Cosmetology Schools in Washington

No matter where you live in the Evergreen State, you can explore diverse and exciting beauty careers. As the country's second highest-paying state for cosmetologists and with wages well above the national average, Washington can be an ideal place to begin your cosmetology career. Browse our directory of cosmetology schools in Washington, or skip ahead to learn about the state's cosmetology licensing requirements and job outlook.

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802 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122

(206) 302-1044
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics

1105 South 348th Street Suite B-106
Federal Way, WA 98003

(206) 945-1551
Programs:
Cosmetology, Barbering, Hair Design, Teacher Training

2222 South 314 Street
Federal Way, WA 98003

(253) 839-4338
Programs:
Cosmetology

71 Gage Boulevard
Richland, WA 99352

(509) 213-6180
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, Teacher Training

15303 East Sprague Avenue Suite C Suite C
Spokane Valley, WA 99037

(509) 213-6185
Programs:
Cosmetology, Barbering, Teacher Training
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AHC Barber and Beauty College – Accredited

6712 Evergreen Way
Everett, WA 98203

Aria Hair and Beauty Institute – Accredited

532 Rainier Avenue South Suite B
Renton, WA 98057

Aveda Institute Portland, Vancouver Campus – Accredited

6615 Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard
Vancouver, WA 98661

BJ's Beauty & Barber College – Accredited

5239 South Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409

Bluestone Academy

201 North Pine Street
Ellensburg, WA 98926

Bremerton School District – Accredited

134 Marion Avenue North
Bremerton, WA 98312

Centralia Beauty College – Accredited

217 South Tower Avenue
Centralia, WA 98531

Char-Glo School Of Beauty

1418 South Pioneer Way
Moses Lake, WA 98837

Clover Park Technical College – Accredited

4500 Steilacoom Boulevard Southwest
Lakewood, WA 98499

Divas Cosmetology And Barbering Academy – Accredited

317 West Lewis Street
Pasco, WA 99301

Elite Beauty School

2613 Northeast 114th Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98684

Elite Cosmetology, Barber & Spa Academy – Accredited

2606 West Nob Hill Boulevard
Yakima, WA 98902

Everett Community College – Accredited

2000 Tower Street
Everett, WA 98201

Evergreen Beauty College – Accredited

1414 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

Evergreen Beauty College - Everett – Accredited

802 Southeast Everett Mall Way Suite A
Everett, WA 98208

Evergreen Beauty College - Mount Vernon – Accredited

509 South 1st Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Evergreen Beauty College - Renton – Accredited

1222 Bronson Way North
Renton, WA 98057

Evergreen Beauty College - Shoreline – Accredited

18336 Aurora Avenue North Suite 103
Shoreline, WA 98133

Evergreen Beauty College - Yakima – Accredited

401 North 1st Street
Yakima, WA 98901

Evergreen School District 114 – Accredited

13501 Northeast 28th Street
Vancouver, WA 98682

Expo Beauty Institute – Accredited

2534 15th Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144

Glen Dow Academy of Hair Design – Accredited

309 West Riverside Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201

H & K Cosmetology Unlimited – Accredited

8815 South Tacoma Way
Lakewood, WA 98499

International Beauty Education Center – Accredited

12832 West Sunset Highway
Airway Heights, WA 99001

Kelly Pang Beauty Academy – Accredited

10424 16th Avenue Southwest
Seattle, WA 98146

Lany's Beauty Academy – Accredited

420 Dougals Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801

Lee's Beauty School – Accredited

1833 4th Avenue East
Olympia, WA 98506

Lincoln Beauty School – Accredited

702 South 38th Street A
Tacoma, WA 98418

Lupita's Beauty And Barber School – Accredited

746 West Court Street Suite B
Pasco, WA 99301

Maria Bonita College Of Beauty – Accredited

216 Southwest 152nd Street
Burien, WA 98148

New York Hair Academy – Accredited

2508 West Sylvester Street Suite D
Pasco, WA 99301

Olympic College

1600 Chester Avenue
Bremerton, WA 98337

Ruiz Beauty & Barber Academy – Accredited

2810 East Lincoln Avenue Suite G
Sunnyside, WA 98944

Seattle Beauty Academy – Accredited

3320 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98144

Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center – Accredited

9001 Airport Road
Everett, WA 98204

Spokane Community College – Accredited

1810 North Greene Street
Spokane, WA 99217

Studio 121 School Of Cosmetology

1222 East Front Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362

Studio Beauty School – Accredited

10001 East Sprague Avenue
Spokane Valley, WA 99206

Stylemaster College of Hair Design – Accredited

1224 Commerce Avenue
Longview, WA 98632

Summit Salon Academy - Tacoma – Accredited

3702 South Fife Street Suite B102
