How many hours do you need for an esthetician license in Illinois?

Illinois requires 750 hours of approved training. That is more than 41 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 3.

How old do you have to be to get an esthetician license in Illinois?

You must be at least 16 years old. The education requirement is High school graduate or equivalent, or beyond compulsory school attendance.

How often do you renew a Illinois esthetician license?

The renewal cycle is 2 years. Continuing education: 10 hours per renewal.

IL Esthetician licensing

Illinois esthetician license requirements and exam prep

Confirm Illinois esthetician training hours, CTS/PSI exam sources, official rules and the matching practice app.

At a glance

Illinois Esthetician facts

License type: Esthetician
School hours: 750 hours
Written exam: Required
Practical exam: Not required
Exam vendor: Continental Testing Services / PSI
Passing score: 75%
Renewal cycle: 2 years
Minimum age: 16
Education: High school graduate or equivalent, or beyond compulsory school attendance
Last verified: 2026-08-01

Checked against 3 official sources on 2026-08-01. Every figure on this page links to the document it came from.

Application path

What to verify before you apply

1Confirm the license categoryState boards may use different names for the same career path.
2Verify training and exam eligibilityCheck hours, application order, fees, IDs and vendor rules from official sources.
3Practice once your path is clearUse the state-aware course app for written-exam practice and weak-area review.

Exam details

Written and practical exam notes

Written exam

Status: Required
Time limit: 90 minutes
Passing score: 75%

Practical exam

Status: Not required

Illinois does not require a hands-on practical examination for this license, so there is no practical time limit, score or fee to prepare for.

Renewal and transfer

Renewal: 2 years
Continuing education: 10 hours per renewal
Reciprocity: Case by case - the board compares your training and may require an exam

Still to verifyNot published in the cited sources: written question count, written exam languages. Verify the current board page or candidate bulletin before scheduling or applying.

Study path

How to use this Illinois esthetician guide

Verify the licensing path here, then use the course app for active recall, answer explanations, weak-area drills and timed written-exam practice.

Confirm eligibilityFinish 750 approved training hours before relying on exam practice as your only preparation step.
Prepare for the written examUse timed practice against the published written-exam structure: 90 minutes, passing standard 75%. The cited sources name Continental Testing Services / PSI as the exam vendor.
Focus the exam study loopIllinois does not require a practical exam for this license, so the course app can focus on written theory, explanations and timed drills.
Start the matching practice appBegin with the free questions, then unlock full access when your exam date is close enough that you will use the 90-day study window.

High-yield written topics

Skin sciencesInfection control, skin anatomy, physiology, disorders and contraindications.
Skin analysis and consultationFitzpatrick, skin type, treatment plans, client records and safety decisions.
Facials, masks and productsCleansing, exfoliation, massage, masks, chemistry and product selection.
Hair removal, makeup and machinesWaxing, makeup, electricity, modalities, precautions and state law.

Practice Esthetician questions

Official sources

Source links used for this guide

Part 1175 Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology ↗Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules · Accessed 2026-07-29Continuing education, Education, Minimum age, Passing Score, Practical exam, Renewal cycle, Training hours, Written exam
Illinois 131 - Licensed Esthetician ↗Continental Testing Services · Accessed 2026-07-29Exam vendor
National Esthetics Written Examination Candidate Information Bulletin ↗Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation · Accessed 2026-08-06Candidate Bulletin, Time Limit

Illinois in context

What these Illinois esthetician rules mean for you

Illinois requires 750 training hours for an esthetician license. Of the 51 jurisdictions tracked here, 41 ask for fewer hours and 3 ask for more, against a range of 220 to 1,000 hours and a median of 600. Hour requirements matter beyond school cost: a license earned in a low-hour state is often harder to transfer into a high-hour one.

Illinois requires a written examination but no hands-on practical examination for this license, which is unusual and means your preparation is entirely theory-based. The examination is administered by Continental Testing Services / PSI. The published passing standard is 75%.

Illinois Esthetician licensing questions

How many hours do you need for an esthetician license in Illinois?: Illinois requires 750 hours of approved training. That is more than 41 of the other jurisdictions tracked here and fewer than 3.
Is there a practical exam for the Illinois esthetician license?: No. Illinois does not require a hands-on practical examination for this license.
How long is the Illinois esthetician written exam?: You are allowed 90 minutes.
How old do you have to be to get an esthetician license in Illinois?: You must be at least 16 years old. The education requirement is High school graduate or equivalent, or beyond compulsory school attendance.
How often do you renew a Illinois esthetician license?: The renewal cycle is 2 years. Continuing education: 10 hours per renewal.

Verify before applying. Licensing rules, fees, providers, and exam formats can change. Use the linked board source as the final authority.