CE-required jurisdictions
States that require continuing education for cosmetology renewal
15 of 53 US jurisdictions require continuing education for cosmetology, esthetician, or nail-technician license renewal. Hours range from 4 (Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Nevada) up to 24 (North Carolina). The other 37 jurisdictions renew by application and fee only. Every figure below is source-verified against the state board's published administrative code.
Why CE requirements vary so much by state
US cosmetology licensing is regulated at the state level. Each state board sets its own rules under the state's administrative code, and there is no federal floor for continuing education. That is why North Carolina requires 24 hours every three years while Texas requires only 4 hours every two years, and why 37 jurisdictions require no CE at all. The variation reflects different legislative histories and different board priorities, not a national consensus on what cosmetology continuing education should look like.
If you relocate or hold licenses in more than one state, the safest approach is to verify the CE rule of the most demanding jurisdiction and complete that. CEFinder makes the comparison easy: every state has its own page with the exact CE hours, the renewal cycle in years, and the official source URL.
The 15 jurisdictions that require CE
| State | CE hours | Cycle | Online CE |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 24 hours | per 3-year cycle | Check with board |
| Illinois | 14 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Florida | 10 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Minnesota | 8 hours | per 3-year cycle | Yes |
| Nebraska | 8 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| District of Columbia | 6 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Guam | 6 hours | per renewal cycle | Yes |
| Iowa | 6 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Maryland | 6 hours | per 2-year cycle | Check with board |
| Georgia | 5 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Nevada | 4 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Ohio | 4 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| South Carolina | 4 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Texas | 4 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
| Wisconsin | 4 hours | per 2-year cycle | Yes |
How to read this list
- CE hours is the total required for a full renewal cycle.
- Cycle is how often the license renews. Most are two years, North Carolina and Minnesota are three years, Kentucky was one year before its CE rule was repealed.
- Online CE reflects whether the state board accepts online or remote-delivery courses. "Check with board" means online CE is not explicitly addressed in the regulation we read. Always verify with the board before paying for a course.
If your state changes its rule
State boards revise CE rules without notice. Maryland added a 6-hour CE requirement effective January 1, 2026. Oregon dropped traditional CE for regular cosmetology, switching to bloodborne-pathogens training only, on July 1, 2025. Kentucky repealed both of its CE regulations in 2025. CEFinder caught all three, updated within seven days, and logged the changes on the recent changes page.
You can also set a free renewal reminder so you do not have to track this yourself. Three emails at 90, 60, and 30 days before your deadline.
See also: States that do not require CE | Compare all 53 states side by side | Recent rule changes