North Carolina Cosmetology CE Courses (2026)

To renew your Cosmetology license in North Carolina you need to satisfy the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners's continuing education (CE) requirement — about 24 hours per 3-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.

What North Carolina requires for Cosmetology renewal

CE hours required	24 hours per cycle
Renewal cycle	36 months
Governing body	North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners

Statute requires 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education per year of the licensing cycle; a cosmetologist may complete the full 24 hours at any time within the three-year cycle. At least half of the hours must be in the cosmetic art licensure field, and the Board offers free CE classes. Exemptions: licensees age 60+ with 10 consecutive years in practice are exempt; cosmetologists with 20+ consecutive years of experience are exempt but must still report any CE completed. Inactive licensees are not required to complete CE.

Full Cosmetology renewal guide for North Carolina (deadlines, fees & CE) →

North Carolina Cosmetology CE course providers

Heads-up: These are independent, third-party CE providers — we are not affiliated with them and don't guarantee approval. Always confirm a course is accepted by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners before purchasing.

Elite Learning — Cosmetology CE
State-approved cosmetology CE packages built around each state's renewal topics.
Milady Training (Cengage)
Continuing education and skills courses from the leading cosmetology education brand.
360training
Online cosmetology CE accepted in states that require continuing education for renewal.

North Carolina Cosmetology CE courses: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do I need to renew my Cosmetology license in North Carolina?

North Carolina requires about 24 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. Statute requires 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education per year of the licensing cycle; a cosmetologist may complete the full 24 hours at any time within the three-year cycle. At least half of the hours must be in the cosmetic art licensure field, and the Board offers free CE classes. Exemptions: licensees age 60+ with 10 consecutive years in practice are exempt; cosmetologists with 20+ consecutive years of experience are exempt but must still report any CE completed. Inactive licensees are not required to complete CE.

Do online Cosmetology CE courses count in North Carolina?

Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.

Where do I report my North Carolina Cosmetology CE?

North Carolina generally has you attest to CE at renewal and keep your own documentation in case of an audit. Confirm the current process with the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners.

Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners. Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.

Official North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners site →

Cosmetology CE courses in another state

All states: Cosmetologist renewal