State Licensing Requirements in NORTH DAKOTA
Cosmetologists
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology shall meet the following qualifications:
- The applicant shall adhere to the laws and rules regarding the practice of cosmetology;
- The applicant shall have educational qualifications equivalent to completion of four years of high school;
- The applicant shall have enrolled in a school of cosmetology and complied the hours of education required;
- The applicant must pass the examinations required by the board;
- The applicant must submit an application with the required documents;
- The applicant shall pay the required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:
- Applicant must complete 1,800 hours of training;
- Applicant must take the NIC Written exam, North Dakota State
Practical, and the North Dakota Sanitation practices and cosmetology law exam; - Applicants must pay all required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements. Every cosmetologist shall renew the cosmetologist’s license before December 31st each year. However, instructors are required to complete 8 hours of continuing education annually.
Apprenticeship Programs
There are no apprenticeships offered. Education must be received in a licensed school.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in North Dakota. In order to be licensed without examination a person must meet the following requirements:
- Applicant is currently licensed in another state, territory, foreign country, or province where the requirements are substantially equal to those of North Dakota;
- Applicant shall provide to the Board proof of completing the course curriculum hours and proof of successfully passing the theoretical and practical examinations substantially similar to those required in this state; or
- If the above qualifications are not met the applicant shall provide satisfactory proof:
- The applicant is licensed in good standing;
- The applicant worked in the licensed profession for at least three of the past five years;
- The applicant graduated from a licensed school;
- The applicant passed a theoretical and practical examination acceptable to the board;
- All applicants must also take and pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination on sanitary practices and cosmetology law in North Dakota.
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in cosmetology instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Applicant shall have a general education equivalent to the completion of four years in high school;
- Applicant shall be at least 18 years of age;
- Applicant shall currently be licensed as a cosmetologist;
- Applicant shall complete 960 hours of instructor’s training in a school of cosmetology; or
- Applicant shall have been practicing as a cosmetologist for at least 1 year prior to applying with 480 hours of instructor training; or
- Applicant shall have been practicing as a cosmetologist for at least 3 years and shall have completed 160 hours of training;
- Applicant must take and pass the examination;
- Applicant must pay all required fees.
Hair Stylists
Stylists are licensed under Cosmetology.
Barbers
Licensing Requirements
A person is qualified to receive a certificate of registration as a registered apprentice barber if the person:
- The applicant is at least seventeen years of age;
- The applicant is of good moral character and temperate habits;
- The applicant has graduated from a school of barbering approved by the board;
- The applicant has passed a satisfactory examination conducted by the board to determine the person’s fitness to practice as a registered apprentice;
- The applicant submits an application with the required documents;
- The applicant pays all required fees.
To be licensed as a barber one must work under the direct supervision of registered barber for 1 year. After that year, a second examination may be undertaken and if passed, the apprentice attains registered barber status.
Exam Requirements
Each barber applicant must have completed 1550 hours of instruction at a school approved by the board and passed an examination before receiving an apprentice license. A minimum passing grade for master license is seventy-five percent. A minimum passing grade for apprentices and students is seventy percent.
Continuing Education Requirements
All barbers licensed to practice barbering in North Dakota must complete a minimum of 6 hours of continuing education every 2 years. Licenses must be renewed annually.
Apprenticeship Programs
Each barber applicant must have completed 1550 hours of instruction at a school approved by the board and passed an examination before receiving an apprentice license. Then, they must work under the direct supervision of a registered barber for one year. After that year, a second examination may be undertaken and if passed, the apprentice attains registered barber status.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
The board may waive the requirement of a satisfactory examination and issue to an applicant a certificate of registration to practice barbering, if the applicant:
- is at least eighteen and one-half years of age;
- has completed high school or received a high school equivalency degree;
- has been graduated from a school of barbering approved by the board which requires as a requisite to graduation the completion of not less than 1,550 hours of instruction;
- has a valid license or certificate of registration as a practicing barber;
- delivers to the board a certificate from the examining board of another state certifying that the applicant is a licensed or registered barber in good standing and has practiced full time as a barber in that state for a period of at least three years.
