How many training hours are required for a Maine cosmetology license?

Maine requires 1,500 training hours through a licensed cosmetology school, or 2,500 hours through the trainee/apprenticeship pathway. Aestheticians need 600 school hours (or 1,000 trainee hours). Nail technicians need 200 school hours (or 400 trainee hours). Barber Hair Stylists need 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours.

Who administers the cosmetology licensing exam in Maine?

Prov, Inc. administers NIC examinations for Maine. Written theory exam: $99; practical exam: $149. Both require a passing score of 75.00. Written exams are available in Auburn, Bangor, and Presque Isle, ME, or remotely. Practical exams are administered remotely via Examroom.ai. Contact Prov at (877) 228-3926 or provexam.com.

Does Maine require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal?

No. Maine does not require any continuing education for cosmetologist, aesthetician, barber hair stylist, hair designer, or nail technician license renewals. Annual renewal costs $20.00 and expires October 31.

What is the difference between the school pathway and the trainee pathway in Maine?

The school pathway requires 1,500 hours for cosmetology in a licensed school setting. The trainee pathway requires 2,500 hours under a qualified supervisor in a licensed salon. Both pathways lead to the same NIC examinations and full license.

Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Maine?

Maine may issue a license by endorsement to a person holding a current, valid out-of-state license, with no re-examination required for qualified applicants in good standing. Contact the program at (207) 624-8579 or barbercosm.lic@maine.gov.

What is the minimum age to get a Maine cosmetology license?

Maine requires applicants to be at least 16 years old. Schools may enroll 15-year-old students if they will turn 16 before completing the course. The 2019 statute removed the previous education requirement for all license categories.

Maine Cosmetology License Requirements

How to Get a Cosmetology License in Maine

Obtaining a Maine cosmetology license requires completing an approved course of training and passing both a written theory and a practical examination administered by Prov, Inc. All applications, fee payments, and exam approvals are processed through the OPOR online licensing portal.

Complete your training. Enroll in a Maine-licensed cosmetology school and complete the required 1,500 hours of instruction, or train under a qualified supervisor in a licensed establishment (trainee pathway — 2,500 hours required). Training must cover theory, sanitation and infection control, chemical services, hairstyling, haircutting, coloring, aesthetics, nail care, and Maine law. Schools submit your final hour record directly to the program. Maine allows students as young as 15 to enroll in school programs, provided they turn 16 before completing the course.
Apply for exam eligibility through Prov. Once your school submits your training record, register at provexam.com (select "ME – Barber & Cosmetology" and the appropriate license type). Prov notifies the program electronically; the program determines your eligibility and issues a confirmation email with a voucher to schedule your exams.
Pass the NIC written and practical examinations. Schedule and sit for both the NIC cosmetology written theory exam ($99) and the NIC cosmetology practical exam ($149) through Prov. The minimum passing scaled score for both exams is 75.00. Both exams must be passed within one year of the first sitting date; if that window expires, both exams must be retaken. Written exams may be taken at testing centers in Auburn, Bangor, or Presque Isle, ME, or remotely via Prov's Examroom.ai proctoring platform. Practical exams are administered remotely.
Receive your Maine license. After Prov transmits your passing scores to the program, your license is issued through the OPOR online portal at licensing.web.maine.gov. Your license expires on October 31 of the issuance year and must be renewed annually for $20.00.

Out-of-state applicants: Maine may issue a license by endorsement to a person holding a current and valid license from another state, provided no grounds exist to deny licensure. The 2019 law authorizes the OPOR director to issue a license without examination to qualified out-of-state licensees in good standing. Contact the program at (207) 624-8579 or barbercosm.lic@maine.gov for specific requirements.

Training Requirements

Maine's training hour requirements are set by statute (32 M.R.S. Chapter 126) and program rules (02-041 CMR Chapters 23 and 27). Maine offers two training pathways: school-based training at a licensed cosmetology school, and trainee/apprenticeship training under a qualified supervisor in a licensed establishment. School hours are lower because classroom instruction is more structured; trainee hours are higher to compensate for the less-controlled learning environment.

