StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Florida

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
220 hrs
Upfront cost
$75
Exam
—
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Board of Cosmetology

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, At least 16 years of age, or has received a high school diploma (which allows applicants younger than 16 with a diploma), pass a criminal background check. Applicants must disclose criminal convictions, pending investigations, prior license denials, and prior disciplinary actions on the application (Section IV of DBPR COSMO 1/COSMO 4-A) — a self-disclosure model, not mandatory fingerprinting. Florida Statute §455.227(1)(t) additionally requires all licensees to self-report any post-licensure conviction, guilty finding, or nolo contendere plea within 30 days, on penalty of discipline. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 220 hours of training at a state-approved program. Florida does not use the title 'Esthetician' — the equivalent license is a 'Facial Specialist' registration (license code FB), requiring 220 hours of training at a Florida cosmetology school. Applicants must also complete a board-approved Initial HIV/AIDS course of at least 4 hours, finished within 2 years before applying. Unlike Florida's Cosmetologist license, no state examination is required for Facial Specialist — the registration issues once training and the HIV/AIDS course are verified. [1]

  3. 3

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Board of Cosmetology with the $75 application fee. Typical processing time: About 2-6 weeks. [4]

  4. 4

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Board of Cosmetology issues your Facial Specialist Registration for Florida.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $75
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $40
Late renewal fee (submitted after the biennial deadline) [1] $65
Registration by Endorsement fee (out-of-state applicants) [1] $59

The Facial Specialist Based on Florida Education application fee is $75, per the current DBPR COSMO 1 form (this is the current official figure — several third-party guides cite an outdated $85). No separate license-issuance fee applies beyond the $75 application fee; the registration issues directly. Renewal is $40 if submitted by the October 31 deadline of the licensee's assigned renewal year (odd or even, per Rule 61G5-24.008, F.A.C.), rising to $65 if submitted after.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 10 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Facial Specialist registrations expire October 31 in either odd-numbered or even-numbered years, depending on which renewal group the licensee is assigned to. Renewal requires 10 hours of continuing education per cycle from a board-approved CE provider (per Rule 61G5-32.001, F.A.C.), including: 1 hour HIV/AIDS, 3 hours sanitation/sterilization, 0.5 hour OSHA, 0.5 hour workers' compensation, 2 hours laws and rules, 1 hour chemical makeup, 1 hour environmental issues, and 1 hour elective.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Florida offers 'Registration by Endorsement' (DBPR COSMO 4-A) for applicants who hold a current, active Facial Specialist (or equivalent) license/registration from another state whose requirements are substantially similar to, equivalent to, or greater than Florida's, and who completed at least 220 hours of training. Endorsement applicants must submit certification of licensure verifying hours completed, a Certificate of Completion from their specialist training program, and a board-approved Initial HIV/AIDS course certificate; the endorsement fee is $59. Out-of-country facial specialists are not eligible for licensure by endorsement. Florida 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $75
Total$75

Frequently asked questions

Does Florida use the title 'Esthetician'?

No. Florida's equivalent license is called 'Facial Specialist' (registration code FB), issued by the DBPR Board of Cosmetology.

How many training hours does Florida require for a Facial Specialist registration?

220 hours at a Florida cosmetology school, plus a 4-hour board-approved Initial HIV/AIDS course.

Do Florida Facial Specialists have to pass a state exam?

No. Unlike Florida's Cosmetologist license, the Facial Specialist registration does not require a state examination — the registration issues once training and the HIV/AIDS course are verified.

Is continuing education required to renew a Florida Facial Specialist registration?

Yes — 10 hours per 2-year renewal cycle, covering sanitation, OSHA, workers' compensation, laws and rules, HIV/AIDS, chemical makeup, environmental issues, and an elective.

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

Yes, through Registration by Endorsement, if your current license is from a US state with substantially similar or greater requirements and you completed at least 220 hours of training. The endorsement fee is $59. Out-of-country licenses are not eligible for endorsement.

Sources

  1. [1] www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/COSMO1_Initial_License_Based_on_Florida_Education.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/CL1_Insert_Current.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] www2.myfloridalicense.com/pro/cosmo/documents/COSMO4A_Registration_by_Endorsement.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] www2.myfloridalicense.com/cosmetology/faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-11