Cosmetology School in Florida
Florida's Board of Cosmetology offers several professional licenses, including facial specialist, nail specialist, full specialist, and the most in-depth of them all, cosmetologist. Becoming a cosmetologist in Florida allows you to offer a range of services, from hair styling, cutting, and coloring to esthetics, manicures, and makeup artistry. Earning your cosmetology license is the first step toward starting a rewarding, creative career in the industry — and an essential part of the process.
This guide takes you through the entire licensing journey, from those first days in cosmetology school through passing the state exams. You'll learn what to expect during your education, specific licensure requirements, application steps, renewal procedures, and more.
Whether you're just beginning your career or looking to expand your expertise, this guide offers all the essential information needed to become a licensed cosmetologist in Florida.Browse our directory of cosmetology schools in Florida, or skip ahead to learn about the state's cosmetology licensing requirements and job outlook.
Browse All Cosmetology Schools in Florida
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2800 34th Street North
St Petersburg, FL 33713
985 East Memorial Boulevard
Lakeland, FL 33801
10601 San Jose Boulevard Suite 7
Jacksonville, FL 32257
495 North Semoran Boulevard
Winter Park, FL 32792
4186 South University Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328
28272 U.S. Highway 19 North
Clearwater, FL 33761
700 South Royal Poinciana Boulevard Suite 103/303
Miami Springs, FL 33166
7329 North State Road 7
Parkland, FL 33073
5090 West 12th Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33012
855 Southwest 79th Avenue
Miami, FL 33144
1005A East John Sims Parkway
Niceville, FL 32578
5101 U.S. Highway 98 North
Lakeland, FL 33809
4258 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
1271 State Road 436 Suite 131
Casselberry, FL 32707
420 South State Road 7
Hollywood, FL 33023
5000 Coconut Creek Parkway C
Margate, FL 33063
7587-7599 South Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
6250 Northwest 23rd Street
Gainesville, FL 32653
2620 Southwest 17th Road 700
Ocala, FL 34471
1901 North Federal Highway Unit 201
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
2601 South Military Trail Suite 13
West Palm Beach, FL 33415
552 East Woolbright Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
1388 Colonial Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33907
Academy of Cosmetology - Merritt Island – Accredited
Merritt Island, FL 32953
Beauty Academy of South Florida - Hialeah Gardens – Accredited
Hialeah Gardens, FL 33016
Florida Academy of Health & Beauty – Accredited
Oakland Park, FL 33311
KDLR Beauty Labs | Luxury Makeup Artistry & Classes
Tampa, FL 33602
Miami Lakes Educational Center and Technical College – Accredited
Miami Lakes, FL 33014
New Concept Massage and Beauty School Main Campus – Accredited
Miami, FL 33144
New Concept Massage and Beauty School West Campus – Accredited
Miami, FL 33175
New Concept Massage and Beauty School, Cutler Bay – Accredited
Miami, FL 33157
Paul Mitchell The School Fort Lauderdale – Accredited
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33388
Paul Mitchell The School Jacksonville – Accredited
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Pinellas Technical College - Saint Petersburg – Accredited
Saint Petersburg, FL 33711
Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences Academy – Accredited
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009
Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical College – Accredited
Miami, FL 33177
Summit Salon Academy - Gainesville – Accredited
Gainesville, FL 32607
The Beauty Institute - West Palm Beach – Accredited
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
The Salon Professional Academy - Melbourne – Accredited
Melbourne, FL 32904
You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
Related Beauty Careers
Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:
Cosmetology Schools Near Me
Check out the Cosmetology schools these cities in Florida have to offer.
How to Become a Cosmetologist in Florida
- 1,200 education hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 2 years.
- 10 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
What Happens in Cosmetology School in Florida?
Required to earn a cosmetology license
You must complete at least 1,200 training hours on a board-approved program before you can gain your cosmetology license in Florida.
