State Licensing Requirements in HAWAII

Cosmetologists

Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology shall obtain a license in compliance with the Hawaii Administrative Rules and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be at least 16 years of age;
• Applicant must be a high school graduate or possess an education equivalent;
• Applicant must complete the required classroom hours at an approved beauty school to receive licensure; or
• Applicants may also complete the required hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must pass the required examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 1,800 class hours; or
• Applicant must complete 3,600 hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must take both a written and practical examination;
• A score of 75 percent or above is required to pass each exam;
• Applicant must submit the exam registration form and the required fees by the deadline date.

Hawaii does not require continuing education for cosmetologists. All licenses, regardless of when issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Hawaii shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• 3,600 is the minimum number of apprentice hours required for a cosmetology license;
• The maximum length of time of apprenticeship training for the beauty apprentice is 42 months at a minimum of 20 hours a week;
• Apprenticeship training shall occur only at licensed shops under supervision of licensed barbers or beauty operators in the appropriate license category;
• The apprenticeship training curriculum is provided for in the Administrative Rules of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: HAR §16-78-19 for beauty apprentices;
• The licensed beauty operator shall be able to train only 1 apprentice per apprenticeship period;
• The beauty operator must have at least one year of licensed experience;
• Training progress reports are required to be submitted to the Board on a periodic basis by the shop owner and apprentice supervisor.

To obtain a license in Hawaii, based on holding a current valid license in another jurisdiction, an Applicant must submit an Application. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.

Qualification details:

• The license will only be recognized for the hours of training that are recognized in the jurisdiction that issued the license;
• If the jurisdiction’s training hours are less than the number required for Hawaii, then you must make up the difference with school training, or apprentice hours, or provide evidence of one year of licensed experience with the out-of-state license;
• A qualified person (owner, manager, supervisor) must provide a written statement verifying the out-of-state experience by completing the “Experience Verification” form;
• A minimum of at least 1 year of applicable experience is necessary to be recognized by the Board, and will satisfy the general education requirement and/or any difference in the training requirement.

Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be currently licensed as a beauty operator or instructor for at least 1 year in Hawaii or in another jurisdiction;
• Applicant must have completed at least 600 hours of beauty school instructor training in compliance with the Board’s curriculum;
• Applicant must apply with the board for examination and temporary permit;
• Applicant must submit any requested information and pay the license fees noted on the accompanying “Fees Due” notice sent with the examination results;
• All licenses, regardless of when licenses were issued, expire on December 31 of each odd numbered year.

Hair Stylists

Any individual wishing to engage in Hairdressing shall obtain a license in compliance with the Hawaii Administrative Rules and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be at least 16 years of age;
• Applicant must be a high school graduate or possess an education equivalent;
• Applicant must complete the required classroom hours at an approved beauty school to receive licensure; or
• Applicants may also complete the required hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must pass the required examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must have at least 1,250 hours completed at an approved beauty school; or
• Applicant shall complete 2,500 hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must take both a written and practical examination;
• A score of 75 percent or above is required to pass each exam;
• Applicant must submit the exam registration form and the required fees by the deadline date.

Hawaii does not require continuing education for hairdressers. All licenses, regardless of when issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Hawaii shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• 2,500 is the minimum number of apprentice hours required for a cosmetology license;
• The maximum length of time of apprenticeship training for the beauty apprentice is 42 months at a minimum of 20 hours a week;
• Apprenticeship training shall occur only at licensed shops under supervision of licensed barbers or beauty operators in the appropriate license category;
• The apprenticeship training curriculum is provided for in the Administrative Rules of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: HAR §16-78-19 for beauty apprentices;
• The licensed beauty operator shall be able to train only 1 apprentice per apprenticeship period;
• The beauty operator must have at least one year of licensed experience;
• Training progress reports are required to be submitted to the Board on a periodic basis by the shop owner and apprentice supervisor.

To obtain a license in Hawaii, based on holding a current valid license in another jurisdiction, an Applicant must submit an Application. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.

