How to Become a Cosmetologist in Georgia: Step-by-Step Guide

If you love hair, skin, and making people feel confident in their own reflection, cosmetology can turn that passion into a licensed career. But before you can work in a Georgia salon, you'll need to meet a specific set of state requirements — training hours, exams, an application, and a fee schedule that trips up a lot of first-time applicants.

This guide walks through exactly how to become a cosmetologist in Georgia, step by step, so you know what to expect before you enroll.

Quick Answer: What It Takes to Get Licensed in Georgia

To become a licensed Master Cosmetologist in Georgia, you need to:

1. Be at least 17 years old with a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent

2. Complete 1,500 training hours at a Board-approved school (or 3,000 hours through a registered apprenticeship)

3. Pass the written and practical state licensing exams

4. Submit your license application with the required fees

5. Renew every two years with continuing education hours

Most students finish the full process — school plus licensing — in about 9 to 12 months of full-time study. Here's what each step actually involves, and for a closer look at what the license itself covers, our What Is Cosmetology? post is a good companion read.

Step 1: Meet the Basic Eligibility Requirements

Before you enroll anywhere, Georgia requires that you:

• Be at least 17 years old (16 is allowed only if you're entering through an apprenticeship track)

• Hold a high school diploma, GED, or higher-education credential

• Attend a Board-approved cosmetology school — not every school that offers beauty classes is licensed to prepare you for the state exam, so confirm accreditation before you sign an enrollment agreement

If you're still weighing whether cosmetology, esthetics, or nail tech is the right lane for you, our comparison in Cosmetologist or Esthetician: The Better Career Move? walks through how the licenses differ.

Step 2: Complete 1,500 Hours of Training

This is the step that surprises people most. Georgia requires 1,500 hours of training for a full Master Cosmetologist license — significantly more than the hour requirements for a standalone esthetician license (1,000 hours) or nail technician license (525 hours), per the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers.

Those hours cover a mix of theory and safety (sanitation, chemistry of hair and skin, state law, infection control), hands-on practice (cutting, coloring, chemical services, styling, skincare, and nail services under instructor supervision), and salon floor experience working on real clients — which is where most of your speed and confidence actually gets built.

If a traditional full-time schedule doesn't fit your life, TBA's Hybrid Cosmetology Program lets you complete theory coursework online and handle your hands-on hours in person, so working students and parents can still get to licensure on a workable timeline.

Step 3: Pass the State Board Exams

Once your school certifies that you've completed your hours, you become eligible to sit for two exams through PSI Services, the state's approved testing provider: a computer-based written exam covering safety and sanitation, and a hands-on practical exam evaluated against state standards.

Your school should build exam prep into the final stretch of your program. If it doesn't, ask about it directly — walking into the practical exam cold is the single biggest reason students have to retest.

Step 4: Submit Your License Application and Fees

After passing both exams, you'll apply for your license through the state's GOALS online licensing portal — paper applications are no longer accepted. Budget roughly $139 total in state fees: an application fee, a written exam fee, and a practical exam fee.

This is separate from your school tuition — a detail that catches some students off guard when they're budgeting for the full path to licensure.

Step 5: Renew Every Two Years

A Georgia cosmetology license isn't a one-and-done credential. Licenses expire on a two-year cycle, and renewal requires a fee (roughly $50) plus 5 hours of continuing education, including required health and safety credits.

Mark your renewal window as soon as you're licensed — letting it lapse means you can't legally work until it's reinstated.

How Long Does It Actually Take?

For most students attending full-time, the realistic timeline looks like 9–12 months to complete the 1,500 required hours, plus a few additional weeks to schedule and pass both exams and process the application.

Part-time or hybrid schedules will stretch this out, but they're often the only realistic option for students balancing work or family — and Georgia doesn't penalize you for taking that route as long as you complete the required hours.

What a Georgia Cosmetology License Actually Covers

A Master Cosmetologist license in Georgia is broad — it authorizes you to legally perform hair, skin, and nail services for compensation, all under one credential. That's different from an esthetician license (skin only) or nail technician license (nails only), which matters if you're still deciding which program fits your career goals.

If you're weighing schools in the metro area, it's also worth reading Best Cosmetology School in Atlanta: Start Your Dream Career Today alongside this guide.

Start Your Path at Touched By An Angel Beauty School

Meeting Georgia's licensing requirements is a lot easier with a school that builds its program around them from day one. At Touched By An Angel Beauty School in Jonesboro, GA, our Cosmetology program is structured to carry you through all 1,500 required hours — theory, hands-on practice, and real salon-floor experience — while preparing you for the state board exams along the way.

Curious what a day in the program actually looks like? Schedule a tour or check current enrollment openings to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours do you need to become a cosmetologist in Georgia? Georgia requires 1,500 training hours at a Board-approved school, or 3,000 hours through a registered apprenticeship.

How much does it cost to get a cosmetology license in Georgia, not counting tuition? State application and exam fees total roughly $139, plus a $50 renewal fee every two years.

How old do you have to be to start cosmetology school in Georgia? You must be at least 17, or 16 if entering through an apprenticeship pathway. A high school diploma or GED is also required.

Do I need to retake exams to renew my license? No. Renewal requires 5 hours of continuing education every two years, not a retest — but you do need to stay current or your license lapses.