StateLicensed

Cosmetologist License Requirements in Illinois

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$225
Exam
Cosmetology Licensing Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, Beyond the age of compulsory school attendance, or holds a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent (e.g. GED). Age and education requirements are set by statute (225 ILCS 410/3-3); this statute page could not be reached live from ilga.gov during this research session (connection timeout), so it was verified via archive snapshot 2025-03-13. IDFPR does not require a fingerprint-based criminal background check for cosmetologist licensure; applicants instead answer self-disclosed 'Personal History Information' questions (criminal convictions, prior license discipline in any jurisdiction, other-than-honorable military/public-employment discharge, health conditions limiting practice) per IDFPR's Qualifications for Licensure document, and must submit supporting documentation only if they answer yes. Effective for original-licensure applications filed on or after January 1, 2026, applicants must also complete Department-approved abnormal skin growth (melanoma-identification) education, e.g. the 'Skinny on Skin' course by Impact Melanoma, Inc. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500 clock hours of instruction in a cosmetology curriculum from an IDFPR-approved licensed cosmetology school (225 ILCS 410/3-3), completed over not less than 8 months nor more than 7 consecutive years. Licensed Barbers/Barber Teachers may instead complete a 500-hour supplemental cosmetology program; licensed Estheticians and Nail Technicians complete the 1,500-hour curriculum with school-granted credit for coursework common to their prior license. Candidates may apply to sit for the exam pre-graduation with a minimum of 1,200 completed hours, but must submit proof of the full 1,500-hour program to IDFPR before a license is issued. [1]

  3. 3

    Cosmetology Licensing Examination

    Pass the Cosmetology Licensing Examination (fee: $195). Computerized exam offered in English or Spanish ($195); a paper/pencil Chinese-language version is also offered ($50). Candidates apply and pay directly at continentaltesting.net, not to IDFPR. Retake applicants reapply to CTS after a mandatory 30-day wait and pay the same fee; after 3 failed attempts, a refresher course is required before retesting. A passing score must be used to apply for an Illinois license within 1 year of notification (225 ILCS 410/4-5(e)). Fees are non-refundable. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation with the $30 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation issues your Cosmetologist License for Illinois.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $30
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $50
Cosmetology Licensing Examination [2] $195
Licensure by Acceptance of Examination (out-of-state exam accepted) [3] $30
Licensure by Endorsement [3] $45
Restoration of a lapsed/inactive license (base fee, plus lapsed renewal fees up to $200) [3] $50

Per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a), IDFPR does not itemize a separate 'application' fee distinct from the license fee for licensure-by-examination applicants: 'the fee for a license is $30 and is to be submitted with the application' — recorded here as 'application' with 'license' left null to avoid double-counting. Renewal is calculated at $25 per year; since the Cosmetologist renewal cycle is 2 years, the total amount due at renewal is $50. The cosmetology exam fee ($195 or $50, see exams[]) is paid directly to the Department's designated testing service, Continental Testing Service, Inc., and is separate from these IDFPR-collected fees. This administrative-code section could not be reached live from idfpr.illinois.gov/ilga.gov during this research session (connection timeout); verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-16.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 14 continuing education hours required per cycle.

All Cosmetologist licenses expire on September 30 of each odd-numbered year regardless of issuance date, making the effective renewal cycle 2 years. With the exception of a licensee's first renewal, 14 hours of Department-approved continuing education must be completed during the 2-year period leading up to expiration.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Illinois offers 'Licensure by Endorsement' ($45 fee) for cosmetologists currently registered/licensed and practicing in another U.S. jurisdiction under a license that is the same or substantially similar to Illinois's, verified via official certification of licensure sent directly to IDFPR by the original and (if different) current licensing state/board. IDFPR's own qualifications document states plainly that 'Illinois does not reciprocate licenses of another state, other jurisdiction of the United States, or foreign jurisdiction' — endorsement is a case-by-case substantial-equivalency review, not automatic reciprocity, and applicants who can't satisfy all requirements may be required to submit additional information, take coursework, and/or pass the exam. A separate Foreign Endorsement Method exists for applicants licensed outside the U.S. (requires 3+ years of practice within the preceding 5 years). Illinois was not found on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's list of enacted member states at cosmetologycompact.gov as of this research; the compact remains in an early, state-by-state enactment phase nationally.

60 state-approved training providers in Illinois — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $30
  • $195
Total$225

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Illinois require for a cosmetologist license?

1,500 clock hours of instruction in a cosmetology curriculum at an IDFPR-approved cosmetology school, completed over 8 months to 7 years. Licensed barbers may instead complete a 500-hour supplemental cosmetology program.

Who administers the Illinois cosmetology exam?

Continental Testing Service, Inc. (CTS), IDFPR's designated testing service. The computerized exam ($195, English or Spanish) is scheduled and proctored through PSI; a paper/pencil Chinese-language version ($50) is also offered.

How much does it cost to get licensed and renew in Illinois?

The license fee is $30, submitted with your application (paid to IDFPR, separate from the CTS exam fee). Renewal is calculated at $25/year, or $50 for the full 2-year cycle. Licensure by endorsement from another state costs $45.

Is there a minimum age or education requirement?

You must be at least 16 years old and either beyond the age of compulsory school attendance or hold a high school diploma or GED (225 ILCS 410/3-3). Starting with applications filed on or after January 1, 2026, you must also complete a Department-approved abnormal skin growth (melanoma) education course.

Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to Illinois?

You may apply for Licensure by Endorsement ($45) if your current license is the same or substantially similar to Illinois's, verified by official certification from your licensing state. IDFPR does not automatically reciprocate other states' licenses, and Illinois does not currently participate in a multi-state cosmetology compact.

Sources

  1. [1] idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/core/dpr/011-qualifications-for-licensure.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] continentaltesting.net/Profession/Index/4 — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068011750A01000R.html — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp — accessed 2026-07-10