Tacoma, WA 98409

Vega's Academy – Accredited

7635 Macarthur Boulevard
Vancouver, WA 98664

Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology – Accredited

23 West First Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336

Vuu's Beauty School – Accredited

807 King Street
Seattle, WA 98104

Walla Walla Community College – Accredited

500 Tausick Way
Walla Walla, WA 99362

Wenatchee School District – Accredited

235 Sunset Avenue
Wenatchee, WA 98801

Zara Academy – Accredited

208 South Wenatchee Avenue
Wenatchee, WA 98801

Zorganics Institute Beauty and Wellness – Accredited

410 West Bakerview Road Suite 112
Bellingham, WA 98226
Accredited School

You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.

Find a Cosmetology School Near You

Check out the Cosmetology schools these cities in Washington have to offer.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in Washington

Washington Cosmetology Careers At A Glance
  • 1,600 education hours or 3,244 apprentice hours are required to become licensed.
  • You must renew your license every 2 years.
  • 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
  • The average salary for cosmetologists in Washington is $43,590.
  • There is a predicted 16% job increase between 2020–2030 for cosmetologists.

Cosmetologists perform various beauty services to help maintain and improve their clients' appearance, like hair cutting, styling, and coloring; hair removal; nail and skin care; and makeup application. You'll need to fulfill certain requirements to become a cosmetologist in Washington, which include:

  • Being at least 17 years old
  • Completing a minimum of 1,600 training hours at a state-approved cosmetology school or completing 3,244 hours at a state-approved apprenticeship program
  • Passing Washington's practical and written exams
  • Submitting your cosmetology license application and paying the $25 fee
  • Providing documentation about your criminal background, including any convictions in the last ten years, court orders against you, indictments or complaints, or if you've had other professional licenses fined, revoked, denied, or suspended.

Cosmetology Salary in Washington and Projected Job Growth

$43,590

Average yearly salary for cosmetologists in Washington

On average, cosmetologists in Washington earned an annual salary of $43,590 and an hourly wage of $20.96 in 2021. This figure falls within the top 75% of annual wages earned for cosmetologists in the United States. In fact, after Massachusetts, Washington cosmetologists make more than those in any other state.

Some cosmetologists in Washington make as low as $29,840 per year, while others earn annual wages as high as $60,080. The job outlook for cosmetologists in Washington is bright, with a projected growth of 16% from 2020-2030.

The highest-paying metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas for cosmetologists in Washington are:

Area 2021 Median Salary
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA $46,570
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area $45,220
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $45,080
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $44,960
Kennewick-Richland, WA $38,480
Longview, WA $38,480
Olympia-Tumwater, WA $38,480

Table information sourced from O*Net (2022)

What to Expect From a Cosmetology Program in Washington

1,600 Hours

Time to complete a cosmetology program in Washington

The first step in becoming a cosmetologist in Washington is completing the necessary beauty training at a licensed institution. You'll need to undergo at least 1,600 hours of cosmetology education, which must include:

  • Theory of the practice of cosmetology including business practices and basic human anatomy and physiology
  • Application of manicuring and pedicuring services (100 hours)
  • Application of esthetics services (100 hours)
  • Shampooing including draping, brushing, scalp manipulations, conditioning, and rinsing
  • Scalp and hair analysis
  • Hair cutting
  • Use of scissors, razors, thinning shears, and clippers
  • Hairstyling including wet, dry, and thermal styling and braiding
  • Cutting and trimming of facial hair
  • Artificial hair
  • Permanent waving
  • Chemical relaxing
  • Hair coloring and bleaching
  • Cleaning and disinfecting of individual work stations
  • Diseases and disorders of the scalp, hair, skin, and nails
  • Safety and proper use and storage of chemicals, implements, and electrical appliances
  • First aid related to cosmetology

Licenses for cosmetology schools to operate in Washington expire annually. For a beauty school to remain licensed in Washington, the institution must submit a renewal application, documentation of any catalog or curriculum changes, and pay a $300 fee and Tuition Recovery Trust Fund Deposit (unless the school is 100% publicly funded).

Can I Apprentice as a Cosmetologist in Washington?

