Illinois beauty licenses

Illinois cosmetology license requirements

Q: How do you get a nail technician license in Illinois?

Illinois calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 350 hours of training, exam administered by IDFPR or its testing service; passing score 75, $30 in state fees. It renews every 2 years.

Q: How do you get an esthetician license in Illinois?

Illinois calls it a Licensed Esthetician license, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 750 hours of training, exam testing theoretical and practical knowledge; passing grade 75, $30 in state fees. It renews every 2 years.

Q: How do you get a barber license in Illinois?

Illinois calls it a Barber license, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 1,500 hours of training, exam administered by IDFPR or its testing service; passing grade 75, $30 in state fees. It renews every 2 years.

To work as a cosmetologist in Illinois you need a Cosmetologist license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 1,500 hours of school and $30 in state fees. Exams: exam testing theoretical and practical knowledge; passing grade 75. Barbers, nail technicians and estheticians each need a license of their own, below. Every figure is quoted from the state's official pages, read on October 22, 2026.

Cosmetology hours: 1,500
Barber hours: 1,500
Nail tech hours: 350
Esthetics hours: 750

Licensed by IDFPR.How to apply License lookup The state's own words

Cosmetologist

Illinois cosmetology license

License: Cosmetologist
Issued by: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Training: 1,500 hoursAbout 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Exam testing theoretical and practical knowledge; passing grade 75
Who can apply: 16 years old, high school diploma or equivalent (or beyond compulsory school age)
State fees, first license: $30
Renewal: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 14 hours per renewal

Illinois's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

Barber

Illinois barber license

License: Barber
Issued by: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Training: 1,500 hoursAbout 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Exam administered by IDFPR or its testing service; passing grade 75
Who can apply: 16 years old, high school diploma or equivalent (or beyond compulsory school age)
State fees, first license: $30
Renewal: Every 2 years
Continuing education: Not stated

Illinois's 1,500 hours are more than the 1,250 hours of the middle state.

Nail technician

Illinois nail technician license

License: Nail Technician
Issued by: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Training: 350 hoursAbout 2 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Exam administered by IDFPR or its testing service; passing score 75
Who can apply: 16 years old, high school diploma or equivalent, or beyond compulsory school age
State fees, first license: $30
Renewal: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 10 hours per renewal

Illinois's 350 hours are the same as the 350 hours of the middle state.

Esthetician

Illinois esthetician license

Illinois calls it the Licensed Esthetician license.

License: Licensed Esthetician
Issued by: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Training: 750 hoursAbout 5 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate, not a state rule).
Exams: Exam testing theoretical and practical knowledge; passing grade 75
Who can apply: 16 years old, high school diploma or equivalent (or beyond compulsory school age)
State fees, first license: $30
Renewal: Every 2 years
Continuing education: 10 hours per renewal

Illinois's 750 hours are more than the 600 hours of the middle state.

Doing lashes, lifts, waxing or threading? See which license Illinois requires for each. Microblading or permanent makeup? See what Illinois requires for it. Microneedling, peels, dermaplaning or lasers? See what an esthetician may do in Illinois.

Moving here

Licensed in another state?

Cosmetologists licensed in another state apply with official certification of the original and current licenses; the license must be the same or substantially similar to Illinois' cosmetology license.

Good to know in Illinois

Estheticians' first renewal must include one hour of domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education.
Cosmetologists do not need to complete CE for the first renewal after the original license is issued.
From October 1, 2026, the barber, cosmetology, esthetician and nail technician exams are offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

Sources

What Illinois's official pages say

Each figure above, in the words of the state's own pages, rules or statutes, read on October 22, 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the board before you enroll or apply.

