State Licensing Requirements in New Jersey
Cosmetologists
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology and hairstyling shall obtain a license in compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:
- ^Applicant shall be at least 17 years old;
- ^Applicant must be of good moral character;
- ^Applicant shall not have a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease;
- ^Applicant shall have successfully completed high school or the equivalent;
- ^Applicant shall graduate from a Board approved school and complete the required hours of instruction;
- ^Applicant shall pass the examinations administered by the Board;
- ^Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- ^Applicant must pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall submit the following:
- ^Applicant shall successfully complete 1,200 hours of instruction at an approved school in New Jersey;
- ^Applicant shall take a written and practical examination;
- ^Applicants may take a computer-based test in lieu of the written theory portion of the examination;
- ^Applicant shall score a 75 percent or greater on the theory portion of the exam, in order to be eligible for the practical examination;
- ^Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements in New Jersey. Licenses expire every two years on even numbered years.
Apprenticeship Programs
New Jersey does not accept training obtained outside of licensed schools.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
To obtain a license in New Jersey, based on holding a current valid license in another state or country, the license must have been obtained through substantially similar education criteria as New Jersey. Or, the Applicant will need to present satisfactory evidence of prior practical experience of three years working in a licensed shop.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete some hours
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete some hours
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- ^Be at least 18 years of age;
- ^Be of good moral character;
- ^Does not have any communicable, contagious, or infectious diseases;
- ^Provide proof of the successful completion of high school or its equivalent;
- ^Hold a cosmetologist-hairstylist license issued by the Board;
- ^Provide proof of the successful completion of a teacher training course of 500 hours at an approved school in New Jersey or in a location with substantially similar education as the schools within New Jersey;
- ^Have completed at least 6 months of employment in a licensed shop within New Jersey;
- ^Take and pass an examination administered by the Board;
- ^Pay any required fees.
Hair Stylists
Hairstylists are licensed under the combined Cosmetology and Hairstyling license.
Barbers
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in barbering shall obtain a license in compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:
- ^Applicant shall be at least 17 years old;
- ^Applicant must be of good moral character;
- ^Applicant shall not have a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease;
- ^Applicant shall have successfully completed high school or the equivalent;
- ^Applicant shall graduate from a Board approved school and complete the required hours of instruction;
- ^Applicant shall pass the examinations administered by the Board;
- ^Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- ^Applicant must pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall submit the following:
- ^Applicant shall successfully complete 900 hours of instruction at an approved school in New Jersey;
- ^Applicant shall take a written and practical examination;
- ^Applicants may take a computer-based test in lieu of the written theory portion of the examination;
- ^Applicant shall score a 75 percent or greater on the theory portion of the exam, in order to be eligible for the practical examination;
- ^Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements in New Jersey. Licenses expire every two years on even numbered years.
Apprenticeship Programs
New Jersey does not accept training obtained outside of licensed schools.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
To obtain a license in New Jersey, based on holding a current valid license in another state or country, the license must have been obtained through substantially similar education criteria as New Jersey. Or, the Applicant will need to present satisfactory evidence of prior practical experience of three years working in a licensed shop.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete some hours of training specified by the Board and take the examinations in order to receive a license.
Instructors
To be licensed as an instructor in New Jersey a cosmetologist-hairstylist license is required.
Beauticians
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in beauty culture shall obtain a license in compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:
- ^Applicant shall be at least 17 years old;
- ^Applicant must be of good moral character;
- ^Applicant shall not have a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease;
- ^Applicant shall have successfully completed high school or the equivalent;
- ^Applicant shall graduate from a Board approved school and complete the required hours of instruction;
- ^Applicant shall pass the examinations administered by the Board;
- ^Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- ^Applicant must pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall submit the following:
- ^Applicant shall successfully complete 1,100 hours of instruction at an approved school in New Jersey;
- ^Applicant shall take a written and practical examination;
- ^Applicants may take a computer-based test in lieu of the written theory portion of the examination;
- ^Applicant shall score a 75 percent or greater on the theory portion of the exam, in order to be eligible for the practical examination;
- ^Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements in New Jersey. Licenses expire every two years on even numbered years.
Apprenticeship Programs
New Jersey does not accept training obtained outside of licensed schools.
- ^Submitting proof sufficient to the board to show that such person is at least 16 years of age.
- ^Paying a fee established by the board.
- ^Being deemed by the board to be of good professional character.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
To obtain a license in New Jersey, based on holding a current valid license in another state or country, the license must have been obtained through substantially similar education criteria as New Jersey. Or, the Applicant will need to present satisfactory evidence of prior practical experience of three years working in a licensed shop.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete some hours of training specified by the Board and take the examinations in order to receive a license.
Instructors
To be licensed as an instructor in New Jersey a cosmetologist-hairstylist license is required.
Nail Technicians/Manicurist
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in manicuring shall obtain a license in compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code and shall meet the following qualifications:
- ^Applicant shall be at least 17 years old;
- ^Applicant must be of good moral character;
- ^Applicant shall not have a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease;
- ^Applicant shall have successfully completed high school or the equivalent;
- ^Applicant shall graduate from a Board approved school and complete the required hours of instruction;
- ^Applicant shall pass the examinations administered by the Board;
- ^Applicant shall submit the application with the required documentation;
- ^Applicant must pay any required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each Individual who seeks admission to an examination shall submit the following:
- ^Applicant shall successfully complete 300 hours of instruction at an approved school in New Jersey;
- ^Applicant shall take a written and practical examination;
- ^Applicants may take a computer-based test in lieu of the written theory portion of the examination;
- ^Applicant shall score a 75 percent or greater on the theory portion of the exam, in order to be eligible for the practical examination;
- ^Upon passing, Applicant shall pay the required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements in New Jersey. Licenses expire every two years on even numbered years.
Apprenticeship Programs
New Jersey does not accept training obtained outside of licensed schools.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
To obtain a license in New Jersey, based on holding a current valid license in another state or country, the license must have been obtained through substantially similar education criteria as New Jersey. Or, the Applicant will need to present satisfactory evidence of prior practical experience of three years working in a licensed shop.
Otherwise the Applicant will need to complete some hours of training specified by the Board and take the examinations in order to receive a license.
Instructors
To be licensed as an instructor in New Jersey a cosmetologist-hairstylist license is required.
Make-up Artists
Make-up Artists are licensed under Cosmetology and Beauty Culture.
Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services
Mobile Salons are not permitted in New Jersey. Cosmetology may only be practiced in fixed licensed shops.
High School Cosmetology Programs
Programs are offered on the high school level. Hours towards licensure may be obtained in a program in a public school approved by the State Board of Education to offer vocational programs in cosmetology. The student is required to complete the same number of hours of instruction within a Cosmetology program as any other student.
Additional Professions Licensed
- ^Body Piercing
- ^Electrologists
- ^Massage Therapists
- ^Permanent Cosmetics
- ^Skin Care Specialty
- ^Tattoo