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Arizona
23
Indiana
18
Montana
18
Nevada
18
Rhode Island
18
South Dakota
18
Vermont
18
West Virginia
18
Wisconsin
18
Alaska
17
Georgia
17
Kansas
17
Maine
17
Maryland
17
Massachusetts
17
Michigan
17
Mississippi
17
Missouri
17
Nebraska
17
New Jersey
17
New Mexico
17
New York
17
Texas
17
Utah
17
Washington
17
Idaho
16.5
Alabama
16
Arkansas
16
California
16
Colorado
16
Delaware
16
Florida
16
Hawaii
16
Illinois
16
Louisiana
16
Ohio
16
Oklahoma
16
Oregon
16
Pennsylvania
16
South Carolina
16
Tennessee
16
Wyoming
16

Esthetician License Requirements by State 2024

Esthetician License Requirements by State 2024

What Does an Esthetician Do?

There are a lot of possible career paths available, and many people are interested in becoming an esthetician. An esthetician is someone who specializes in beauty. It is not unusual for an esthetician to specialize in a specific area. For example, an esthetician may focus on skincare. They may specialize in giving someone skin treatments, facials, and makeup applications.

There are lots of estheticians who also focus on hair care and hair removal. For example, an esthetician may also be trained as a cosmetologist, which is someone who specializes in providing hair treatments. Because there are so many opportunities available in this field, many people are interested in becoming an esthetician. There are several specific training requirements that have to be met. There are standards of education and training in all fifty states. Connecticut was the last state to implement these standards in 2020.

What Type of Education Does an Esthetician Need?

In general, there are several common training requirements that have to be met. First, the vast majority of states require estheticians to be either 16 to 18 years old. There are some states that require estheticians to finish high school or get a GED. Many states require at least a tenth-grade education, but Michigan and Maryland require completing ninth grade while Connecticut, Illinois, and Oregon require at least the completion of eighth grade to become an esthetician.

There are no states that require an esthetician to have a college education, but it is possible for estheticians to waive some of the stricter requirements if they have a college degree. Therefore, there is some incentive for estheticians to go to college, depending on where they are located.

What Training Do Estheticians Receive?

There are also practical training requirements that have to be met as well. For example, estheticians may have to train for a certain number of hours. This is usually don’t through training programs or apprenticeships. Some states offer both options, including Alaska, California, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, and Vermont. Some states require estheticians to complete both training hours and an apprenticeship. These states include Alabama, Hawaii, and Washington.

The majority of states require training programs that usually with certain hourly requirements. Six hundred hours is the most common length of a training program. These training programs will include study and hands-on practice. They differ from apprenticeships because apprentices are paid and receive on-the-job training. Most states also require estheticians to invest in continuing education to keep their skills sharp.

Do Estheticians Have To Renew Their Licenses?

Yes, estheticians do have to renew their licenses. In general, estheticians have to renew their licenses once per year. There is usually another application fee that they need to pay along with this renewal. This is also where all of their continuing education requirements will be reviewed to make sure they have met the requirements to maintain their license.

It is possible that some estheticians might be grandfathered into an older set of requirements, but most states now require estheticians to renew their licenses annually. Some states may also require their estheticians to take another test when they renew their license, but this is something that is handled on a case-by-case basis. As long as estheticians do not have any complaints, they should not have any issues renewing their licenses.

Esthetician License Requirements by State 2024

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State
Min Age
Min Education
Training Hours
Theory Exams
Practical Exams
CEUs
Arizona23High school500YesYesNot Required
Indiana1810th grade700NoNoNot Required
Montana18High school diploma650YesYes15 CEUs
Nevada1810th grade900nono30 cosmetology CEUs
Rhode Island18High school diploma600YesYesNot Required
South Dakota18High school diploma600YesYesNot Required
Vermont18High school diploma600YesYesNot Required
West Virginia18High school diploma600YesYes4 CEUs per year
Wisconsin18High school diploma1,550YesYes1 CEU of laws governing the barbering and cosmetology professions and establishments; 3 CEUs of Safety, Sanitation, and Infection Control
Alaska17High school350YesYesNot Required
Georgia171,000YesYes5 CEUs
Kansas17High school graduate1,000NoNoNot Required
Maine1710th grade600NoNo14 CEUs
Maryland179th grade600YesYesNot Required
Massachusetts1710th grade300YesYesNot Required
Michigan179th grade400NoNoNot Required
Mississippi17High school600YesYes16 CEUs
Missouri1710th grade750YesYesNot Required
Nebraska17High school diploma600YesNo8 CEUs every 2 years
New Jersey17High school diploma600YesYesNot Required
New Mexico17High school600nonoNot Required
New York17600YesYesNot Required
Texas17High school diploma750YesYesSpeciality Operator License: 4 department-approved CEUs; Instructor License: 6 department-approved CEUs
Utah17600YesYesNot Required
Washington17750YesYesNot Required
Idaho16.510th grade600YesYesNot Required
Alabama1610th grade1,000YesYes8 hours
Arkansas1610th grade600YesYesNot Required
California1610th grade1,600YesYesNot Required
Colorado16600YesYesNot Required
Delaware161,500YesYesNot Required
Florida16High school diploma266YesNo16 hours
Hawaii16High school600NoNoNot Required
Illinois168th grade750NoNo14 CEUs
Louisiana1610th grade750NoNoNot Required
Ohio1610th grade750nono8 CEUs
Oklahoma1610th grade600YesYesNot Required
Oregon168th grade500YesYesNot Required
Pennsylvania1610th grade300YesYesNot Required
South Carolina1610th grade450YesYes12 CEUs
Tennessee16750YesYes
Wyoming1610th grade600YesYesNot Required
Virginia-600YesYesNot Required
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Esthetician License Requirements by State 2024

Sources