If the applicant has not completed the requisite number of hours of instruction, each year of the applicant’s subsequent barbering experience constitutes the equivalent of two hundred hours of instruction which may be applied toward fulfilling the requisite number of hours.
Instructors
Any individual wishing to engage in barbering instruction shall meet the following qualifications:
- Has a 12th grade education or equivalent;
- Has passed an instructor’s examination conducted by the board;
- Has been actively practicing as a master barber for no less than five years immediately preceding taking the instructor’s examination;
- Has the unanimous approval of the board established through a personal interview with the board.
Estheticians
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in esthetics shall meet the following qualifications:
- The applicant shall adhere to the laws and rules regarding the practice of esthetics;
- The applicant shall have educational qualifications equivalent to completion of four years of high school;
- The applicant shall have enrolled in a school of cosmetology and complied the hours of education required;
- The applicant must pass the examinations required by the board;
- The applicant must submit an application with the required documents;
- The applicant shall pay the required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:
- Applicant must complete 600 hours of training;
- Applicant must take the NIC Written exam, North Dakota State Practical, and the North Dakota Sanitation practices and cosmetology law exam;
- Applicants must pay all required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements. Every esthetician shall renew their license before December 31st each year.
Apprenticeship Programs
There are no apprenticeships offered. Education must be received in a licensed school.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in North Dakota. In order to be licensed without examination a person must meet the following requirements:
- Applicant is currently licensed in another state, territory, foreign country, or province where the requirements are substantially equal to those of North Dakota;
- Applicant shall provide to the Board proof of completing the course curriculum hours and proof of successfully passing the theoretical and practical examinations substantially similar to those required in this state; or
- If the above qualifications are not met the applicant shall provide satisfactory proof:
- The applicant is licensed in good standing;
- The applicant worked in the licensed profession for at least three of the past five years;
- The applicant graduated from a licensed school;
- The applicant passed a theoretical and practical examination acceptable to the board;
- All applicants must also take and pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination on sanitary practices and cosmetology law in North Dakota.
Instructors
Instructors must be licensed cosmetologists.
Nail Technicians/Manicurist
Licensing Requirements
Any individual wishing to engage in manicuring shall meet the following qualifications:
- The applicant shall adhere to the laws and rules regarding the practice of manicuring;
- The applicant shall have educational qualifications equivalent to completion of four years of high school;
- The applicant shall have enrolled in a school of cosmetology and complied the hours of education required;
- The applicant must pay the examinations required by the board;
- The applicant must submit an application with the required documents;
- The applicant shall pay the required fees.
Exam Requirements
Each individual who seeks admission to an examination shall complete the following:
- Applicant must complete 350 hours of training;
- Applicant must take the NIC Written exam, North Dakota State Practical, and the North Dakota Sanitation practices and cosmetology law exam;
- Applicants must pay all required fees.
Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements. Every manicurist shall renew their license before December 31st each year.
Apprenticeship Programs
There are no apprenticeships offered. Education must be received in a licensed school.
License Reciprocity Availability and Requirements
Reciprocity is offered in North Dakota. In order to be licensed without examination a person must meet the following requirements:
- Applicant is currently licensed in another state, territory, foreign country, or province where the requirements are substantially equal to those of North Dakota;
- Applicant shall provide to the Board proof of completing the course curriculum hours and proof of successfully passing the theoretical and practical examinations substantially similar to those required in this state; or
- If the above qualifications are not met the applicant shall provide satisfactory proof:
- The applicant is licensed in good standing;
- The applicant worked in the licensed profession for at least three of the past five years;
- The applicant graduated from a licensed school;
- The applicant passed a theoretical and practical examination acceptable to the board;
- All applicants must also take and pass to the satisfaction of the board an examination on sanitary practices and cosmetology law in North Dakota.
Instructors
Instructors must be licensed as a cosmetologist.
Make-up Artists
Makeup artists are licensed under Cosmetology and Esthetics.
Licensing of Mobile Cosmetology Services
Mobile Cosmetology services are not licensed in North Dakota. Cosmetology practice must occur in a fixed location.
High School Cosmetology Programs
Cosmetology schools in North Dakota may only register students who provide their high school diploma or equivalent.
Additional Professions Licensed
- Body Piercing
- Electrology
- Branding
- Massage Therapy
- Tattooing