NVCOSMO cosmetology renewal: Nevada 2026
Regulated by the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology (NVCOSMO)
Last verified:
Nevada cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. Renewal requires 4 hours of continuing education within each renewal cycle. You renew through the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology (NVCOSMO). Online CE is accepted. The current renewal fee is $70.
Nevada keeps its continuing education load light but specific: just 4 hours per renewal, and every one of those hours has to be in infection control and prevention. Licenses run on your birthday month rather than a fixed statewide date, and Nevada is one of the few states that lets you pick a 2-year or 4-year renewal up front.
The Nevada State Board of Cosmetology requires 4 hours of approved continuing education in infection control and prevention for each renewal. There is no general-topic CE allowance: all 4 hours must be in that single subject area.
- CE hours: 4 hours per renewal cycle, all in infection control and prevention.
- Renewal cycle: 2 years, tied to your birthday month rather than a single statewide deadline.
- Online and self-study: Board-approved online courses are accepted for the infection-control hours.
- Renewal fee: $70 for the standard 2-year license.
The 2-year vs 4-year choice. Nevada offers a longer-term option that renews every 4 years for a $140 fee instead of $70 every 2 years. If you choose the 4-year license, confirm the exact CE total directly with the board before you renew, since the published hour count for the extended term is not consistently documented.
License types covered. The infection-control CE requirement applies across Nevada's regulated beauty licenses, including cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, hair designer, nail technologist, hair braider, and electrologist. The board does not publish a separate, larger CE schedule that varies by discipline.
Nevada's CE rules sit under Chapter 644A of the Nevada Administrative Code and Nevada Revised Statutes. Because some third-party course sellers advertise much larger hour totals (those usually reflect initial training to get licensed, not renewal CE), it is worth verifying the current requirement against the board before you buy a course.
How many CE hours does Nevada require?
| License types | CE hours | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| esthetician, advanced esthetician, cosmetologist, hair designer, nail technologist, hair braider, electrologist | 4 hours | every 2 years |
CE topic breakdown
- Infection Control And Prevention: 4 hours
Fees
- Renewal: $70
Exemptions
4-year license option available at $140 (vs $70 for 2-year); CE hours for 4-year cycle not confirmed.
Nevada state board contact info
- Board: Nevada State Board of Cosmetology (NVCOSMO)
- Website: https://www.nvcosmo.com/
States with the same 4-hour CE requirement: Ohio, Texas, South Carolina. See the full list of states that require CE for cosmetology renewal. Compare all 53 states.
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Frequently asked questions about Nevada cosmetology renewal
How many CE hours does Nevada require for cosmetology renewal?
Nevada requires 4 CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle for estheticians, advanced estheticians, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail technologists, hair braiders, and electrologists. Online CE is accepted. Check the NVCOSMO for the current list of approved CE providers.
Can I complete Nevada cosmetology CE online?
Yes. Nevada accepts online CE. You must use a board-approved provider. Verify the current approved-provider list directly with the NVCOSMO.
How often does a Nevada cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Nevada estheticians, advanced estheticians, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail technologists, hair braiders, and electrologists licenses renew every 2 years. You need to complete 4 CE hours before each renewal.
What happens if my Nevada cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Nevada renewal deadline, your license enters expired or inactive status. You may face late fees, a reinstatement application, and in some cases additional CE hours or re-examination. Set a free reminder on CEFinder so your deadline is never a surprise.
How many CE hours does Nevada require to renew a cosmetology license?
Four hours per renewal, and all 4 must be in infection control and prevention. Nevada does not accept general beauty-industry topics toward this requirement.
When does my Nevada license expire?
Nevada licenses expire based on your birthday month rather than one fixed statewide date. Standard licenses run on a 2-year cycle, with a 4-year option also available.
Can I take my Nevada CE online?
Yes. Board-approved online and self-study courses are accepted for the 4 infection-control hours, which makes the requirement easy to complete from home.
I have seen 30 or 60 hours mentioned for Nevada. Is that the CE requirement?
No. Those larger numbers almost always refer to the initial training hours needed to become licensed, not the continuing education needed to renew. Renewal CE is 4 hours. When in doubt, confirm with the board.
Does the requirement differ for nail techs, estheticians, or electrologists?
The 4-hour infection-control requirement applies across Nevada's regulated licenses, including cosmetologist, esthetician, advanced esthetician, hair designer, nail technologist, hair braider, and electrologist. The board does not publish a separate, larger CE schedule by discipline.