All four Washington beauty licenses in one place. Washington uses NIC exams — now via Prov as of May 1, 2026 — administered by the DOL (no separate cosmetology board). CE-free for any license. One important restriction: a cosmetology license does not cover sculptured or artificial nails — that requires a separate manicurist license.
Prep for this state
Washington sits the NIC papers at a scaled score of 75.00, through Prov since 1 May 2026 and administered by the Department of Licensing rather than a cosmetology board. One restriction catches people: a cosmetology license does not cover sculptured or artificial nails — that needs a separate manicurist license. 1,600 hours come first.
Washington examines both cosmetologist and hair designer candidates on the NIC Hair Design written paper, so this is the Hair Design bank rather than the NIC Cosmetology one. The two licenses share one written exam and differ only in the practical. Practice tests and flashcards together, one purchase, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinWashington examines barbers on its own Barber 1 (no chemical) paper — 60 questions, four domains, no chemical services. We do not yet have a bank for it. This is the NIC Barber Styling bank: the shared ground is the science, implements and hair-care services, and it also covers chemical work that a Washington barber license does not include.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Built for the NIC Candidate Information BulletinEvery question comes with a full rationale. When that isn’t enough — the concept is new, the wording is dense, you got it right by luck — tap Explain and the tutor talks you through it: why your answer was wrong, and what the right idea actually is. Ask it anything back, as many times as you need.
If English isn’t the language you learned this in, it teaches in yours, switched whenever you like. The questions stay in English, because that is how you will see them on exam day. Where enough candidates ask we translate the prep itself — so far Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Simplified Chinese, on the products that have it.
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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. Washington tests on the NIC exam, so this is the exam you'll sit. No email, no signup.
Washington · Cosmetology
1,600 hours (or 2,000-hour apprenticeship), NIC exams now via Prov (changed May 1, 2026), a scaled score of 75.00 on the written and practical. Can sit for exams within 100 hours of completing training (HB 1017). Important: cosmetology does not cover sculptured nails — that requires a separate manicurist license.
Washington’s own rule sets the pass mark as a scaled score, not a percentage of items correct: WAC 308-20-120(5) requires a scaled score of 75 on both the written and the performance examination, in all practices. Prov prints the same standard as 75.00, and its bulletin does not use the word scaled — the basis is the state’s rule, not the notation. On a 100-item paper a raw 75 is exactly 75.00 per cent, so the decimals prove nothing on their own.
Washington uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations. As of May 1, 2026, exams are administered by Prov (replacing D.L. Roope Administrations as the vendor). Washington's cosmetologist license is examined with the NIC Hair Design written examination rather than the NIC Cosmetology one, so the product on this page is NICPrep's Hair Design bank, built from the NIC Hair Design CIB. Passing score: a scaled score of 75.00.
A Washington cosmetology license covers basic manicures and pedicures, but does not authorize sculptured nail application, artificial nail application, or artificial nail removal. Those services require a separate Washington manicurist license. Most cosmetologists who offer full nail services in Washington hold both licenses.
Washington beauty licensing is administered directly by the Department of Licensing (DOL): there is no separate cosmetology board. The DOL Cosmetology Program handles all applications, renewals, and school approvals. Apply through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) at dol.wa.gov.
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Verify school approval at dol.wa.gov. Programs typically run 12–16 months full-time. Under HB 1017, you can apply for exams when within 100 hours of completing all required hours.
Apply online at dol.wa.gov and pay the $35 application fee. Or complete the paper application and mail it with payment. You'll receive exam scheduling instructions after the DOL processes your application.
As of May 1, 2026, scheduling goes through Prov at provexam.com. Previously D.L. Roope — confirm current scheduling process at dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/cosmetology. Pay exam fees to Prov.
License issued by WA DOL after passing both exams and completing all training hours. Biennial renewal — no CE required. Late renewal (within 1 year of expiration): $131 instead of $66. Expired over 1 year: canceled, must reapply.
Washington offers reciprocity for out-of-state cosmetologists with an active license in good standing. Submit a reciprocity application ($60 fee) and provide proof of current licensure. If your home state uses NIC examinations, you may not need to retake Washington's exams. If your home state uses state-specific exams, you may need to pass the Washington NIC exam. Contact DOL to confirm for your specific home state.
Washington is a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. Once fully operational, compact membership allows Washington cosmetologists with multistate licenses to practice in all compact member states without additional licensing. The compact is not yet active, and the commission’s own timetable has already run out. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission says the compact “is not yet active”, that the activation process begins once a seventh state enacts it, and that the process “typically takes 18-24 months”. Colorado was that seventh state in June 2024, so both ends of that window have passed and the compact is still inactive. No member state issues multistate licenses yet and no activation date has been published, so plan on single-state licensure until the commission posts instructions. The Compact applies to cosmetology only — not barber, manicurist, or esthetics licenses.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.
Washington · Esthetics
750 hours school (or 800-hour apprenticeship). Two tiers: standard Esthetician and Master Esthetician. NIC exams via Prov, a scaled score of 75.00 on the written and practical. Master Estheticians can use FDA-prescriptive devices under licensed physician delegation. Apply through DOL SecureAccess Washington.
Washington uses NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov (new vendor May 1, 2026). NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built directly from the NIC Esthetics CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Washington esthetics licensing. Passing score: a scaled score of 75.00.
