How to Become a Cosmetologist
Becoming a Cosmetologist – What you need to know
Are you passionate about everything beauty related? Want the freedom to create your own schedule with the option of owning your own business? By becoming a licensed cosmetologist you have the freedom to choose where you want to work, furthering your passion, and having a career in beauty that you love.
Enrolling in Cosmetology School
Enrolling in cosmetology school at Empire Beauty School will allow you to help others while learning all the skills you need. Additionally, you will be placed in a career that has room for creativity and allows for continuous learning.
Becoming a cosmetologist will provide you with a foundation of knowledge and skills that will allow you to become confident in your work. Included in our program are hair design, hair cutting, hair color and texture, basic skin care, and business/retail training. We prepare our students for any type of career they are interested in that relates to the beauty industry.
Steps Required to Become a Cosmetologist
There are several actions to take to become a cosmetologist. Let’s discuss them.
- Be at least 16 years of age and have a high school diploma or a GED.
- Enroll in a state-licensed cosmetology school, Empire Beauty School
- Complete your program
- Complete training hours. Each state has their own requirements for how many training hours are required, information on hours for each state is linked below.
- Pass the state licensing exam
State Cosmetology Licensing Requirements
Each state does have their own requirements on what is needed to become a licensed cosmetologist. We list each state’s required hours for each program on our school state pages. It is beneficial to stay updated on the requirements to remain on track of your goals. It is necessary to pass a state licensing exam in order to become a licensed cosmetologist. This exam includes the theory you learned on sanitation, styling techniques, and more.
Below are the required training hours needed for each state.
(Last updated May 2022)
| State | Required Hours (Cosmetology) |
| Massachusetts | 1000 |
| Rhode Island | 1200 |
| Maine | 1500 |
| New Jersey | 1200 |
| New York | 1000 |
| Pennsylvania | 1250 |
| North Carolina | 1500 |
| Georgia | 1500 |
| Wisconsin | 1550 |
| Illinois | 1500 |
| Florida | 1200 |
| Kentucky | 1500 |
| Minnesota | 1550 |
| Michigan | 1500 |
| Colorado | 1500 |
| Tennessee | 1500 |
| Arizona | 1600 |
| Maryland | 1500 |
| Virginia | 1500 |
| Indiana | 1500 |
| Ohio | 1500 |
For more information about Empire Beauty School, or how to enroll, visit or click – https://bit.ly/LearnMoreAtEmpire
Be sure to also check our guide to getting started in cosmetology for more information.