3,244 Hours

Time to complete a cosmetology apprenticeship in Washington

Washington does offer a cosmetology apprenticeship program as an alternative to attending beauty school. Cosmetology apprentices must complete 3,000 on-the-job training hours at a licensed apprentice training salon plus 244 supplemental instruction hours under an approved trainer. You can find state-approved salons by searching the Department of Labor and Industries website.

Washington Cosmetology Licensing Requirements and Exam

After completing a minimum of 1,600 beauty school hours or 3,244 apprenticeship hours, you can take the required state practical and written exams. You must be within 80 hours of completing your program to apply for examinations.

Sign up for the exams and pay the exam fees at test administrator DL Roope's website. Alternatively, you can mail in your exam application along with a money order. The practical test costs $114, and the written is $180. These fees are in addition to the $30 licensing fee.

The practical exam is only available in English, but applicants can complete the written portion in other languages. You can choose your language preference when completing the exam application. If your preferred language isn't listed, you can submit a request to use a dictionary during your test to plssunit@dol.wa.gov. Your request must be received and approved before scheduling your exam.

You can also apply for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations by submitting Forms A, B, and C to the Department of Licensing. You can obtain the documents by contacting DL Roope or your school. Form A must be filled out by you, Form B must be completed by your physician, and Form C by a school official.

On the day of the test, bring your test admission letter and one form of government-issued identification containing a photo and signature, such as a driver's license, state-issued ID, passport, armed services ID, employee ID, immigration ID, certificate of U.S. citizenship or naturalization, permanent resident card, or tribal ID.

Applicants should come dressed in clean, professional attire without any identifying marks. During the practical exam, testing candidates need to bring their supplies; separate bags for item disinfection, soiled linens, and trash; and a mannequin head. All supplies must be labeled in English.

The written exam is 90 minutes, contains 110 questions, and covers two domains: scientific concepts and hair care and services.

The practical exam is 4-5 hours and includes:

  • Work area and client preparation and set up of supplies
  • Thermal curling
  • Hair cutting
  • Work area and new client preparation and set up of supplies
  • Chemical waving
  • Predisposition test and strand test with the simulated product
  • Highlighting with foil and virgin application with colored simulated product
  • Hair color retouch with colored simulated product
  • Virgin hair relaxer application with colored simulated product
  • Blood exposure procedure
  • Hair removal of the eyebrows by tweezing and using simulated soft wax
  • Manicure and polish application

You must receive a scaled score of 75 on both your written and practical examinations to pass. If you fail the exam, you can apply to retake it on a different day and pay the re-exam fee.

DL Roope will post a message on their website when they receive the test results from the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology.

Washington Cosmetology Licensure Reciprocity

Cosmetology license reciprocity is available in Washington to cosmetologists with licenses from a different state. Candidates will need to submit a reciprocity application along with a copy of a current license, proof of exams, verification that the license is active and in good standing, and a $50 licensing fee. If you received a license in a state not requiring exams, then you'll need to take Washington's cosmetology examinations.

If you have a cosmetology license from another state and you, your spouse, or your domestic partner served in the military, you may be able to receive an expedited temporary license when relocating to Washington.

Cosmetology Specialties in Washington

You can further specialize as a cosmetologist in Washington by earning your license in other fields of beauty. The state offers licensure for barbers, manicurists, hair designers, estheticians, and even master estheticians. You will need to have acquired the relevant training and pass the license exams for each.

Cosmetology License Renewal in Washington

2 Years

License renewal period

0 Hours

Continuing education required

Washington requires cosmetologists to renew their license every two years. You can either apply online or mail in a renewal application and pay the $55 renewal fee. You don't need to complete any continuing education classes, and you can renew 120 days before your license expires.

You will have to pay a $110 late fee if you don't renew before expiration, and if you fail to renew your license within one year of its expiration date, then it will be canceled.

Contact the Washington State Board of Cosmetology

State of Washington Dept. of Licensing, Cosmetology Licensing Program

Resources for Cosmetologists in Washington

Washington State Board of Cosmetology
This is the entity responsible for licensing and enforcing the rules and regulations related to the practice of cosmetology in Washington. Here, you can find information on how to obtain and renew your cosmetology license.

Cosmetologists of Washington United
This organization advocates on behalf of Washington cosmetologists on legislation and other political issues affecting the industry. The association also works to support, inform, and provide guidance to the state's cosmetologists.

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How to Become a Cosmetologist in Your State