Qualification details:

• The license will only be recognized for the hours of training that are recognized in the jurisdiction that issued the license;
• If the jurisdiction’s training hours are less than the number required for Hawaii, then you must make up the difference with school training, or apprentice hours, or provide evidence of one year of licensed experience with the out-of-state license;
• A qualified person (owner, manager, supervisor) must provide a written statement verifying the out-of-state experience by completing the “Experience Verification” form;
• A minimum of at least 1 year of applicable experience is necessary to be recognized by the Board, and will satisfy the general education requirement and/or any difference in the training requirement.

Any individual wishing to engage in Hairdressing instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be currently licensed as a beauty operator or instructor for at least 1 year in Hawaii or in another jurisdiction;
• Applicant must have completed at least 600 hours of beauty school instructor training in compliance with the Board’s curriculum;
• Applicant must apply with the board for examination and temporary permit;
• Applicant must submit any requested information and pay the license fees noted on the accompanying “Fees Due” notice sent with the examination results;
• All licenses, regardless of when licenses were issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Barbers

Any individual wishing to engage in barbering shall obtain a license in compliance with the Hawaii Administrative Rules and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be at least 17 years of age or older;
• Applicant must have completed the required hours of barber school or apprenticeship training;
• Applicant must pass the required examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees to obtain licensure.

Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 1,500 hours of training for barbering;
• A score of 75 percent or above is required to pass each exam, written and practical.
• Applicant must submit their exam registration form and exam fee to Prometric by the deadline date.

Hawaii does not require continuing education for barbers. All licenses, regardless of when issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Hawaii shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• 1,500 is the minimum number of apprentice hours required for a cosmetology license;
• The maximum length of time of apprenticeship training for the beauty apprentice is 42 months at a minimum of 20 hours a week;
• Apprenticeship training shall occur only at licensed shops under supervision of licensed barbers or beauty operators in the appropriate license category;
• The apprenticeship training curriculum is provided for in the Administrative Rules of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: HAR §16-78-19 for beauty apprentices;
• The licensed beauty operator shall be able to train only 1 apprentice per apprenticeship period;
• The beauty operator must have at least one year of licensed experience;
• Training progress reports are required to be submitted to the Board on a periodic basis by the shop owner and apprentice supervisor.

Requirements for Eligibility:

• Applicant must submit a copy of their out-of-State license and/or transcript of training that identifies the barber training subjects and hours of each subject that have been completed;
• Also, verification of experience of at least 6 months is necessary if their training is less than 1,500 clock hours;
• The Board may accept only the number of hours recognized by the jurisdiction that issued the license.

Any individual wishing to engage in barbering instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be currently licensed as a beauty operator or instructor for at least 1 year in Hawaii or in another jurisdiction;
• Applicant must have completed at least 600 hours of beauty school instructor training in compliance with the Board’s curriculum;
• Applicant must apply with the board for examination and temporary permit;
• Applicant must submit any requested information and pay the license fees noted on the accompanying “Fees Due” notice sent with the examination results;
• All licenses, regardless of when licenses were issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Estheticians

Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics shall obtain a license in compliance with the Hawaii Administrative Rules and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be at least 16 years of age;
• Applicant must be a high school graduate or possess an education equivalent;
• Applicant must complete the required classroom hours at an approved beauty school to
  receive licensure; or
• Applicants may also complete the required hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must pass the required examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 600 class hours to qualify for examination; or
• Applicant shall complete 1,200 hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must take both a written and practical examination;
• A score of 75 percent or above is required to pass each exam;
• Applicant must submit the exam registration form and the required fees by the deadline date.

Hawaii does not require continuing education for Estheticians. All licenses, regardless of when issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Hawaii shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• 1,200 is the minimum number of apprentice hours required for a cosmetology license;
• The maximum length of time of apprenticeship training for the beauty apprentice is 42 months at a minimum of 20 hours a week;
• Apprenticeship training shall occur only at licensed shops under supervision of licensed barbers or beauty operators in the appropriate license category;
• The apprenticeship training curriculum is provided for in the Administrative Rules of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: HAR §16-78-19 for beauty apprentices;
• The licensed beauty operator shall be able to train only 1 apprentice per apprenticeship period;
• The beauty operator must have at least one year of licensed experience;
• Training progress reports are required to be submitted to the Board on a periodic basis by the shop owner and apprentice supervisor

To obtain a license in Hawaii, based on holding a current valid license in another jurisdiction, an Applicant must submit an Application. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.

