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Cosmetology in North Carolina
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
North Carolina has no DPI cosmetology course; high school programs run as Board-licensed schools, often with a community college, and hours expire five years after enrollment.
State program: No NC DPI course or program code found ()
What a high school can deliver
Licensure hours in a Board-licensed school; the exam follows completion of all hours, and a graduate who applies for the exam within 3 months can get a temporary employment permit (G.S. 88B-12).
Credentials students can earn
NC cosmetologist license; no DPI course or credential list ()
Age and hour requirements
No minimum age in statute (21 NCAC 14: Confirm with the agency); 1,500 hours, or 1,200 plus a 6-month apprenticeship (G.S. 88B-7); hours expire 5 years after enrollment (G.S. 88B-19).
Other agencies involved
NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners: cosmetic art school license (G.S. 88B-16; 21 NCAC 14G); no public school exemption.
Who can teach it
Board cosmetology teacher license: cosmetologist license, teacher exam, and 1 year of full-time practice or 800 teacher-training hours (G.S. 88B-11); DPI license area: Confirm with the agency.
Child labor rules for work placements
Youth employment certificate for all paid work under 18; no cosmetology-specific bar.
College credit after high school
No statewide articulation researched; Career and College Promise is the likely route ().
Where to go next
- The full Cosmetology guide, showing North Carolina
- The North Carolina state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Cosmetology in other states
Other pathways in North Carolina
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Culinary and Hospitality
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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