How to Become a Cosmetologist in Colorado

Checked against Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) · Verified 2026-10-17

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: Cosmetologist licenses expire on April 30; the Office says the year depends on your issue date. New licenses issued within 120 days of the next expiration date run to the following expiration date.
State fee: See state office
Licensed by: Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA)

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Who can apply

You must be at least 16 years old.
You must graduate from a beauty school approved by the Colorado private occupational school division or the state community college board, or complete an approved apprenticeship program.
Cosmetologist training must be 50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours covering the subjects in Rule 1.2.

Step by step

Complete 1,500 contact hours (or 50 credit hours) at an approved beauty school or through an approved apprenticeship.
Create a PSI account at test-takers.psiexams.com/cocos and submit the Licensure by Testing application online with your school completion record or transcript (PSI no longer accepts mailed, faxed or emailed applications since January 30, 2026).
After your eligibility is approved, pay for and schedule the practical test.
After you pass the practical test, pay for and schedule the theory (written) test. Each test requires a score of at least 70%.
If you answered 'no' to all screening questions and have never worked as a cosmetologist in Colorado, your license is issued right away: printed at the test site or emailed after passing an online test.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Cosmetologists need 50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours from a school approved by the Colorado private occupational school division or the state board for community colleges and occupational education, or completion of an approved apprenticeship. Out-of-state or foreign schools must be approved by their own government. Foreign-trained applicants need an evaluation from AEQUO International or a NACES or AICE member; each three months of foreign work experience can substitute for 100 training hours.

Exam: PSI gives a practical test and a theory (written) test, the PSI National Barber/Cosmetology program. You must pass the practical before you can pay for and schedule the theory test. Fees are $69 for the practical ($67 retake) and $62 for the theory ($60 retake). You need at least 70% on the theory test. You may retest an unlimited number of times within your one-year eligibility period, but must wait 14 days between practical attempts and 30 days between theory attempts. If you do not pass both within a year, you must reapply and may have to retake both tests.

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

What it costs in Colorado

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 or apprenticeship$
Application fee (licensing guide)$32
PSI practical test$69
PSI theory test$62

Estimated total in Colorado$163Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

PSI test fees: practical $69, theory $62 (retakes $67 and $60).
Application fee: the Office's licensing guide lists $32.
School tuition varies by school.

How long it takes

PSI says the license is printed at the test site after you pass, or emailed within 48 hours after passing an online-proctored theory test, if you answered no to all screening questions.

Keeping your license

Renewal: Renew through your DPO Online Services account; renewal opens about 4-5 weeks before your expiration date. No continuing education is required to renew an active license. To reinstate a license expired more than two years, you must show an active license elsewhere with recent practice, 16 hours of continuing education (24 hours if expired more than five years), or pass the written exam again.

Good to know in Colorado

Licensed in another state: Apply for licensure by endorsement in DPO Online Services and have every state where you were licensed send verification directly. You qualify with an active license plus approved school, substantially equivalent hours, a passed written exam and either a passed practical exam or 1,000 hours of work experience, or with at least one year of licensure in a similar scope. Otherwise you may need to take one or both Colorado tests. California verifications can take up to three months.

Licensed in another country: Foreign-licensed applicants can apply by endorsement if they passed both a practical and written exam at home; otherwise PSI handles the exams. You must list all work experience and licenses from the past five years.

2026 law change: HB26-1181 continued the Barber and Cosmetologist Act. The Office held stakeholder meetings in September 2026 on draft rule revisions (including licensure by examination and endorsement rules) to implement it, so rules may change.

When your license is issued: Your license is issued immediately after you pass both tests only if you answered 'no' to all screening questions and have never worked as a cosmetologist in Colorado; otherwise the Office reviews your application first. Apply through PSI's online application; paper applications are no longer available.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA) before you apply.