illinois licensing requirements
Licenses Available: Cosmetologist, Electrologist, Esthetician, Nail Technician, Massage Terapist, Barber
Required Hours:
Barber: 1500 hours
Cosmetologist: 1500 hours
Electrologist: 600 Hours
Esthetician: 750 hours
Massage Therapist: 500 hours
Nail Technician: 350 hours
Reciprocity: To apply by endorsement you MUST hold an active cosmetologist license in another
jurisdiction at the time that your application for an Illinois cosmetologist license is received.
To qualify for a cosmetologist license by endorsement:
- Applicant must have met similar requirements at time of original license as were
in effect in Illinois at that time: graduate from an approved cosmetology school
with at least 1500 hours of instruction in cosmetology and complete similar
licensing exam with 75% or higher;
or - Applicant must establish proof of legal practice as a cosmetologist in another
jurisdiction for at least 3 years.
The following documentation must be submitted by all applicants for licensure on the basis of endorsement:
-
CT (Certification of Licensure)--Supporting Document CT must be completed by the jurisdiction of original licensure stating a brief description of any licensure examination taken and the grades received and whether the applicant's file contains any record of disciplinary actions taken or pending. You are authorized to photocopy the form if necessary.
Cosmetologist Instruction Sheet - Page 3
- Official transcript issued by each cosmetology school attended, with school seal affixed. If the school is no longer in operation, contact the licensing board in the state of your original licensure and request they provide verification of the number of training hours required for your licensure.
- CT (Certification of Licensure)--Supporting Document CT must be completed by the jurisdiction of current licensure.
- VE-COB (Verification of Employment/Experience)--If you completed a similar licensing exam with 75% or higher but your cosmetology training consisted of less than 1500 hours, you may obtain credit for lawful practice as a cosmetologist in another jurisidiction. Three hundred (300) hours of educational credit will be given for every 12-month period of lawful practice as a cosmetologist. To obtain credit for lawful practice, you must submit Supporting Document
VE-COB. Each VE-COB must be completed by an employer, co-worker or client who can verify your practice as a cosmetologist. You must also submit Supporting Document CT from the jurisdiction where the lawful practice occurred. - VE-COB (Verification of Employment/Experience)--If you did not complete a licensing examination or you cannot verify 75% or higher, you must verify at least three (3) years of lawful practice in another jurisdiction. To verify three (3) years of lawful practice, you must submit two (2) Supporting Document VE-COB forms. An employer, co-worker or client who can verify your lawful practice as a cosmetologist must complete each VE-COB. If self-employed, you may complete one of the forms on your own behalf. You must also submit
Supporting Document CT from the jurisdiction where the lawful practice occurred. - Pay the $45 Endorsement Fee. Fee payment must be in the form of a check or money order made payable to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Download the Application (.pdf)
All supporting documentation should be sent from the source to address listed below:
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
320 West Washington
3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
(217) 785-0800
Written Provider: Continental Testing
Practical Provider: Continental Testing
Practical Exam Required: Yes
Renewal: $25 annually
