Esthetician License Requirements in Connecticut
- Training hours
- 600 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $100
- Exam
- —
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age is specified in Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-265b for the esthetician license itself (contrast with hairdresser/cosmetician licensure, which sets an 18-year minimum elsewhere in the same chapter). No criminal history records check is required to apply for an esthetician license; the same chapter explicitly states hairdresser/cosmetician applicants 'shall not be required to submit to a state or national criminal history records check as a prerequisite to licensure' (§20-236(b)), and no such check is imposed on estheticians under §20-265b either. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2025-03-11 (www.cga.ct.gov blocks direct fetches). [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. Connecticut only began licensing estheticians on July 1, 2020 (P.A. 19-117), so this is a young license category regulated by the Department of Public Health rather than a cosmetology board. Applicants must complete not less than 600 hours of study and receive a certification of completion from a school approved under Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-265g (or an out-of-state school with equivalent requirements). A now-closed grandfather pathway allowed applicants who had practiced esthetics continuously in Connecticut for at least 2 years before July 1, 2020 to apply via an attestation instead, but only if filed before January 1, 2022. [1]
- 3
Submit your application
Submit your application to Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section with the $100 application fee. [2]
- 4
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section issues your Esthetician License for Connecticut.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $100 |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | $100 |
There is no state exam and no separate exam fee. Connecticut charges a single $100 application fee (Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-265b(b)), which also covers the temporary permit issued while an application is pending, and a $100 biennial renewal fee (§20-265b(d)). No separate initial 'license issuance' fee beyond the $100 application fee was found. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2025-03-11 (www.cga.ct.gov blocks direct fetches).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Licenses expire per the general Department of Public Health renewal statute (Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-88) and may be renewed every 2 years for a $100 fee. No continuing-education requirement for esthetician license renewal was found in Chapter 387 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2025-03-11 (www.cga.ct.gov blocks direct fetches).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
The Department may license an applicant who currently holds an esthetician license (or an equivalent designation performing similar services) in good standing from another state, DC, or a US commonwealth/territory, and who has practiced under that license for at least 2 years immediately preceding the Connecticut application. A temporary permit (valid up to 120 days, non-renewable) may be issued while the endorsement application is pending, upon the same $100 application fee and a copy of the current out-of-state license. Connecticut is not listed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2025-03-11 (www.cga.ct.gov blocks direct fetches).
7 state-approved training providers in Connecticut — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $100
Frequently asked questions
Does Connecticut require a licensing exam for estheticians?
No. Unlike most states, Connecticut has no written or practical exam for the esthetician license — only the 600-hour training requirement and a $100 application fee.
How many training hours does Connecticut require for an Esthetician license?
600 hours of study from a Department-approved school (or an out-of-state school with equivalent requirements).
When did Connecticut start licensing estheticians?
July 1, 2020. It's one of the newer license categories among Connecticut's beauty/personal-care professions, regulated by the Department of Public Health rather than a cosmetology board.
How often does a Connecticut Esthetician license need to be renewed?
Every two years, for a $100 fee. No continuing education is required.
Can I transfer an out-of-state esthetician license to Connecticut?
Yes, if you hold a current license in good standing and have practiced under it for at least 2 years immediately before applying. A temporary permit (up to 120 days) is available while your application is reviewed.
Sources
- [1] portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing--Investigations/Esthetician/Licensing-Requirements — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] cga.ct.gov/2023/pub/chap_387.htm — accessed 2026-07-11