StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Delaware

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$406
Exam
NIC Esthetics Theory Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content), NIC Esthetics Practical Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Professional Regulation)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, Completed an education equivalent to at least the 10th grade, pass a criminal background check. Delaware Code Title 24, Chapter 51 bars licensure to an applicant who has been convicted of a crime substantially related to the practice of cosmetology, barbering, electrology, or nail technology, subject to Board waiver consideration — this is a self-disclosed criminal-history review rather than a mandated fingerprint-based background check. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 600 classroom hours in a Board-approved school, OR 1,200 apprenticeship hours. Delaware's own materials alternate between spelling the license 'Esthetician' (Division of Professional Regulation website) and 'Aesthetician' (statute and exam-vendor documents) — both refer to the same license. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Esthetics Theory Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content)

    Pass the NIC Esthetics Theory Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content) (fee: $160). Computer-based multiple choice, 90 minutes First-time test-taker fee. A combined theory + practical package is available for $225 total (vs. $160 + $145 = $305 if scheduled separately). Re-exam fee is $80. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Esthetics Practical Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content)

    Pass the NIC Esthetics Practical Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content) (fee: $145). In-person practical/skills demonstration, 2-3 hours First-time test-taker fee. Re-exam fee is $65. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Professional Regulation) with the $101 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Professional Regulation) issues your Esthetician License for Delaware.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $101
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] None specified
NIC Esthetics Theory Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content) [2] $160
NIC Esthetics Practical Examination (Delaware, effective 8/1/2024 content) [2] $145
Temporary Permit (while awaiting exam results) [3] $40
NIC Theory + Practical combined exam package (Prometric) [3] $225

The $101 Examination Application fee (paid to the Board via DELPROS) is the complete initial-licensure application fee; no separate license-issuance fee was found. Renewal and reinstatement fees are not published on a static schedule — Delaware law requires the Division to set all board fees biennially to approximate the actual cost of administration, and licensees are 'notified of the amount of the renewal fee at the time of renewal.' A late renewal (within 5 years of expiration) adds a late fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee. Exam fees ($160 theory + $145 practical, or $225 combined) are paid directly to Prometric, separate from the Board's $101 application fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Aesthetician (esthetician) licenses expire March 31 of even-numbered years — a 2-year cycle. Delaware's FAQ page states continuing education is not currently required to renew, although Title 24 §5115 of the Delaware Code gives the Board authority to require CE by rule in the future.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Delaware grants a license by reciprocity to an applicant who holds a current esthetician license from another state, U.S. territory, or DC, submits licensure verification directly from every state/jurisdiction where they hold or have ever held a license, and provides proof of having passed a nationally-developed written and practical exam. Two paths: (1) at least one jurisdiction where the applicant is licensed requires equal or greater training hours than Delaware's 600/1,200; or (2) if all current licenses require fewer hours, the applicant must additionally document at least 1 continuous year of full-time esthetician work experience within the past 5 years. The reciprocity application fee is $101, the same as the exam-track application fee. Delaware is not confirmed 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $101
  • $160
  • $145
Total$406

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Delaware require for an Esthetician (Aesthetician) license?

600 classroom hours in a Board-approved school, or 1,200 hours through an apprenticeship.

Who administers Delaware's esthetician licensing exams?

Prometric administers the NIC theory ($160) and practical ($145) exams, or $225 as a combined package.

Is continuing education required to renew a Delaware esthetician license?

No, not currently, though the Board has statutory authority to require it in the future. Licenses renew every 2 years, expiring March 31 of even-numbered years.

Does Delaware run a criminal background check for an esthetician license?

Delaware bars licensure for a conviction substantially related to the practice of cosmetology/barbering/electrology/nail technology, subject to a Board waiver — this is a disclosed criminal-history review rather than mandatory fingerprinting.

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

Yes, by reciprocity, if you hold a current license and submit verification from every state where you've been licensed, plus proof of passing a nationally-developed exam. Additional work-experience documentation is required if none of your out-of-state licenses required as many training hours as Delaware.

Sources

  1. [1] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] prometric.com/files/2022-04/DE%20Cosmetology%20and%20Barber%20Board%20Candidate%20Manual%20v.3.25.2022.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c051/sc01/index.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] dpr.delaware.gov/boards/cosmetology/reciprocity/ — accessed 2026-07-11