Cosmetologist: license: “A person is qualified to receive a license as a cosmetologist”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Cosmetologist: training hours: “cosmetology, having completed a program of 1,500 hours in the study of cosmetology extending over a period of not less than 8 months”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Cosmetologist: exams: “Each cosmetology applicant shall be given an examination testing both theoretical and practical knowledge”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
“The passing grade on each examination is 75 or another state's passing grade.”
ilga.gov
Cosmetologist: who can apply: “Be a high school graduate or its equivalent or be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance;”
ilga.gov
“Is at least 16 years of age; and”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Cosmetologist: fees: “The fee for a license is $30 and is to be submitted with the application.”
ilga.gov
Cosmetologist: renewal: “Cosmetologist licenses shall expire on September 30 of each odd-numbered year.”
ilga.gov
“minimum of 14 hours of CE from a cosmetology sponsor registered with the Division”
ilga.gov
Barber: license: “A person is qualified to receive a license as a barber”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Barber: training hours: “having completed a total of 1500 hours in the study of barbering extending over a period of not less than 9 months”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Barber: exams: “Examinations shall be administered by the Division or its designated testing service for barbers and teachers of barbering.”
ilga.gov
“The passing grade on each examination is 75 or another state's passing grade.”
ilga.gov
Barber: who can apply: “Be a high school graduate or its equivalent or beyond the age of compulsory school attendance;”
ilga.gov
“Be at least 16 years of age;”
ilga.gov
Barber: fees: “The fee for a license is $30 and is to be submitted with the application.”
ilga.gov
Barber: renewal: “Barber, barber teacher and barber school licenses shall expire on July 31 of each odd numbered year.”
ilga.gov
Nail technician: license: “A person is qualified to receive a license as a nail technician”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Nail technician: training hours: “having completed a program of 350 hours in the study of nail technology extending over a period of not less than 8 weeks”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Nail technician: exams: “Examinations shall be administered by the Division or its designated testing service for nail technicians”
ilga.gov
“The passing score on each examination is 75.”
ilga.gov
Nail technician: who can apply: “Is at least 16 years of age;”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
“Is beyond the age of compulsory school attendance”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Nail technician: fees: “The fee for a license is $30 and is to be submitted with the application.”
ilga.gov
Nail technician: renewal: “Every nail technician, nail technology teacher and nail technology school license shall expire on October 31 of each even-numbered year.”
ilga.gov
“a minimum of 10 hours of CE from a sponsor registered with the Division”
ilga.gov
Esthetician: license: “A person is qualified to receive a license as a licensed esthetician”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Esthetician: training hours: “having completed a program of 750 hours in the study of esthetics extending over a period of not less than 18 weeks”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Esthetician: exams: “shall cover both theoretical and practical knowledge”
ilga.gov
“The passing grade on each examination is 75 or another state's passing grade.”
ilga.gov
Esthetician: who can apply: “Has a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
“Is at least 16 years of age; and”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Esthetician: fees: “The fee for a license is $30 and is to be submitted with the application.”
ilga.gov
Esthetician: renewal: “Esthetician licenses shall expire on September 30 of each odd-numbered year.”
ilga.gov
“minimum of 10 hours of CE from a sponsor registered with the Division”
ilga.gov
Licensed in another state: “The license issued must be the same or substantially similar to the cosmetology license issued by the Division;”
ilga.gov
“The fee for a license for a cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, hair braider, nail technician, cosmetology teacher, barber teacher, esthetics teacher, hair braiding teacher, or nail technology teacher licensed under the laws of another jurisdiction is $45.”
ilga.gov
Also good to know: “For the initial renewal of an esthetician's license which requires continuing education, as prescribed by rule, one hour of the continuing education shall include domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education”
witnessslips.ilga.gov
Also good to know: “A renewal applicant is not required to comply with CE for the first renewal after issuance of original license.”
ilga.gov
Also good to know: “Effective October 1st 2026 examinations for the barber, cosmetology, esthetician and nail technician professions will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese”
idfpr.illinois.gov

Questions

Illinois beauty licenses, answered

How many hours do you need for a cosmetology license in Illinois?

1,500 hours of training for a Cosmetologist license. About 10 months of full-time school at 35 hours a week (our estimate). Illinois's 1,500 hours are the same as the 1,500 hours of the middle state.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in Illinois?

The state's fees for a first Cosmetologist license are $30, and it renews every 2 years. School tuition is the much larger cost, and testing companies may charge their own exam fees.

How do you renew a cosmetology license in Illinois?

The Cosmetologist license renews every 2 years. Each renewal needs 14 hours of continuing education. Renew with IDFPR before the license expires.

How do you get a nail technician license in Illinois?

Illinois calls it a Nail Technician license, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 350 hours of training, exam administered by IDFPR or its testing service; passing score 75, $30 in state fees. It renews every 2 years.

How do you get an esthetician license in Illinois?

Illinois calls it a Licensed Esthetician license, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 750 hours of training, exam testing theoretical and practical knowledge; passing grade 75, $30 in state fees. It renews every 2 years.

How do you get a barber license in Illinois?

Illinois calls it a Barber license, issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). It takes 1,500 hours of training, exam administered by IDFPR or its testing service; passing grade 75, $30 in state fees. It renews every 2 years.

Can you transfer a cosmetology license from another state to Illinois?

Do you need a separate license to open a salon in Illinois?

Usually, yes: the business needs its own establishment license on top of each person's license. See what Illinois requires to open a salon, with its fees, inspection and booth rental rules.

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