How to become a cosmetologist in Kansas
Becoming a cosmetologist in Kansas is a finite, well-marked path, not a mystery. Here’s the whole thing, start to license.
1. Meet the entry requirements
Kansas keeps it simple. To enroll in a cosmetology program you must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent, a G.E.D. works, and so does proof of homeschooling registered in the state where you were educated
That’s it. No entrance exam, no portfolio, no prerequisites.
2. Enroll at a school licensed by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology
The Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) licenses the schools that can count hours toward your license, training anywhere else doesn’t count. Hays Academy of Hair Design is KBOC-licensed and nationally accredited by NACCAS at both campuses (Hays and Salina), which is also what makes federal financial aid possible.
To secure a seat, you complete a registration contract with a $100 registration payment. Programs start four times a year: February, May, August, and November.
3. Complete 1,500 clock hours
Kansas requires 1,500 hours of training for a cosmetology license. At full-time pace, Tuesday through Friday plus one required Saturday a month, that’s done in as little as 11 months. Along the way you’ll cover cutting, color, styling, chemical services, skin care, facials, makeup, and nail care, plus communication and business skills.
4. Pass the two state exams
Kansas splits licensure into two exams, both administered through Ergometrics at $75 each, with a 75% score to pass:
- Written theory exam, Kansas allows it once you reach 1,000 hours, but at Hays Academy you finish the school curriculum and pass our internal written tests first
- Practical exam, you can schedule it around 1,420 hours and take it once you complete the program
Scheduling ahead is a real advantage: you go from graduation to your exams while the material is fresh. In the 2024 NACCAS annual report, 100% of Hays Academy graduates passed their licensure exams.
5. Get licensed and get hired
With your hours complete and both exams passed, you apply to the KBOC for your license, and you’re a working cosmetologist. Salons contact schools looking for graduates, and career services (resume help, salon networking, job fairs) are part of what you paid for.
What it costs
At Hays Academy the published all-in price is $18,900, $100 registration, $2,800 books/kit/equipment, $16,000 tuition. No hidden “call for pricing.” FAFSA applies (school codes: Hays 015944, Salina E02178), and payment plans exist for everything aid doesn’t cover. The full breakdown lives at Tuition & Aid.
