StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Maine

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$268
Exam
NIC National Aesthetician Written Examination, NIC National Aesthetician Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, pass a criminal background check. The general qualifications statute for aesthetics (32 M.R.S. §14228) was amended in 2019 to repeal explicit age and education requirements. However, the separate student enrollment statute (32 M.R.S. §14233) requires students to be at least 16 years of age to enroll in a licensed school (or 15 if they will turn 16 during the course), functioning as the real-world minimum age for school-based applicants. Aesthetics trainee applicants must be at least 17 years old. Background check: the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation requires a criminal history records check as part of the application process for all applicants (5 M.R.S. §§5301-5303), so backgroundCheck is true. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 32 M.R.S. §14228 sets two alternative training pathways to qualify for an aesthetics license: (1) satisfactory completion of a course of instruction in aesthetics of 600 hours over not less than 3 months at a licensed school, or (2) experience as an aesthetics trainee of up to 1,000 hours distributed over at least 6 months under the direct supervision of a qualified supervisor at a licensed establishment. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC National Aesthetician Written Examination

    Pass the NIC National Aesthetician Written Examination (fee: $99). Written examination (computer-based, can be taken remotely or at physical testing centers). Maine's Program rules (Chapter 21 §1(3)) require applicants to pass a two-part practice-appropriate examination consisting of the NIC National Written Examination and the NIC National Practical Examination. The examinations are administered by Prov, Inc., which charges a $99 fee for the written component. Candidates must pass both components within 1 year of their first sitting, or both must be retaken. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC National Aesthetician Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC National Aesthetician Practical Examination (fee: $149). Practical examination (administered remotely). The practical component of the required two-part NIC examination, administered remotely by Prov, Inc. for a fee of $149. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Department of Professional and Financial Regulation — Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program issues your Aesthetician License for Maine.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $20
Renewal fee [3] $20
NIC National Aesthetician Written Examination [2] $99
NIC National Aesthetician Practical Examination [2] $149
Trainee License Application (includes $21 criminal records check fee) [3] $31
Trainee License Renewal (annual) [3] $10
Individual Professional License Application (includes $21 criminal history records check fee) [3] $41
Temporary License [3] $10
Late Renewal Fee, up to 90 days after expiration (OPOR Chapter 11 uniform late fee) [3] $50
Late Renewal Fee, more than 90 days after expiration [3] $25

OPOR's 'Establishment of License Fees' rule (Chapter 10, §5(8)) sets a single individual practitioner license fee of $20/year that applies to both initial issuance and renewal. There is no separate state application fee for licensure by examination (recorded here as application = null). A mandatory criminal history records check fee of $21 is collected by the Office at the time of initial application, making the total fee submitted with the Individual Professional License Application $41. Exam fees are paid directly to the testing vendor, Prov, Inc. (see exams).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

Maine aesthetics licenses renew annually on October 31st. No continuing education requirement is specified in Maine statutes or rules for aesthetician license renewal, so ceHours is null. A licensee who renews late is subject to a $50 late fee if within 90 days of expiration (OPOR Chapter 11) or a $25 late fee if more than 90 days late (Chapter 10 §5(8)). Per 32 M.R.S. §14235, an application filed more than 90 days after expiration must meet all new-applicant requirements.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Maine allows licensure by endorsement for applicants who hold a valid aesthetics (or related) license from another U.S. jurisdiction, via a $41 non-refundable application fee (consisting of the $20 license fee and $21 criminal records check fee) plus verification of licensure from the issuing state. Applicants whose completed course hours fall short of Maine's 600-hour requirement may substitute verifiable licensed practice work experience from the prior 4 years to make up the difference (OPOR rules ch. 21 § 4(2)). No cosmetology/aesthetics interstate compact currently covers Maine: the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is a newly-activating multistate compact, but Maine is not currently listed as a member state on the compact commission's site (as of this research), so compacts is left empty.

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

Cost calculator

  • $20
  • $99
  • $149
Total$268

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Maine require to become a licensed aesthetician?

600 hours of instruction at a licensed school of esthetics (which must be completed in not less than 3 months), or 1,000 hours of training as an aesthetics trainee (completed in at least 6 months) under the direct supervision of a qualified supervisor at a licensed establishment.

Who administers Maine's aesthetician licensing examinations?

Prov, Inc. is the testing vendor for the Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program. Candidates must pass both the NIC National Written Examination ($99 fee) and the NIC National Practical Examination ($149 fee).

How much does it cost to apply for an aesthetician license in Maine?

The Individual Professional License application fee is $41.00, which includes a $20.00 licensing fee and a $21.00 criminal history records check fee. Standard exam approval applications have no additional fee, while trainee license applications cost $31.00.

How often does a Maine aesthetician license need to be renewed?

Aesthetics licenses in Maine are renewed annually on October 31st for a fee of $20.00. There is no continuing education (CE) requirement for renewal.

Can I transfer an out-of-state aesthetician license to Maine?

Yes, through licensure by endorsement: submit an Individual License Application with a non-refundable $41.00 fee (covering the license and criminal history check) and an original verification of licensure from your issuing state. If your original training hours are less than Maine's 600-hour requirement, you may substitute verifiable licensed work experience from the past 4 years to make up the difference.

Sources

  1. [1] legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec14228.html — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/barbering-cosmetology-licensing/examinations — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/barbering-cosmetology-licensing/licensing/individual-licenses — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec14233.html — accessed 2026-07-11