How to become a cosmetologist in Kansas

Updated August 13, 2026 · 5-minute read

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 17 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 October.

3. Complete 1,500 clock hours

Kansas requires 1,500 hours of training for a cosmetology license. At full-time pace — Tuesday through Saturday — 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 — you’re eligible once you hit 1,000 hours, so most students take it while still in school
Practical exam — eligibility comes around 1,420 hours

Taking the written mid-program is a real advantage: the material is fresh and you finish school with one exam already behind you. 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.