Nevada State Board of Cosmetology Exam: Your 2026 Guide

Here’s how the process works step by step:

1) Meet Nevada’s eligibility requirements

• Age: 18+
  
• Education: at least 10th grade

2) Complete required training hours (Cosmetology)

• 1,600 hours in a licensed cosmetology school, or
  
• 3,200 hours in an approved apprenticeship program

3) Prepare your required documents

• Passport-quality photo
  
• Work authorization document
  
• School transcript

4) Submit your application to the Nevada State Board

• File the Individual Application via the Board’s official Forms & Applications page
  
• After the Board confirms eligibility, you’ll receive your Authorization to Test (ATT)

5) Take (and pass) the required exams

• Practical exam
  
• Theory exam (Pearson VUE administers Nevada theory exams)
  
• Nevada State Law exam (Pearson VUE administers the law exam)

6) Pay your fees and get your license issued

Board fee schedule (common items):

• Testing fee: $125
  
• Cosmetology license: $70 (2 years) or $140 (4 years)
  
• Retesting fee: $95 (if you need a retake)

Application Fee

• The state board charges about $125 for the initial cosmetology license application.

Examination Fees

• Before the license is issued, you must pass the required exams. These usually involve a combined fee (written + practical) of around $110+.

Renewal Fee

• Once licensed, cosmetology licenses need to be renewed regularly (typically every 2 years) and come with a separate renewal fee $70/$140.

Refer: Nevada State Board of Cosmetology

Why this matters:

• State Requirement: The Board’s eligibility rules list a minimum education level (10th grade or equivalent), so having a GED or diploma helps satisfy this.
  
• School Admission: Most cosmetology schools in Nevada won’t accept students without either a diploma or a GED because it’s tied to state licensing eligibility later.
  
• Financial Aid: If you plan to use federal aid (like Free Application for Federal Student Aid), a GED or diploma is usually required to qualify.

Typical cost range:

• Most full-time cosmetology programs in Nevada range from about $10,000 to $20,000 total. This includes tuition and basic supplies.
  
• Some larger schools or specialty programs (e.g., advanced cosmetology, extended curriculum) may cost slightly more.

What affects the price:

• Program length & hours required: Longer programs with more training hours usually cost more.
  
• School type: Private beauty schools often charge more than community college programs.
  
• Supplies & kits: Some programs include tools and kits in the tuition; others charge separately.
  
• Location: Schools in larger cities like Las Vegas or Reno may be more expensive than those in smaller areas.

Tips to manage cost:

• Look for financial aid options (FAFSA), scholarships, and payment plans.
  
• Ask each school for a full cost breakdown (tuition + supplies + fees).
  
• Compare hour requirements; sometimes shorter programs save money.

This exam focuses on Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) rules governing cosmetology practice, consumer protection, sanitation, professional conduct, and safety.

Key points:

• Number of questions: 25 multiple-choice questions.
  
• Passing score: 75% or higher.
  
• Purpose: To ensure you know the state’s legal and regulatory requirements for safe, lawful practice.
  
• Offered languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.
  
• Where it’s offered: Typically at Pearson VUE testing centers once you’re approved to test. 

For more information: Nevada State Law Test

Here’s the full eligibility breakdown

 Age & Education

• Must be 18 years or older.
  
• Must have completed 10th grade or equivalent (such as a GED).

Training Hours

You must complete one of the following:

• 1,600 hours at a Board-approved cosmetology school, or
  
• An approved apprenticeship with equivalent hours (typically double school hours under some apprenticeship arrangements).

Approved Programs

• The training must be from a school or program approved by the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology. Otherwise, your hours won’t count toward eligibility.

Documentation

• When applying, you’ll need to submit official transcripts or proof of completed hours from your school or apprenticeship program.

Know more about the required hours for the specific license type:

Step-by-Step Application Process

Complete your training

Finish the required 1,600 hours at a Board-approved school.

Submit exam application

Download and complete the correct application form. Attach proof of hours and required documents.

Pay required fees

Submit the $125 initial license application fee to the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology.

Wait for approval

The Board verifies your training hours and documents. If anything is incomplete, your application will be returned. Once approved, you’ll receive authorization to schedule your exam.

Schedule your exam

After approval, create or log in to your Pearson VUE account to select your exam (theory, practical, or state law), choose a testing center, and confirm your date. 

Bring a matching government-issued photo ID.

Topic Breakdown: Nevada State Board of Cosmetology Written (Theory) Exam

Source: Theory Test Information

Topic Breakdown: Nevada State Board of Cosmetology Practical Exam

Source: Practical Test Information

Written/Procedural (Theory)

• The written exam has 100 scored items.
  
• You must correctly answer at least 75 to pass.
  
• 20 additional pretest questions may appear, but do not count toward your score.

Practical Exam

• The practical portion also requires a 75% or higher performance based on skill criteria evaluated by the testing provider.
  
• You must demonstrate competent performance in each required service.

State Law Test (if separate)

• For Nevada’s state law component (if administered separately), you must also achieve 75%+ (e.g., 19 out of 25 correct when the law test has 25 items).

Key Point

Failing any section (written, practical, or state law) means you must retake that section before a license can be issued.

• Attempts: Unlimited retakes until you pass.
  
• Waiting period: You must wait 24 hours after a failed exam before making a new reservation.
  
• Retake fee: $95 per retake (paid to the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology before you can schedule again).
  
• Where you schedule: After paying, schedule your new appointment through Pearson VUE.