StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Alaska

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
350 hrs
Upfront cost
$420
Exam
National Esthetician Test (written)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age is specified in statute or regulation for the esthetician license itself (the 18-year minimum in AS 08.13.070(d) applies only to tattooing, permanent cosmetic coloring, and body-piercing trainees). The application does not require a formal criminal background check/fingerprinting, but it does include self-disclosed 'professional fitness' questions; a 'yes' answer requires a signed explanation and does not automatically deny the application. A U.S. Social Security Number must be on file (or an exemption request submitted) before a license is issued. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 350 hours of training at a state-approved program. 350 hours of training in a board-approved school, OR 350 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program (12 AAC 09.100, AS 08.13). Apprenticeship applicants must additionally pass a practical proficiency examination administered by their instructor at the end of training (12 AAC 09.050); school applicants demonstrate proficiency through the school's own program. [1]

  3. 3

    National Esthetician Test (written)

    Pass the National Esthetician Test (written) (fee: $90). Written, computer-based; in-person testing centers or remote proctoring; available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean Passing grade is 75% or above (12 AAC 09.065). Application fee ($150) is paid to the Board; the $90 exam fee is paid directly to Prov. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) with the $150 application fee. Typical processing time: Several weeks (varies by program; applications are reviewed in order of receipt). [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing) issues your Esthetician License for Alaska.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $150
License fee [1] $180
Renewal fee [1] $180
National Esthetician Test (written) [2] $90
Written exam (Prov, National Esthetician Test) [1] $90

Application fee ($150, nonrefundable) and initial biennial license fee ($180) are set in 12 AAC 02.140(a)(1)(A) and (b)(2); the biennial renewal fee is also $180 (12 AAC 02.140(c)(2)). The written exam fee is paid directly to the third-party vendor (Prov), not to the Board.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Licenses are issued for a two-year period and expire August 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of the date of issuance (licenses issued within 90 days of expiration roll to the next biennial cycle). There is no inactive status — an unrenewed license lapses. No continuing-education hours are required for esthetician license renewal in Alaska.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Alaska offers 'licensure by waiver of examination' (12 AAC 09.105): an applicant who holds a current esthetician license in another state and who qualified there by passing a written examination may receive an Alaska license without retesting, upon submission of a state-board-verified Verification of Training, Examination and Licensure form (application fee $150 + initial license fee $180, same as licensure by examination). If the applicant did not previously pass a written and practical/proficiency exam, Alaska will require it. Alaska does not appear on any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact commission's member list, so compacts is empty.

Cost calculator

  • $150
  • $180
  • $90
Total$420

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Alaska require for an esthetician license?

350 hours, completed either in a board-approved school or a board-approved apprenticeship program.

Who administers Alaska's esthetician licensing exam?

Prov administers the written National Esthetician Test (content sponsored by NIC) for a $90 fee paid directly to Prov, separate from the Board's $150 application fee.

How often does an Alaska esthetician license need to be renewed?

Every two years — all Alaska esthetician licenses expire August 31 of odd-numbered years regardless of when they were issued. There is no continuing-education requirement.

Can I transfer an out-of-state esthetician license to Alaska?

Yes, through licensure by waiver of examination, if you hold a current license in another state and originally qualified there by passing a written exam. You'll still pay the standard $150 application and $180 license fees.

Is there a minimum age to get an Alaska esthetician license?

Alaska's barbering and hairdressing statutes do not specify a minimum age for the esthetician license itself (unlike tattooing, permanent cosmetic coloring, and body piercing, which require trainees to be at least 18).

Sources

  1. [1] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/BAH_Stats_Regs.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/ProvCIB.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/bah4193.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11