School Pathway — Required Hours by License Type

Cosmetologist — 1,500 hours. Full curriculum covering theory, sanitation and infection control, chemical services (perms, relaxers, coloring), haircutting, styling, aesthetics, and nail care, plus Maine laws and rules.
Aesthetician — 600 hours. Skin-care curriculum covering theory, facial techniques, chemical exfoliation, makeup, hair removal, and lash services. Does not include nail services.
Barber Hair Stylist — 1,500 hours. Barbering curriculum covering haircutting, shaving, facial hair services, chemical services, and sanitation protocols.
Limited Barber — 800 hours. Limited barbering scope; haircutting and styling without full chemical services curriculum.
Hair Designer — Training hours established by rule; candidates take the same NIC Hair Design exam as those trained in the cosmetology school route for haircutting, styling, and chemical services.
Nail Technician — 200 hours. Nail technology curriculum covering manicuring, pedicuring, nail enhancement application, and sanitation protocols.
Instructor — 600 hours of instructor training. Requires a valid practitioner license plus completion of an approved instructor training program at a licensed school.

Trainee Pathway — Required Hours by License Type

Cosmetologist Trainee — 2,500 hours under a qualified supervisor (minimum 18 months)
Barber Hair Stylist Trainee — 2,500 hours under a qualified supervisor (minimum 18 months)
Aesthetician Trainee — 1,000 hours under a qualified supervisor (minimum 6 months, maximum 12 months per license term)
Nail Technician Trainee — 400 hours under a qualified supervisor (minimum 10 weeks)

Trainee licenses are tracked and limited: there is a cap on the number of trainees per qualified supervisor and per establishment. Trainees who change employers must report the change to the program within 10 calendar days. All supervised training must occur inside a licensed Level 1 or Level 2 establishment.

Cosmetology Exam Requirements

Maine uses National Interstate Council (NIC) examinations administered by Prov, Inc. All candidates must pass both a written theory exam and a practical exam before a license is issued. Exam registration and scheduling are handled entirely through Prov's online portal.

Written Theory Exam — $99

The NIC written exam is a computer-based test available at three Maine testing centers or remotely via Prov's Examroom.ai platform. Maine test site locations:

Central Maine Community College (CMCC), Jalbert Hall, 1250 Turner Street, Auburn, ME 04210
United Technologies Center (UTC), 200 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401
Northern Maine Community College (NMCC), 33 Edgemont Drive, Presque Isle, ME 04769

The minimum passing scaled score is 75.00. If taking the exam in person, arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Late arrivals are turned away and forfeit their exam fee. Two forms of government-issued photo ID are required. Scores are emailed within 3 business days of the test date.

Practical Exam — $149

All practical exams are administered remotely via Prov's Examroom.ai proctoring system. Candidates need a computer (Mac, PC, or Chromebook — not a tablet or iPad), a phone for a side-view camera, and sufficient internet speed. Candidates must set up their own workspace with all required supplies and a mannequin head (full-size only; "minikin" or "junior" mannequins are not permitted).

Cosmetology candidates are examined on the NIC Core Practical Sections plus Hair Removal (Eyebrows) and Sculptured Nail. Hair Designer candidates are examined on the NIC Cosmetology Core Practical Sections only. Aesthetician and Nail Technician candidates follow their respective NIC practical curricula. The minimum passing score is 75.00.

Scheduling & Retesting

Register at provexam.com by selecting "ME – Barber & Cosmetology" and your license type. Prov notifies the program; the program approves eligibility and emails a voucher. Both written and practical exams must be passed within one year of the first exam sitting; if the window expires, both exams must be retaken. There is no waiting period between retakes — candidates may reschedule for the next available date after a failure. Reschedule or cancel at least 3 days before a theory exam and 7 days before a practical without forfeiting the fee. Contact Prov at (877) 228-3926 or support@provexam.com.

How to Renew Your Maine Cosmetology License

$20.00

Renewal Fee

Annual (expires October 31)

Renewal Period

Maine cosmetology, aesthetician, barber hair stylist, hair designer, nail technician, and instructor licenses all renew annually with a uniform expiration date of October 31. The annual renewal fee is $20.00. Maine does not require continuing education for any practitioner license renewal.

Watch for your renewal reminder. The program emails renewal reminders at least 30 days before October 31 to the address on file. The reminder includes your access code, which is required along with your license number to complete online renewal. Keep your email address current — contact barbercosm.lic@maine.gov before renewing if your email or legal name has changed.
Renew online at licensing.web.maine.gov. Log in with your license number and access code at licensing.web.maine.gov. Pay the $20.00 renewal fee. Online submission is not automatic approval; the program verifies all renewals before updating license status.
Avoid the late fee. Renewals submitted after October 31 are subject to a $50.00 late fee. After 90 days past expiration, a new application is required plus the renewal fee, the $50.00 late fee, and a $25.00 penalty fee. A license lapsed four or more years requires re-examination.

