Be 16 years of age or older. There are some schools that will allow you to train with them while you are still in high school. Those credits will count towards the required hours of instruction you will need in order to be eligible to take the board exam.
Provide verification of at least a 10th grade education or equivalent. Applicants over the age of 35 or veterans are exempted.
Give proof of 1,250 successfully completed hours of instruction at an approved Pennsylvania educational facility or apprenticed for a minimum of 2,000 hours in a licensed beauty shop or apprenticeship program. Going to school, full-time, for this trade is typically anywhere between 9 to 24 months.
Learn how to function as a cosmetologist, esthetician, and natural hair braider or nail technician. You are only taking the exam for cosmetology to be licensed in Pennsylvania, but you still have to know how to perform these additional tasks.
Pay the required fee for the exam and successfully pass the test. The prices for the complete initial exam and licensure can vary every few years, but be careful to pass on the first try. There is another fee to pay if you need to retest.