Standard estheticians may use medical devices that the FDA has approved as over-the-counter (without a prescription). Master Estheticians may use medical devices listed with the FDA as prescriptive devices, but only under the authority of a licensed physician. For prescriptive laser devices, estheticians may alternatively get a laser technician license under the Department of Health (DOH). Confirm current device categories at dol.wa.gov before purchasing new equipment.
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Verify school approval at dol.wa.gov. Programs typically run 6–9 months full-time. Can apply for exams within 100 hours of completion.
Apply online at dol.wa.gov or by mail. Receive exam scheduling instructions from DOL.
As of May 1, 2026, scheduling through provexam.com. Pay exam fees to Prov. Both written and practical required, a scaled score of 75.00 on each.
Biennial renewal, no CE required.
Washington · Hair Designer & Barber
Washington calls its hair-focused license the "Hair Designer" — 1,400 school hours or 1,750 apprenticeship hours. This is the hair-only equivalent to cosmetology. A full cosmetology license requires 1,600 hours but covers more services including skin and nail basics. NIC exams via Prov, a scaled score of 75.00 on the written and practical.
Washington uses NIC examinations administered by Prov for hair designer and barber licensing. Hair designers sit the NIC Hair Design written examination — the same paper as cosmetologists — and that bank is the one sold above. Barbers sit the Washington Barber 1 (no chemical) paper: 60 questions, 50 scored, 90 minutes, across Scientific Concepts, Implements and Equipment, Hair Care Services and Facial Hair Services. NICPrep has no Barber 1 bank yet; our NIC Barber Styling bank overlaps on the science and hair-care ground but also covers chemical services that a Washington barber license does not include. Washington sets the minimum passing score at a scaled score of 75 for both the written and the performance examination, in all practices and naming hair design among them (WAC 308-20-120(5)); Prov prints the same standard as 75.00. The NIC Hair Design content outline itself states no pass mark — the figure is the state’s, not the paper’s.
Washington distinguishes between a Hair Designer (hair services only) and a Cosmetologist (hair, skin basics, nail basics — but not sculptured nails). The Hair Designer license requires 1,400 hours vs 1,600 for cosmetology, but covers a narrower scope. Most candidates who want the broadest scope pursue a cosmetology license. Licensed cosmetologists can qualify for a hair designer license by crossover.
Washington licenses barbers through the same DOL Cosmetology Program. Barber training focuses on haircutting, shaving, and beard grooming. Contact DOL at 360-664-6651 for specific barber hour requirements and exam format — the DOL's current page lists hair designer and cosmetology most prominently, but barber licensing is also available under the same program.
Washington's apprenticeship programs are certified by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council and DOL. Apprentices work at licensed training salons, earn wages (cannot be charged for training), and submit monthly reports signed by their trainer. Contact the Department of Labor & Industries at 360-902-5320 or apprentice@lni.wa.gov for apprenticeship information.
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Programs typically run 10–14 months full-time. Verify school approval at dol.wa.gov. Eligible to sit for exams within 100 hours of completion.
Apply at dol.wa.gov. Receive exam scheduling instructions.
Both written and practical required through Prov (new vendor May 1, 2026). Pay exam fees to Prov.
Biennial renewal, no CE required.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish.
Washington · Manicurist
Washington calls nail technicians "manicurists" — 600 school hours or 800 apprenticeship hours. NIC Nail Technology exams via Prov, a scaled score of 75.00 on the written and practical. This is the only Washington license that covers sculptured and artificial nails. CE-free. Apply through SecureAccess Washington.
Washington uses the NIC National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov (new vendor May 1, 2026). NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Washington manicurist licensing. Passing score: a scaled score of 75.00.
Manicures, pedicures, nail shaping, cuticle care, gel and polish application, sculptured and artificial nail application and removal (the key service not covered by a cosmetology license), nail art. This is the only Washington license that authorizes artificial nail services.
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Verify school approval at dol.wa.gov. Programs typically run 4–7 months full-time. Eligible to apply for exams within 100 hours of completion.
Apply online at dol.wa.gov. Receive exam scheduling instructions from DOL. Or mail paper application with check payable to Department of Licensing.
Schedule through provexam.com (new vendor as of May 1, 2026). Both written and practical required. A scaled score of 75.00 on each.
Biennial renewal — renewal window opens 120 days before expiration. CE-free. Renew online through SecureAccess Washington or by mail.
🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.
Yes, with one exception. Washington uses NIC examinations for its beauty licenses, administered by Prov since 1 May 2026 (replacing D.L. Roope Administrations). Which NIC paper depends on the license: cosmetologists and hair designers both sit NIC Hair Design, estheticians sit NIC Esthetics and manicurists sit NIC Nail Technology, and our banks for those are built from the same CIBs. Barbers are the exception — Washington uses its own Barber 1 (no chemical) paper, and we do not have a bank for it yet.
Not fully. A Washington cosmetology license covers manicures and pedicures but does NOT authorize sculptured or artificial nail application and removal — that requires a separate Washington manicurist license. This is a key difference from most other states.
No. Washington does not require continuing education for renewal of any beauty license type — cosmetology, esthetics, hair designer, manicurist, or barber. All licenses renew every two years by paying the renewal fee.
The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) Cosmetology Program administers all beauty licensing directly — there is no separate cosmetology board. Apply through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) at dol.wa.gov. The cosmetology exam vendor changed to Prov as of May 1, 2026.
Washington uses NIC exams via Prov — the same content NICPrep is built from. CE-free after you pass. See the full prep on the modality page.
2026 CIB changes, domain study tips, and new-modality launches — a few emails a month, no spam.