Cosmetology Schools in Ohio
- 1,500 education hours or 300 apprentice hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 2 years.
- 8 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- Average salary for cosmetology in Ohio is $27,300.
- There is a predicted 12% job increase between 2016 - 2026.
Do you drool over the creative use of ombre coloring? Have you been known to stop someone in the middle of a sentence to examine their on-point nail art? Is well-done makeup equal to artwork in your eyes? If you can answer yes to these questions, you may be a beauty fanatic at heart. Why not use that passion and turn it into an exciting career in Ohio?
State License Requirements
Required to earn a cosmetology license
Your final step on the path to a beauty license is the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology. They verify your completion of 1,500 training hours and schedule your written exam and skills exam. You must pay a $45 licensing fee and a $31.50 examination fee before getting your license.
Education Details
When you become a beauty student, you can discover new trends, classic styles, and tried-and-true techniques. This program covers hair, skin, and nails, so you can develop a diverse skill set. With each new topic you explore, you study theory and get hands-on practice. Licensed Ohio cosmetology schools are required to touch on specific subjects.
Required Beauty Topics in Ohio Programs
- Thermal curling
- Disinfection, sterilization, and sanitation
- Haircutting with razor, shears, and thinning shears
- Chemical waving
- Hair coloring and retouching
- Foil highlighting
- Relaxing and retouching
- Facials
- Manicures and pedicures
License Renewal
License renewal period
Continuing education required
Ohio licenses must be renewed by January 31 of every odd-numbered year. It costs $30 to renew your license, and the board requires at least 8 hours of cosmetology continuing education classes per renewal period. Instructors must complete an additional 8 hours of Instructor-Only continuing education. One hour of continuing education must be dedicated to human trafficking. If the renewal is late, it's $75. If you get an independent contractor's license, the license is $60 if renewed on time, $105 if late. The original cost of the independent contractor's license is $75.
Ohio Cosmetology Careers
Average yearly salary for cosmetology in Ohio
Whichever path you end up choosing, you can take advantage of professional resources through groups like the Ohio Salon Association. The job outlook in Ohio is sunny. From 2016 through 2026, O*Net predicts a 12% increase in cosmetology job openings in Ohio (2019). The average salary for an Ohio cosmetologist is $27,300 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019).
No matter what type of work experience you have or what goals you have for your career, you may find a beauty career that fits you. Cosmetologists who specialize in hair coloring and haircutting often thrive in salons, including family chain salons and boutique salons. Those who feel at home applying makeup and doing skin care treatments may look for spa job openings. Nail technology specialists can explore options at nail salons.
Contact the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
- 1929 Gateway Circle Grove City, OH 43123
- Email: sue.gatwood@cos.state.oh.us or ashley.riffle@cos.state.oh.us
- Call: 614-466-3834
- Fax: 614-644-6880
Ohio has long been an amenable state for those in the cosmetology field.
Beauty professionals take pride in having a bevy of skills that bring customers
back for more. They gain those skills thanks to a network of resources
from these institutions.
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
Ohio Salon Association
Professional Beauty Association
Find Other Cosmetology Schools in Ohio
Check out the Cosmetology schools other cities in Ohio have to offer.
You must attend school in the state you want to practice in. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited school. Click here to learn more about the requirements in your state.
Alliance High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Alliance, OH 44601
Apex Academy Hair Skin Nails School of Cosmetology – Accredited
Ontario, OH 44906
Buckeye Joint Vocational School – Accredited
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Canton City Schools Adult Community Education Center – Accredited
Canton, OH 44702
Cleveland Heights High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Columbus City Schools Adult & Community Education – Accredited
Columbus, OH 43211
Columbus Downtown High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Columbus, OH 43215
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology Centerville Campus – Accredited
Dayton, OH 45459
Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology Vandalia Campus – Accredited
Dayton, OH 45414
Cuyahoga Falls High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
East Liverpool High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Liverpool, OH 43920
Lancaster High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Lancaster, OH 43130
Lorain County Joint Vocational School District – Accredited
Oberlin, OH 44074
Maple Heights High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Maple Heights, OH 44137
Mayfield High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Cleveland, OH 44143
Meigs High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Pomeroy, OH 45769
Morgan High School (high school students only) – Accredited
McConnelsville, OH 43756
Normandy High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Parma, OH 44134
Northwest High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Cincinnati, OH 45231
Perry High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Massillon, OH 44646
Shaw High School of Cosmetology (high school students only) – Accredited
East Cleveland, OH 44112
Sylvania Northview High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Sylvania, OH 43560
Theodore Roosevelt High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Kent, OH 44240
Tri-Rivers Career Center & Center for Adult Education – Accredited
Marion, OH 43302
Washington High School (high school students only) – Accredited
Massillon, OH 44646
Wayne County Schools Career Center & Adult Ed – Accredited
Smithville, OH 44677