How to Get Licensed for Esthetics in Montana (Esthetician License Required)
To legally offer esthetics services in Montana, you need an esthetician license. Below is what the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) expects and the path to get it.
To practice esthetics in Montana, you need 650 hours at a board-approved esthetics school, or 2,000 hours through a Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (apprenticeship pathway available since 11/22/2025 under HB 336) through a path approved by the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division). This page covers the eight criteria that matter most: training hours, exams, fees, timeline, renewal, reciprocity, minimum age, and license type.
4 beauty schools in Montana are listed in our directory. Cross-check every detail with the board before you enroll - rules change. Our course builds theory so you arrive at school ahead of the curve.
Montana Esthetics licensing requirements at a glance
| Required hours | 650 hours at a board-approved esthetics school, or 2,000 hours through a Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (apprenticeship pathway available since 11/22/2025 under HB 336) |
| License type | Esthetician License |
| Licensing board | Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) |
| Exams | Written and practical exams required |
| Estimated fees | $80 |
| Typical timeline | 6-9 months |
| Renewal | License renews every 2 years |
| Minimum age | 18 years |
| State notes | 650 hours at a board-approved esthetics school, or 2,000 hours through a Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program, an alternative path added in 2025 under HB 336. Must pass both a written and a practical exam through the NIC exam program, administered by Prov. License renews every 2 years. |
Requirements verified against official board sources. Rules change - confirm with the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) before you enroll.
Step by Step: How to Get Licensed in Montana
Prepare with our online Esthetics course
Because Montana requires in-person training hours, our online course builds theory before or during your school program - it does not replace board-required clinical hours.
Four enrollment plans from $1,380. 12-module program taught by Aida Khazieva with lifetime access on Advanced plans and above.
Also see Find Esthetics Schools in Montana for real, accredited programs.
Want us to guide you through Montana licensing?
Figuring out hours, approved schools, paperwork, and exam timing on your own takes real time. Aida's team offers hands-on licensing support - guidance and coordination, never a shortcut. Only your state board issues the license.
- 60-90 minute 1:1 strategy session
- Written roadmap for Montana esthetics licensing
- Shortlist of approved schools near you
- Exam and timeline overview
- Everything in the Licensing Roadmap
- School application and board paperwork prep
- Document review before you submit
- 90 days of email and WhatsApp support
- Everything in Guided Application Support
- Regular check-ins until your license is issued
- Mock practical exam prep with Aida
- Priority same-day support
Not sure which package fits Montana?
Contact Us →Licensed schools & studios in Montana
Compare accredited beauty schools on record for Montana, or browse practicing electrologists where applicable.
Montana requires 650 hours at a board-approved esthetics school, or 2,000 hours through a Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (apprenticeship pathway available since 11/22/2025 under HB 336) through a path approved by the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division).
Yes: Must pass both a written and a practical exam through the NIC exam program, administered by Prov.
Our online course can prepare you for the material, but Montana requires in-person hours through the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division). Online study does not replace those hours.
Reciprocity rules vary by state and are not automatic. Contact the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) directly to ask about transferring an existing license.
You will need to complete 650 hours at a board-approved esthetics school, or 2,000 hours through a Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (apprenticeship pathway available since 11/22/2025 under HB 336) through an approved path, plus time to prepare for and pass the required exam. Total timelines vary based on your school's schedule.
Budget $80 for Montana, which the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) states covers exam and licensing costs. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount with the board before you apply.
License renews every 2 years. Confirm your state's exact renewal cycle and continuing education requirements with the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division).
Montana lists an apprenticeship path, where supervised work can count toward your required hours. Outside of an approved apprenticeship, you generally need to finish your program and pass your exam before working independently. Confirm the exact rules with the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division).
Montana Esthetics Licensing Requirements. Planning to get licensed for esthetics in Montana? As of the most recent update, this state requires 650 hours at a board-approved esthetics school, or 2,000 hours through a Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program (apprenticeship pathway available since 11/22/2025 under HB 336), licensing handled by the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division), a licensing fee of $80. This page tracks the current board, required hours, minimum age, and renewal rules for Montana, cross-linked with our online esthetics course for the theory portion of your training and our school directory for approved in-person programs near Montana. Rules change, so always confirm the latest requirement directly with the Montana licensing board before enrolling.
Financial Aid and Government Support
Several real federal and state programs can help cover the cost of beauty education. Federal Pell Grants and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) are available to eligible students at accredited schools through the FAFSA. Veterans and their families may be able to use GI Bill benefits at VA-approved programs. Some states also offer workforce funding through WIOA, administered by local American Job Centers, though eligibility for cosmetology and esthetics programs varies by region.
Important: these programs apply to your accredited in-person school, where you complete your required hours, not to our online preparation course directly. Contact your chosen school's financial aid office or your local American Job Center to find out what you qualify for.
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Sourced from the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Dept. of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division). Verified July 2026. Licensing rules can change - always confirm current requirements with the board before enrolling or applying.