CE requirements for cosmetologists are different in every state. Florida wants 16 hours per cycle. Some states want zero. If you do not know your state's rules, you could end up scrambling at renewal time, or worse, paying late fees.
Here is what every US state and DC requires for cosmetology CE, current as of 2026.
States that require CE hours
The following 16 states require cosmetologists to complete continuing education hours for license renewal. Hours are listed per renewal cycle.
| State | CE Hours |
|---|---|
| Florida | 16 |
| Illinois | 14 |
| Oklahoma | 12 |
| Ohio | 8 |
| North Carolina | 8 |
| Minnesota | 8 |
| Nebraska | 8 |
| District of Columbia | 6 |
| Iowa | 6 |
| Maryland | 6 |
| Georgia | 5 |
| Nevada | 4 |
| Texas | 4 |
| New York | 4 |
| South Carolina | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 4 |
States with no CE requirement
The following 35 states do not currently require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal. You still need to renew on time and pay the renewal fee.
| State | Fee |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $25 |
| Alaska | $140 |
| Arizona | $50 |
| Arkansas | $35 |
| California | $50 |
| Colorado | $58 |
| Connecticut | $105 |
| Delaware | $59 |
| Hawaii | $30 |
| Idaho | $25 |
| Indiana | $40 |
| Kansas | $45 |
| Kentucky | $30 |
| Louisiana | $25 |
| Maine | $50 |
| Massachusetts | $62 |
| Michigan | $50 |
| Mississippi | $25 |
| Missouri | $50 |
| Montana | $100 |
| New Hampshire | $60 |
| New Jersey | $50 |
| New Mexico | $50 |
| North Dakota | $15 |
| Oregon | $50 |
| Pennsylvania | $51 |
| Rhode Island | $30 |
| South Dakota | $25 |
| Tennessee | $50 |
| Utah | $52 |
| Vermont | $75 |
| Virginia | $55 |
| Washington | $47 |
| West Virginia | $25 |
| Wyoming | $50 |
What to know
- 1Florida has the highest requirement at 16 hours per 2-year cycle, including mandatory HIV/AIDS training.
- 2Most states with CE require between 4 and 14 hours per renewal cycle.
- 3Requirements can change. Several states have added or updated CE rules in recent years, so always verify with your state board.
How to track your CE hours
Most people use spreadsheets or paper folders. Both work until you lose the file or forget to update it. StyleCE is a free app built for cosmetologists. It loads your state requirements automatically, lets you log courses by category, and pings you before your license expires.