Qualification details:

• The license will only be recognized for the hours of training that are recognized in the jurisdiction that issued the license;
• If the jurisdiction’s training hours are less than the number required for Hawaii, then you must make up the difference with school training, or apprentice hours, or provide evidence of one year of licensed experience with the out-of-state license;
• A qualified person (owner, manager, supervisor) must provide a written statement verifying the out-of-state experience by completing the “Experience Verification” form;
• A minimum of at least 1 year of applicable experience is necessary to be recognized by the Board, and will satisfy the general education requirement and/or any difference in the training requirement.

Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics instruction shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be currently licensed as a beauty operator or instructor for at least 1 year in Hawaii or in another jurisdiction;
• Applicant must have completed at least 600 hours of beauty school instructor training in compliance with the Board’s curriculum;
• Applicant must apply with the board for examination and temporary permit;
• Applicant must submit any requested information and pay the license fees noted on the accompanying “Fees Due” notice sent with the examination results;
• All licenses, regardless of when licenses were issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Nail Technicians/Manicurist

Any individual wishing to engage in nail technology (or manicuring) shall obtain a license in compliance with the Hawaii Administrative Rules and shall meet the following qualifications:

• Applicant must be at least 16 years of age;
• Applicant must be a high school graduate or possess an education equivalent;
• Applicant must complete the required classroom hours at an approved beauty school to receive licensure; or
• Applicants may also complete the required hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must pass the required examinations;
• Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
• Applicant shall pay any required fees.

Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:

• Applicant must complete 350 class hours to qualify for examination; or
• Applicant shall complete 700 hours of apprenticeship;
• Applicant must take both a written and practical examination;
• A score of 75 percent or above is required to pass each exam;
• Applicant must submit the exam registration form and the required fees by the deadline date.

Hawaii does not require continuing education for Nail Technicians. All licenses, regardless of when issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

All persons desiring to enter a program of apprenticeship training in Hawaii shall satisfy all general student requirements that are applicable to the license. To be an apprentice the following requirements must be met:

• 700 is the minimum number of apprentice hours required for a cosmetology license;
• The maximum length of time of apprenticeship training for the beauty apprentice is 42 months at a minimum of 20 hours a week;
• Apprenticeship training shall occur only at licensed shops under supervision of licensed barbers or beauty operators in the appropriate license category;
• The apprenticeship training curriculum is provided for in the Administrative Rules of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology: HAR §16-78-19 for beauty apprentices;
• The licensed beauty operator shall be able to train only 1 apprentice per apprenticeship period;
• The beauty operator must have at least one year of licensed experience;
• The beauty operator must have at least one year of licensed experience;

To obtain a license in Hawaii, based on holding a current valid license in another jurisdiction, an Applicant must submit an Application. The previous license must have been received through substantially equivalent means.

Qualification details:

• The license will only be recognized for the hours of training that are recognized in the jurisdiction that issued the license;
• If the jurisdiction’s training hours are less than the number required for Hawaii, then you must make up the difference with school training, or apprentice hours, or provide evidence of one year of licensed experience with the out-of-state license;
• A qualified person (owner, manager, supervisor) must provide a written statement verifying the out-of-state experience by completing the “Experience Verification” form;
• A minimum of at least 1 year of applicable experience is necessary to be recognized by the Board, and will satisfy the general education requirement and/or any difference in the training requirement.

• Applicant must be currently licensed as a beauty operator or instructor for at least 1 year in Hawaii or in another jurisdiction;
• Applicant must have completed at least 600 hours of beauty school instructor training in compliance with the Board’s curriculum;
• Applicant must apply with the board for examination and temporary permit;
• Applicant must submit any requested information and pay the license fees noted on the accompanying “Fees Due” notice sent with the examination results;
• All licenses, regardless of when licenses were issued, expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Make-up Artists

Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services

High School Cosmetology Programs

• Electrology
• Massage Therapy
• Tattoo