Maryland · Board of Cosmetologists
Maryland Cosmetology License Requirements
1,500
hours for a cosmetologist
or 24 months apprenticing
250
hours for a nail technician
the shortest route
17
minimum age, plus 9th grade or GED
applies to every category
Requirements by licence
Cosmetologist
1,500 school hoursAt least 17 years of age and completed 9th grade or G.E.D; a program of at least 1,500 hours in a cosmetology school approved by MSDE or MHEC in consultation with the Board; or 24 months as a registered apprentice in a licensed beauty salon.
Limited Hairstylist
1,200 school hoursAt least 17 and 9th grade or G.E.D; at least 1,200 hours of instruction providing hair services in an approved cosmetology school; or 15 months as a registered apprentice.
Limited Blow Dry Stylist
350 school hoursAt least 17 and 9th grade or G.E.D; at least 350 hours of instruction providing hair services — blow drying — in an approved cosmetology school. No apprenticeship route is listed.
Limited Esthetician
600 school hoursAt least 17 and 9th grade or G.E.D; at least 600 hours of instruction in esthetic services in an approved cosmetology school; or 12 months as a registered apprentice.
Limited Nail Technician
250 school hoursAt least 17 and 9th grade or G.E.D; at least 250 hours of instruction in nail technician services in an approved cosmetology school; or 8 months as a registered apprentice.
Senior Cosmetologist
Two years of experience as a licensed cosmetologist and passing grades on the senior cosmetologist exam and the cosmetologist exam.
Wording taken from the Board of Cosmetologists's own requirements page rather than paraphrased.
Fee schedule
| Licence | Cat | Original | Renewal | Late |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shop — Limited Service | 01 | $225 | $56 | $112 — after 45 days $225 |
| Shop — Full Service | 02 | $225 | $56 | $112 — after 45 days $225 |
| Senior Cosmetologist | 04 | $28 | $28 | $56 |
| Cosmetologist | 08 | $28 | $28 | $56 |
| Limited Hair Stylist | 13 | $28 | $28 | $56 |
| Limited Nail Technician | 14 | $28 | $28 | $56 |
| Limited Esthetician | 15 | $28 | $28 | $56 |
| Blow Dry Stylist | 16 | $28 | $28 | $56 |
| Apprentice — Hair Stylist | 18 | $11 | $11 | — |
| Apprentice — Cosmetologist | 19 | $11 | $11 | — |
| Apprentice — Nail Technician | 20 | $11 | $11 | — |
| Apprentice — Esthetician | 22 | $11 | $11 | — |
The board states fees are set by law and regulation, are subject to change with public notice, and are all nonrefundable.
Where these figures come from
Read from the Board of Cosmetologists on 2026-08-10. Maryland publishes this as web pages, not PDFs, and those pages carry no version and change without notice — so check the source before relying on a figure.