As a student, you cover various topics and techniques relevant to the job. First, you spend time in the classroom, diving into the theory behind all things hair and beauty. You touch on career opportunities, health and safety, and essential language and computer skills. You spend the rest of your training hours in hands-on salon and clinic sessions. Here, you practice your new techniques on your fellow students — and sometimes, on real paying clients.
The specific classes you take depend on the program you're enrolled in, but you'll likely learn about:
When you've completed 1,000 of your 1,200 training hours, you can register for your exams early if you want to. Or, if you need a little more time, you can complete all 1,200 hours and take your exams once you finish — more on that below.
Can I Apprentice as a Cosmetologist in Florida?
No, you cannot gain a cosmetology license in Florida via an apprenticeship.
Florida Cosmetology Exams
In Florida, all cosmetology students must take (and pass) the state cosmetology exam. It's administered by Pearson VUE and is split into two parts: a written theory test and a written clinical test. You must score at least 75% on each part to pass. It's available in both English and Spanish.
Despite the state requiring 1,200 training hours for licensure, you can register for and take the exam after just 1,000 hours. If you pass, you'll receive your license from the board and can start work. If you fail, you need to complete the last 200 training hours as planned and retake the exam once you're done.
The written theory test takes 1.5 hours to complete and contains 65 multiple-choice questions split between the following topics:
The written clinical also takes 1.5 hours to complete and, just like the theory, contains 65 multiple-choice questions. It's split between the following areas:
You receive your results immediately after the test, so there's no nail-biting wait to see how you did. If you pass, you automatically receive your license from the state board and can begin work.
Cosmetologist Salary and Projected Job Growth in Florida
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average mean salary earned by cosmetologists in Florida is $39,050 per year, or $18.78 per hour, as of May 2023. This is just under the $41,780 reported nationwide, but don't feel disheartened — there may be more to these figures than meets the eye.
Evidence suggests that the hair and beauty salaries reported by the BLS and other sources might not be as accurate — in fact, they might be significantly lower than the actual amounts earned. This is down to several factors, such as how the data is reported and the freelance nature of the industry.
READ MORE: How much do beauty professionals actually make?
On the positive side, the job market for cosmetologists in Florida looks good, with a 13% increase in roles predicted between 2020-2030. That works out to an impressive 5,230 new jobs each and every year — much higher than the average of 8% nationwide.
Getting Your Cosmetology License in Florida
There are several requirements you must complete to gain a cosmetology license in Florida. These are:
Florida Cosmetology Licensure Reciprocity
If you hold a cosmetology license from another state, you could transfer it for use in Florida via endorsement. Unlike some other states, Florida has no minimum training hour requirement for endorsement, and you typically don't need to take the state exam.
To get a license via endorsement, you must:
Unfortunately, you don't qualify for endorsement if you earned your previous license via an apprenticeship. That's not necessarily the end of the road, though.
You can still apply to take Florida's cosmetology exam and gain your license that way. To do this, you must:
Florida Military Endorsement
You might also be eligible for endorsement if you or your spouse are in the military and living in Florida due to service. To do this, you must:
If you follow these rules, the board will waive all application and renewal fees for the entire time you're on active duty, plus two years after discharge.
In other good news, if you have a Florida license but are currently out of the state or country due to military service, you don't need to worry about keeping up with renewals. The board will waive all the usual provisions until you return.
Cosmetology License Renewal in Florida
License renewal period
Continuing education required
In Florida, you need to renew your cosmetology license every two years. Renewals are due by Oct. 31 and are split into two groups. Group No. 1 renews every odd-numbered year, for example, in 2025, 2027, and 2029. Group No. 2 renews in the even years — i.e., 2024, 2026, and 2028.
It costs $20 to renew your license online if you submit it by midnight on Oct. 31. After this, the cost rises to $45.
You must complete 10 hours of continuing education (CE) for each renewal. This should be split between the following topics:
Contact the Florida State Board of Cosmetology
- 2601 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, FL 32399
- Website: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- Email: call.center@dbpr.state.fl.us
- Call: 850-487-1395
- Fax: 866-888-1176