Big news for anyone thinking about a career in beauty: Idaho just passed a law giving cosmetology students the opportunity to earn their license sooner.
Starting July 1, students can take their licensing exams once they’ve completed 80% of their required training hours instead of waiting until 90% completion. You’ll still put in the full 1,600 hours to get licensed, but you don’t have to wait until the very end of your program before taking this next step.
Less Waiting, More Doing
Nathan Layne Institute’s founder, Nathan Shaw, put it simply in an interview with Idaho News 6: our students are here to become professionals, and the sooner they can get into the field earning a living, the better.
That’s the whole philosophy behind how we built this school. We’re not here to keep you in a classroom longer than you need to be. We’re here to get you salon-ready as soon as possible.
Benefits of Early License Exams
One beauty student, Rebekah Dillon, featured in the Idaho News 6 story, said testing early took the pressure off. Instead of cramming everything into a final stretch, she got to show what she knew while she was still actively training — with instructors right there helping her sharpen the last few skills before her exam.
That’s the kind of momentum we want for every student who walks through our doors.
What This Means If You’re Considering Beauty School
This latest change signals that the state of Idaho is making the path to beauty licensing—which unblocks earnings in your new career—easier than before. A faster path to licensure means:
- Less time between “I want to do this” and “I’m getting paid to do this”
- More real-world practice built into your final stretch, not tacked on after
- One less excuse to keep putting it off
We built Nathan Layne Institute for people who are done waiting for their real career to start. If that’s you, let’s talk!
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