Cosmetology Schools in Idaho

Selecting from the many cosmetology schools in Idaho can be an experience. After all, in Idaho you are required to be only 16 and a half years old to obtain a state license to become a cosmetologist or other personal care professional.

In order to satisfy Idaho cosmetology licensing requirements, applicants are also required to have at least two years of high school — or the equivalent — and attend one of the beauty schools in Idaho. Cosmetology schools help prepare students to take the state licensing examination. The Idaho Board of Cosmetology requires that state-approved school provide a minimum number of training hours, depending on the personal care specialty you choose. For cosmetology, 2,000 hours of training are required; for estheticians, 600 hours; and for nail technicians, schools must provide 400 hours of training.

For students who successfully complete the training and pass the state exam, the professional opportunities are good. In Idaho, cosmetologists, hairdressers and hairstylists earn an average hourly pay of $10.60, which compares favorably to the state’s minimum wage of $7.25. The average annual pay for these same professionals is $22,040, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And for those in the 90th percentile, the annual compensation exceeds $31,000.

Nationally, the BLS estimates that the need for cosmetologists, hairdressers and hairstylists will at least keep pace with the population growth. Between 2010 and 2020, the BLS projects that more than 200,000 such professionals will be added nationwide—a 16 percent increase.