Florida Cosmetologist License: Requirements, Cost & Timeline
Florida requires a state license for this trade. Here is every step, fee and hour it takes — and what it pays once you are licensed.
Do you need a license?
Yes. The credential is the Cosmetologist License (CL), issued by the Florida DBPR — Board of Cosmetology. Working without it is a violation in Florida and can carry fines or a stop-work order, so the sequence below matters: training first, then the exam, then the application.
Steps to get licensed
- Complete a 1,200-hour program at a Florida cosmetology school (or 1,000 hours plus a school official's determination that you are competent to test).
- Complete the 4-hour Board-approved initial HIV/AIDS course within the 2 years before applying.
- Submit the COSMO 1 application with the $45 fee (includes the $40 initial license fee and the state examination fee component).
- Pass both the theory and practical parts of the Pearson VUE exam ($50 examination fee).
- The license expires October 31 every two years; renewal requires 10 hours of continuing education, including 1 hour of HIV/AIDS.
What it costs
The figures below are what the state charges. Training is separate and quotes vary by provider — a community-college programme and a private trade school can differ by thousands for the same licence.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $45 |
| Exam fee | $50 |
| Renewal fee | $45 |
| Total state fees | $95 |
Full cost breakdown for Florida →
How long it takes
The state requires 1,200 hours of training or supervised work before you can sit the exam. At 40 hours a week that is about 6.9 months of full-time work — most people take longer because they train part-time while earning.
Keeping it valid
The licence renews every 2 years and the renewal fee is $45. Florida's Board of Cosmetology has no reciprocal agreements with any other state; a holder of a current, valid out-of-state cosmetologist license may apply for the COSMO 4-B endorsement ($50 application fee) and must document that the license is active.
What it pays in Florida
Median annual wage for Cosmetologist in Florida: $39,050 ($18.78/hour), across 21,820 jobs. That is the midpoint — half of people in this trade earn more, half less.
Pay detail for Florida, and how it compares →
Other states
| State | State fees | Time | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $125 | 5.8 mo | $46,600 |
| Texas | $50 | 5.8 mo | $38,050 |
Common questions
Do you need a license to be a Cosmetologist in Florida?
Cosmetologist License (CL). Yes — issued by the Florida DBPR — Board of Cosmetology.
How much does a Cosmetologist license cost in Florida?
$95 in state fees. Exam retakes cost extra.
How long does it take to get a Cosmetologist license in Florida?
About 6.9 months of full-time work: the state requires 1,200 hours of training or supervised experience before the exam.
What does a Cosmetologist make in Florida?
The median is $39,050 a year ($18.78 an hour) statewide, per BLS OEWS May 2024.
Sources
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/“The Board of Cosmetology is responsible for licensing and regulating cosmetology.”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/COSMO1_Initial_License_Based_on_Florida_Education.pdf“Complete at least 1,000 hours of training at a Florida cosmetology school and be determined competent by a school official”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/COSMO1_Initial_License_Based_on_Florida_Education.pdf“Pay $45.00 fee (make check payable to Department of Business and Professional Regulation).”
- https://www.flrules.org/gateway/readFile.asp?sid=0&tid=26362289&type=1&file=61G5-24.002.doc“(b) The examination fee for licensure as a cosmetologist by examination shall be fifty dollars ($50.00).”
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/“$45.00”
- https://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/“Licenses expire October 31st every even year.”
- https://www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/Reciprocity-05.pdf“At this time the Board of Cosmetology does not have reciprocal licensing agreements with any other state.”