How to Become a Cosmetologist in Arkansas

Checked against Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology Section (with the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee) · Verified 2026-10-17

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: See state office
Licensed by: Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology Section (with the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee)

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Who can apply

You must be at least 16 years old.
You must have completed two years of high school (10th grade) or its equivalent.
You must complete cosmetology training at a cosmetology school. Arkansas schools must run a cosmetology course of at least 1,500 hours (A.C.A. 17-26-412).

Step by step

Enroll in a licensed Arkansas cosmetology school (the Section charges a $20 enrollment fee) and complete the course.
Apply for the practical exam through your Arkansas cosmetology school.
Submit the Written Examination Application to the Cosmetology Section. You can choose English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Korean.
Prov, Inc. contacts you to schedule the written exam. Pay the written exam fee directly to Prov when you schedule.
Pass the written exam, the practical exam and the Arkansas State Law exam.
The Section mails your license within 10 to 14 days after it receives your passing scores.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: A.C.A. 17-26-412 requires each Arkansas cosmetology school to keep a course of at least 1,500 hours, taught no more than 10 hours a day and 6 days a week. Up to 50% of the program can be done online or by distance education. A.C.A. 17-26-304 lists at least 1,200 training hours as the minimum to be admitted to the cosmetologist exam, while the Department's out-of-state hours transfer form requires 1,500 hours for a cosmetologist. Arkansas has no apprenticeship route for cosmetologists listed by the Department.

Exam: You need a written exam, a practical exam and an Arkansas State Law exam. Prov, Inc. gives the written exam (the NIC cosmetology content outline is in the Department's Candidate Information Bulletin). You apply for the practical exam through an Arkansas cosmetology school. The Department's fee schedule lists $60 for the written exam and $65 for the practical, while its FAQ says the written exam fee is $78 paid to Prov. If you fail the State Law exam, submit a State Law Re-take form and the Section emails you a link to retake it online.

Practice for the cosmetology written exam free — infection control, hair care, chemical services, skin and nails →

What it costs in Arkansas

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Cosmetology school tuition$
School enrollment fee$20
Written exam (fee schedule $60; FAQ says $78 paid to Prov)$
Practical exam$65

Estimated total in Arkansas$85Plus 2 items with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

School enrollment fee: $20.
Exam fees: the fee schedule lists $60 written and $65 practical; the FAQ lists $78 for the written exam paid to Prov.
School tuition varies by school.

How long it takes

The Cosmetology Section says it mails your license within 10 to 14 days after it receives your passing scores.

Keeping your license

Renewal: Licenses expire every two years on your birthday. Renewal costs $50 and can be done online. The fee went back to $50 on January 1, 2026, after a temporary reduction for 2024-2025 under Act 114 of 2023. You can renew up to five years after expiration; after five years the license has lapsed and cannot be renewed, so you must file a Lapsed License Form and pass the Arkansas State Law exam to be licensed again. You may not work with an expired license. The law sets no continuing education requirement for cosmetologists (only instructors).

Good to know in Arkansas

Hours from another state, no license: If you trained in another state but were never licensed, you must show 1,500 cosmetology hours, pay $50 and pass the written and practical exams in Arkansas.

Lifetime license: A licensee who is 55 or older and has been actively licensed for 20 years or more can get a lifetime license for a one-time $50 fee.

Military families: Military members and spouses can transfer a license to Arkansas using the Department's military reciprocity requirements.

Licensed in another state: Arkansas residents with at least one year of licensure in good standing can apply for automatic licensure; others can transfer an out-of-state license. Both cost a $50 non-refundable fee and need a certified record sent directly from your current state board. You must pass the Arkansas State Law exam before your license is issued; if you have been licensed less than one year, you must also pass the written exam. Foreign-country licenses cannot be transferred by reciprocity.

Domestic violence awareness course: As part of your school training hours, you must complete a one-hour domestic violence and sexual assault awareness course to be eligible for the exam (A.C.A. 17-26-419).

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology Section (with the Cosmetology Technical Advisory Committee) before you apply.