StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Maryland

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$105
Exam
PSI Esthetician Combined Examination (Theory and Practical)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old, Completion of 9th grade or a G.E.D., pass a criminal background check. Maryland occupational licensing boards, including the State Board of Cosmetologists, participate in the state's Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository criminal history records check (CHRC)/fingerprinting process for licensure; recent state legislation (SB0815, effective 2026) restricts what criminal-history disclosures the Board may require but does not eliminate the CHRC process itself. A dedicated esthetician-specific application/background-check page could not be located to confirm this identically to the general cosmetology requirements page. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 600 hours of instruction in providing esthetic services at a cosmetology school approved by the Maryland State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission, OR 12 months as a registered apprentice in a licensed beauty salon. This is a distinct, lower-hour credential ("Limited License - Esthetician") issued by the same Board of Cosmetologists that licenses full cosmetologists (1,500 hours) — it is not a sub-scope of the full cosmetologist license. [1]

  3. 3

    PSI Esthetician Combined Examination (Theory and Practical)

    Pass the PSI Esthetician Combined Examination (Theory and Practical) (fee: $77). Combined theory + practical fee is $77; the two components can also be taken separately at $47 each ($94 total), so candidates save $17 by testing together. Both components must be passed within two years of each other to remain valid. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) with the $28 application fee. Typical processing time: 1-30 days. [5]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) issues your Limited License - Esthetician for Maryland.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $28
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $28
PSI Esthetician Combined Examination (Theory and Practical) [2] $77
Late renewal fee [3] $56

The Board's fee schedule lists a single $28 original-license fee for the Limited Esthetician category, which covers issuance — there is no separate itemized 'license' fee distinct from the original application fee, so 'license' is left null to avoid double-counting. A Maryland OneStop portal page separately lists a '$25.00 Estimated Cost' for the same license, which appears to be a rounded/outdated estimate distinct from the Board's own itemized $28 fee; the Board's own fee schedule was treated as authoritative. PSI's exam fee ($77 combined, or $47 per component) is paid separately to PSI, not the Board.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 6 continuing education hours required per cycle.

License is valid for a two-year period. The Board's general continuing-education rule (6 hours per renewal cycle: 2 hours of required topics — health, safety, welfare, sanitation, or Board laws/regulations — plus 4 hours of electives) applies board-wide to its license categories; a source specific to the Limited Esthetician renewal page could not be located to confirm this figure applies identically to this category, so it is recorded with lower confidence. Effective January 1, 2026, all applicants for an original license and all renewing licensees must also complete a one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training course from a Board-approved provider.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Maryland offers licensure by endorsement to a Limited Esthetician holding a current, active license in good standing from another U.S. state or jurisdiction, verified directly by the issuing authority (not applicant-submitted). Applicants from Alaska (tested before December 7, 2020) and from Massachusetts must additionally provide proof of at least six months of work experience via notarized employer letter or W-2 documentation. Applicants from Alaska (tested after December 7, 2020) do not qualify for endorsement and must instead pass both the Maryland PSI theory and practical exams. The endorsement application fee is $28. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found on this page; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational in any state, including Maryland, so compacts is recorded as empty.

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

Cost calculator

  • $28
  • $77
Total$105

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Maryland require for a Limited Esthetician license?

600 hours of instruction at an approved cosmetology school, or 12 months as a registered apprentice in a licensed beauty salon.

Who administers Maryland's esthetician exam?

PSI Services LLC, under contract with the State Board of Cosmetologists. The combined theory and practical exam costs $77, or $47 per component if taken separately.

What does a Maryland Limited Esthetician license cost?

A $28 original license fee, with a $28 renewal fee every two years. PSI's exam fee is paid separately.

What are the minimum age and education requirements?

Applicants must be at least 17 years old and have completed 9th grade or a G.E.D.

Can an out-of-state esthetician get a Maryland license without retaking the exam?

Yes, via licensure by endorsement, for applicants holding a current license in good standing from another state or jurisdiction verified directly by that state, though Alaska licensees tested after December 7, 2020 must pass Maryland's exams and Alaska/Massachusetts licensees tested earlier must show six months of work experience.

Sources

  1. [1] dllr.state.md.us/license/cos/cosreq.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] labor.maryland.gov/license/cos/cosexam.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] labor.maryland.gov/license/cos/cosaff.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] labor.maryland.gov/license/cos/cosrecip.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] onestop.md.gov/licenses/limited-esthetician-license-5d1540b254f24d03e9998316 — accessed 2026-07-11