How to Become a Cosmetologist in Oklahoma

Who can apply

• To register as a student you need at least an eighth-grade education or equivalent and must be at least 16 (or turning 16 by November 1 of the year instruction begins, if in public or private school) (59 O.S. 199.7).
• You must complete 1,500 hours (or the equivalent credit hours) of cosmetology training, or 2,250 hours as a Board-approved apprentice.
• To take the Board exam you must be at least 17 or a high school graduate (59 O.S. 199.7).
• You must pass the written and practical exams with at least 75%.

Step by step

1. Register with the Board as a student ($10) before you start; hours earned before registration do not count.
2. Complete 1,500 hours at a licensed cosmetology school (or 2,250 hours as an apprentice under a licensed instructor in an establishment).
3. Your school submits a School Affidavit of your completed hours to the Board.
4. Submit the exam registration form with the $50 exam fee.
5. Pass the written and practical exams with at least 75%. The practical uses a mannequin head and hand; no live models.
6. Pay the license fee ($40 per year) and post your license with a current 2x2 photo.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: Oklahoma requires 1,500 hours of study (or the equivalent number of credit hours) for the basic cosmetologist license under 59 O.S. 199.7, though the Board's amended curriculum rule lists 1,250 hours (see the hours note). Students may be credited with no more than 8 hours a day and may not work on the public until they have 150 hours. An apprenticeship route requires 2,250 clock hours under the direct supervision of a licensed instructor in an establishment (OAC 175:10-9-2); the instructor may not charge the apprentice for training. A licensed Oklahoma barber is credited 1,200 hours toward the cosmetology exam but must also complete 300 hours of training in a cosmetology school before sitting for the written exam (OAC 175:10-13-2).

Exam: The Board requires a written exam and a practical exam, each passed with a minimum of 75%. The exam registration fee is $50. The written exam is taken through Prov at its testing locations. The practical is done on a mannequin head and a mannequin hand with artificial nails glued on and polished (no jointed hands); it covers thermal iron curling, styling, haircutting with shears and razor, permanent waving, chemical services, a facial, mock strip waxing and a manicure. If you wait one to five years after finishing school to register for the exam, you must first complete 120 review hours (OAC 175:10-9-33).

What it costs in Oklahoma

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

Keeping your license

Renewal: Renew on or before the last day of your birth month: $40 per year or $80 for two years. A $10 penalty applies once the license is more than two months expired. You can renew within five years by paying renewal and penalty fees. Since July 1, 2026 (House Bill 3000), if your license has been expired five years or more you may be eligible to reinstate it without completing school review hours; you pay all back renewal fees, penalties and the reinstatement fee. From July 1, 2027, you can choose to renew through Service Oklahoma or directly with the Board. Oklahoma's continuing education rules apply to massage therapists, not cosmetologists.

Good to know in Oklahoma

Licensed in another state: You can get a reciprocity license if you met the requirements for the same license in another state, hold a current license verified by certification, and pass Oklahoma's state rules, regulations and law test (59 O.S. 199.13, OAC 175:10-13-1). You must make an appointment and appear in person at the Board office for an interview. Official sources differ on the reciprocity fee: the fee rule lists $90 for a 2-year reciprocity license, while the Board's home page lists $180 plus $5 for the rulebook.

Foreign applicants: If your country does not license this work, you can qualify with proof of at least three years of continuous practice, at least an eighth-grade education, and a passing score on Oklahoma's law test. Foreign documents may need validation by a Board-recognized agency. No temporary permit is issued to foreign reciprocity applicants.

Apprenticeship rules: The instructor must apply to the Board and pay a $20 apprenticeship inspection fee. An establishment may train up to two apprentices. An apprentice who transfers to a school gets 50% credit for apprentice hours.

Training hours: sources conflict: The Board's rule book effective December 1, 2025 lists a 1,250 clock-hour cosmetology curriculum for private schools and 1,000 + 250 related hours for public-school students (OAC 175:10-3-34, amended), while the statute printed in the same book (59 O.S. 199.7) and the Board's exam page still say 1,500 hours. Confirm the required hours with the Board and your school before enrolling.

Sources

• Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering - Cosmetology license
• Oklahoma Board - Cosmetology exam
• Oklahoma Board - Rules, Regulations and Law book (effective 12/1/2025)
• Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering – Newsletter, July 2026
• Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering - Home
• Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology & Barbering — home page (fee list)