How do I become a licensed esthetician in Illinois?

To become a licensed esthetician in Illinois, you must complete 750 hours of training from an approved esthetics program, pass a written exam, and pass a practical exam. The exam is administered by State-administered.

How many hours of training are required for an esthetician license in Illinois?

Illinois requires 750 hours of esthetician training. An apprenticeship alternative is not available.

What are the esthetician license fees in Illinois?

Total initial esthetician license fees in Illinois are approximately varies. This includes application fees, exam fees, and license issuance fees. Renewal fees are determined by the board per 2 years renewal period.

Does Illinois offer a master esthetician license?

No, Illinois does not currently offer a separate master or advanced esthetician license. All licensed estheticians hold the same credential level.

Esthetician

IllinoisEsthetician License Requirements

EstheticianLast verified: March 2026

Governing Authority

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Official website →

2 sources cited · Last verified 2026-03-21 · Every number on this page links to its official source

Some information on this page has not been fully verified.

61% of data points are verified against official sources. 12 fields based on preliminary research. 1 field needs verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data

750

Training Hours

Has Master?

Yes

Written Exam

Yes

Practical Exam

Varies

Total Fees

10 hrs

CE Hours

Training Requirements

Training Program

Verified

Required Training Hours

750 hours

Verified

Program Accreditation

Board-approved esthetician school or program approved by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Verified

Apprenticeship Alternative

Not Available

Verified

Topics Covered

Facial treatments and skin careHair removal (waxing, threading)Makeup applicationSkin analysis and consultationSafety and sanitationAnatomy and physiology of the skinChemistry as related to estheticsBusiness practices and state law

License Types

Basic Esthetician

Available

Required Hours

750 hours

Verified

Additional Requirements

•Complete approved esthetician training program (750 hours)
•Pass written examination
•Pass practical examination
•Submit application with required fees

Master/Advanced Esthetician

N/A

Required Hours

Not specified

Verified

Examination Requirements

Exam Information

Verified

Written Exam

Required

Practical Exam

Required

Exam Provider

State-administered

Verified

Passing Score

75%

Verified

General Requirements

Minimum Age

16 yearsVerified

Education

8th grade education with high school diploma or equivalentVerified

Background Check

RequiredVerified

Scope of Practice

Mostly verified

Allowed Services

✓Facials and skin treatments
✓Waxing and hair removal
✓Makeup application
✓Skin analysis and consultation
✓Exfoliation and masks
✓Superficial chemical peels
✓Body treatments and wraps

Restricted Services

✗Injectable treatments (Botox, fillers) — medical professionals only
✗Deep chemical peels — physician supervision required
✗Laser treatments — restricted to medical professionals or master estheticians in some states
✗Prescribing medications or making medical diagnoses

Chemical Peels

Microdermabrasion

Laser Treatments

Advanced Services Supervision

Laser and advanced procedures require physician supervision or are restricted to medical professionals

Fee Breakdown

Fee	Amount	Confidence
Total Initial Fees Contact board for current fee schedule	Varies	Mostly verified

Fee

Amount

Total Initial Fees

Contact board for current fee schedule

Varies

Renewal & Continuing Education

Renewal & CE Requirements

Verified

2 years

Renewal Period

CE Hours Required

—

Renewal Fee

Continuing Education Required

Verified

Contact board for current fee schedule

Regulatory Board

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)

Reciprocity & Transfer

Out-of-State Reciprocity

Verified

Accepts Out-of-State Licenses

Transfer Type

Endorsement

Verified

Hours Comparison Required for Transfer

Verified

Additional Requirements for Transfer

•Must submit application to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
•Must provide proof of current license in good standing from another state
•Must have completed at least 750 hours of training (or state equivalent)
•Must pass background check

Most states require estheticians to meet the destination state's training hour requirements when transferring a license. If your original state required fewer hours, additional training may be needed.

Special Notes

★

Illinois recently (August 2025) expanded the esthetician scope of practice to explicitly include hydrodermabrasion and dermaplaning for cosmetic purposes. CE hours include mandatory topics on domestic violence and sexual harassment.

•

Illinois requires 750 hours of esthetician training

•

10 hours CE required for renewal (includes 1 hr domestic violence, 1 hr sexual harassment)

•

First renewal cycle CE is waived

•

Licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years

•

As of August 2025, hydrodermabrasion and dermaplaning explicitly in scope of practice

•

There is no interstate compact for estheticians.

Your Next Steps

Other Licenses in Illinois

Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Illinois.

Nearby States

IndianaEsthetician requirements →IowaEsthetician requirements →KentuckyEsthetician requirements →MissouriEsthetician requirements →WisconsinEsthetician requirements →

State Rankings

Compare all states

How this state compares to 50 others for this profession

Timeline

#42 of 51

Salary

#34 of 51

Processing

#1 of 51

Salary & Earnings

Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Skincare Specialists (SOC 39-5094)

Entry Level

$33,380

25th percentile

Median

$38,580

-7% vs. national avg ($41,560)

Experienced

$47,550

75th percentile

Wage Distribution (Annual)

$29,460

10th

$33,380

25th

$38,580

Median

$47,550

75th

$77,500

90th

1,630 employed in this state

Note: BLS OEWS data reflects only base wages reported by employers. Esthetician income often includes tips and product sales commissions not captured in these figures.

Source: BLS OEWS – Skincare Specialists (May 2024)

Job Outlook & Growth

National employment projections for 2024-2034

Projected Growth

+12.3%

High Demand

New Jobs

+8,900

over 10 years

Annual Openings

9,400

per year (avg.)

vs. all occupations (4% avg.):+8.3 percentage points

72,500 currently employed nationwide (2024)

Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)

Career Advancement Path

Cosmetology Career Ladder+1% salary growth potential

Nail Technician

$34,520

Nail tech program (300-600 hours)

You are here

Esthetician

$38,580

Esthetics program (600-750 hours)

Cosmetologist

$34,800

Cosmetology program (1,000-1,600 hours)

Nail Technician

Nail tech program (300-600 hours)

$34,520

You are here

Esthetician

Esthetics program (600-750 hours)

$38,580

Cosmetologist

Cosmetology program (1,000-1,600 hours)

$34,800

Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 for this state. Career paths represent common advancement routes — actual progression may vary. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook

Time to Get Licensed

Estimated total: 31–56 weeks

Complete 750-hour esthetician program

25–38 weeks

Submit license application

1–2 weeks

Pass written and practical exams

1–4 weeks

Application processing & license issuance

4–12 weeks

Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.

Source: IDFPR - Cosmetology

Application Processing Time

4–12 weeks

Estimated processing time

Source: IDFPR - Cosmetology

Esthetician Exam Prep Books for Illinois

Study guides and practice tests for the esthetician licensing exam.

Browse Study Guides on Amazon →

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Professional Equipment & Supplies for Illinois

Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.

Facial Steamers →Esthetician Kits →Magnifying Lamps →Milady Esthetics Guides →

Sources

IDFPR - Cosmetology

Accessed 2026-03-08

Illinois Esthetician License Requirements Guide

Accessed 2026-03-08

Disclaimer: This information is compiled from official state licensing board websites and verified against multiple sources. Always confirm current requirements directly with your state's licensing authority, as licensing rules can change. Links to official state resources are provided for each data point. LicenseMap does not provide legal, financial, or tax advice. See something incorrect? Report it here.

Start Your Esthetician Career in Illinois

Illinois requires 750 hours of training to become a licensed esthetician. Both written and practical exams are required. All licensing is managed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) →

Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state Board of Cosmetology.