training for every initial applicant. No CE for practitioners. Cosmetology Licensure Compact member since May 2024.
Tennessee · Cosmetology
1,500 hours at a licensed school (no apprenticeship), NIC exam via PSI at 70%, apply through CORE within 6 months of passing. DV awareness training required before applying. Cosmetologists may use only a safety razor — straight-razor shaving is reserved for Master Barbers.
Tennessee uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI Services. NICPrep's cosmetology question bank is built directly from the NIC CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Tennessee cosmetology licensing. Passing score: 70% on both components. Apply through CORE (core.tn.gov) within 6 months of passing both exams.
Tennessee's Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners — a combined board since 2014 — governs all beauty and barber licenses under TDCI. License applications go through the CORE portal. All exams administered by PSI Services at test centers statewide.
Your school submits your eligibility to PSI directly — students cannot self-submit. Verify school approval at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo.
Typically completed during school or online at barbicide.com. Required before submitting your initial license application.
$70 written + $70 practical to PSI. Schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com or 855-340-3710. Remote proctoring available. Exam fee valid 6 months from date PSI receives payment.
Apply at core.tn.gov, pay $60 application fee. License issued in 5–10 business days. Confirm active status at verify.tn.gov before working.
Built from the NIC CIB — 70% passing. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Tennessee joined the Cosmetology Licensure Compact on May 29, 2024 (SB 2732/HB 2781). Once fully operational, Tennessee cosmetologists with multistate licenses can practice in all compact member states (currently AL, AZ, CO, KS, KY, MD, OH, TN, VA, WA) without additional licensure.
Biennial · $60 renewal fee · No CE required · $25 late fee after expiration · Renew at core.tn.gov.
Tennessee · Esthetics
Tennessee spells this "aesthetician" in statute. 750 hours, NIC exam via PSI, 70% passing. No apprenticeship for esthetics. Aestheticians cannot perform nail services — a separate manicurist license is required. Microneedling authorized under physician supervision (SB 1339/HB 915).
Tennessee uses the NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI. NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built from the NIC Esthetics CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Tennessee aesthetician licensing. Passing score: 70%.
SB 1339 and HB 915 authorize licensed Tennessee aestheticians to perform cosmetic microneedling under the supervision of a licensed physician. Confirm current requirements with the Board before offering this service.
School submits eligibility to PSI. Verify approval at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo.
Free at barbicide.com or approved nonprofits. Required before initial application.
Schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com or call 855-340-3710. Remote proctoring available.
Apply at core.tn.gov, $60 fee. Confirm active at verify.tn.gov before working.
Built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — 70% passing. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Biennial · $60 renewal fee · No CE required · $25 late fee · Renew at core.tn.gov.
Tennessee · Barber
1,500 hours — same as cosmetology. NIC exam via PSI, 70% passing. Unique apprenticeship: 750 classroom hours + pass theory exam + 750 hours under a licensed barber with 10+ years experience. Court order: diploma requirement unenforceable, only 10th grade required. Straight razor: Master Barbers only.
Tennessee uses NIC National Barber Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Tennessee Master Barber licensing. Passing score: 70%.
Master Barbers may use a straight razor for shaving. Tennessee cosmetologists may only use a safety razor. Both licenses allow haircutting, styling, and color. A licensed TN cosmetologist can apply 750 cosmetology school hours toward the 1,500-hour barber requirement for a crossover.
Verify school registration at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo. Apprenticeship requires Board enrollment before starting and a mentor barber with 10+ years of active TN licensure.
Required before initial application.
Schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com or 855-340-3710. Remote proctoring available.
Apply at core.tn.gov, $60 fee. Barber license renewal fee is $60 biennial.
Built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — 70% passing. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Tennessee · Manicurist
Tennessee calls nail technicians "manicurists." 600 hours, NIC exam via PSI, 70% passing. No apprenticeship. Critical: Tennessee offers zero reciprocity for manicurist licenses — every applicant from every state must complete 600 hours of TN-approved training and pass TN exams.
Tennessee uses the NIC National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI. NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Tennessee manicurist licensing. Passing score: 70%.
Tennessee does not offer reciprocity for manicurist (nail technician) licenses from any state. Applicants who hold nail tech licenses from other states — including states with higher training hour requirements — must complete 600 hours of Tennessee-approved training and pass the Tennessee PSI examinations to obtain a Tennessee manicurist license.
School submits eligibility to PSI. No self-submission. Verify school approval at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo.
Required before application. Free at barbicide.com.
Schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com. Remote proctoring available. Exam fee valid 6 months. 5-year eligibility window.
Apply at core.tn.gov, $60 fee. Confirm active at verify.tn.gov before working.
Built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — 70% passing. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Tennessee uses NIC exams via PSI — 70% passing, no CE. NICPrep is built from the same NIC CIBs. Try 10 real questions with full rationales, no signup required.