Trainee licenses renew on different terms: Trainee Cosmetologist and Barber Hair Stylist — 18 months from issuance; Trainee Aesthetician — 12 months; Trainee Nail Technician — 6 months. Trainee renewal fee is $10.00. Verify your license status at any time using the public license lookup at pfr.maine.gov/almsonline.

Other Cosmetology License Types in Maine

Maine's Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program issues the following individual practice licenses under Title 32 M.R.S. Chapter 126 and 02-041 CMR Chapters 20–30:

Cosmetologist — Full-scope license covering hair, skin, and nail services. School route: 1,500 hours. Trainee route: 2,500 hours. NIC written and practical exams required (Prov, Inc.). Broad scope includes haircutting, chemical services, aesthetics, and nail care.
Aesthetician — Skin-care specialist license. School route: 600 hours. Trainee route: 1,000 hours. NIC written and practical exams required. Scope includes facials, chemical exfoliation, makeup, hair removal, and lash services. Does not include nail care.
Barber Hair Stylist — Maine's current barber credential (renamed from Barber in 2019). School route: 1,500 hours. Trainee route: 2,500 hours. NIC Barber 1 written and practical exams required. Full barbering scope including shaving, facial hair services, and chemical services.
Hair Designer — Limited-scope license created by Maine statute in 2019. Authorizes haircutting, styling, chemical hair services, face/scalp/neck massage, and facial/scalp treatments. Does not include aesthetic skin care or nail services. NIC Hair Design written exam and Cosmetology Core practical required.
Nail Technician — Nail services specialist. School route: 200 hours. Trainee route: 400 hours (minimum 10 weeks). NIC Nail Technician written and practical exams required. Scope covers manicuring, pedicuring, and nail enhancements.
Instructor — Required to teach in any Maine-licensed cosmetology school in any discipline (aesthetics, barbering, cosmetology, hair design, nail technology). Must hold a valid practitioner license in the discipline being taught and complete 600 hours of instructor training at a licensed school. NIC Instructor written and practical exams required.
Trainee — Authorizes supervised learning in a licensed establishment under a qualified supervisor. Available for all five practice disciplines. Not a full practice license; trainees may only perform services under supervision. Trainee licenses have defined term limits and renewal fees of $10.00.
Temporary License — Available to qualified applicants awaiting exam results or completing administrative requirements. Valid for one term only; cannot be renewed. Does not authorize Level 2 Establishment ownership.

All individual licenses expire on October 31 annually and renew for $20.00 with no CE requirement. Level 1 and Level 2 Establishment licenses are issued separately and also renew annually.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many training hours are required for a Maine cosmetology license?: Maine requires 1,500 training hours through a licensed cosmetology school, or 2,500 hours through the trainee/apprenticeship pathway. Aestheticians need 600 school hours (or 1,000 trainee hours). Nail technicians need 200 school hours (or 400 trainee hours). Barber Hair Stylists need 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours.
Who administers the cosmetology licensing exam in Maine?: Prov, Inc. administers NIC examinations for Maine. The written theory exam costs $99 and the practical exam costs $149. Both exams require a passing scaled score of 75.00. Written exams are available at testing centers in Auburn, Bangor, and Presque Isle, ME, or remotely. Practical exams are administered remotely only via Examroom.ai. Contact Prov at (877) 228-3926 or provexam.com.
Does Maine require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal?: No. Maine does not require any continuing education for renewal of cosmetologist, aesthetician, barber hair stylist, hair designer, or nail technician licenses. Annual renewal costs $20.00 and expires October 31. No CE hours are needed.
What is the difference between the school pathway and the trainee pathway in Maine?: The school pathway requires fewer hours (1,500 for cosmetology) because instruction occurs in a structured licensed school environment. The trainee pathway requires more hours (2,500 for cosmetology) because learning occurs in a licensed salon under a qualified supervisor. Both pathways lead to the same NIC examinations and final license. There are limits on how many trainees one supervisor may sponsor.
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Maine?: Maine may issue a license by endorsement to a person holding a current, valid license from another state, provided no grounds for denial exist. The director is authorized to issue a license without requiring re-examination for qualified out-of-state licensees in good standing. Contact the program at (207) 624-8579 or barbercosm.lic@maine.gov for current endorsement requirements and documentation needed.
What is the minimum age to get a Maine cosmetology license?: Maine requires applicants to be at least 16 years old. A cosmetology school may enroll a student who is 15 years old, provided that student will turn 16 before the end of the course of study. The 2019 statutory revision removed the previous secondary school education requirement for all license categories.