Esthetician License Requirements in Michigan
- Training hours
- 750 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $207
- Exam
- Esthetician Theory and Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Michigan Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 17 years old, Education equivalent to completion of the ninth grade.. All applicants must answer a 'Good Moral Character' attestation question on the application (self-certifying fitness to serve the public, and rehabilitation/relevance if there was a prior criminal or civil judgment) and must provide a Social Security Number (or an SSN-exemption affidavit). LARA's own Esthetician Licensing Guide does not describe a separate fingerprint-based or third-party criminal history records check for this license, so backgroundCheck is recorded as false rather than assumed true based on the self-attestation alone. Verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2025-09-19] (michigan.gov 403s automated fetches). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 750 hours of training at a state-approved program. 750 hours of training (in a licensed school of cosmetology, or as an apprentice for at least 6 months in a licensed cosmetology establishment where skin care services are rendered) applies to individuals who begin training on or after July 1, 2024. Individuals who began training before that date needed only 400 hours — do not use the 400-hour figure for a new applicant. Training must include a minimum number of practical applications set by rule. Source: LARA's official 'Michigan Esthetician Licensing Guide.' michigan.gov 403s automated fetches; content verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2025-09-19] of the guide document, with sourceUrl kept as the original michigan.gov URL. [1]
- 3
Esthetician Theory and Practical Examination
Pass the Esthetician Theory and Practical Examination (fee: $144). Combined written (computer-based) theory exam and hands-on practical exam; the practical portion must be passed before the theory portion can be scheduled. Combined fee is $144; the theory-only or practical-only retake fee is $85 each. Fetched directly from PSI's own candidate-bulletin server (proctor2.psionline.com, official exam vendor domain, not bot-blocked); the bulletin document itself is dated 'Revised 6/19/2009,' so fee figures should be treated as PSI's best-available published figure rather than guaranteed current-year pricing — no more recent Michigan esthetician-specific PSI bulletin could be located. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Michigan Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) with the $63 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Michigan Board of Cosmetology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) issues your Esthetician License for Michigan.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $63 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $48 |
| Esthetician Theory and Practical Examination [2] | $144 |
| Relicensure (lapsed license) [1] | $83 |
LARA's official Esthetician Licensing Guide states a single $63 'Application Fee + 2 year license fee' for licensure by exam or reciprocity, so 'license' is left null to avoid double-counting against 'application.' PSI's exam fee ($144 combined) is paid separately to PSI, not to LARA (see exams). Verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2025-09-19] of the guide document (michigan.gov 403s automated fetches).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Renewal cycle is 2 years, fee $48, completed via an online renewal attestation (licensee certifies the requirements have been met). LARA's renewal-requirements checklist for estheticians does not list a continuing-education hour requirement, so ceHours is recorded as null; this reflects the absence of a stated CE mandate in the Board's own checklist rather than an unpublished figure. Verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2025-09-19].
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Licensure by reciprocity requires verification of licensure sent directly to LARA by each state where the applicant holds or has held an esthetician license, showing good standing and any disciplinary history. If not actively licensed elsewhere, official transcripts must be sent directly from the training school. Experience may substitute for training hours at a ratio of 100 hours of training credited per 6 months of experience. If the applicant is not actively licensed in a state with substantially equal requirements, they must pass the PSI practical and/or theory exam. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found in this guide; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Michigan, so compacts is recorded as empty. Verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2025-09-19] (michigan.gov 403s automated fetches).
19 state-approved training providers in Michigan — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $63
- $144
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Michigan require for an Esthetician license?
750 hours for individuals who begin training on or after July 1, 2024 (400 hours for those who began training earlier), completed at a licensed cosmetology school or as a supervised apprentice for at least 6 months.
Who administers Michigan's esthetician exam?
PSI Services LLC, under contract with LARA. The combined theory-and-practical exam fee is $144, or $85 for a theory-only or practical-only retake.
What does a Michigan esthetician license cost?
A combined $63 application-and-2-year-license fee paid to LARA, plus PSI's separate exam fee. Renewal is $48 every 2 years.
What are the minimum age and education requirements?
Applicants must be at least 17 years old with an education equivalent to completion of the ninth grade.
Can an out-of-state esthetician get a Michigan license without retaking the exam?
Yes, by reciprocity, if the state where they hold or held a license sends LARA direct verification of good standing and their training/experience is substantially equal to Michigan's requirements. Experience can substitute for training hours at 100 hours credited per 6 months of experience.
Sources
- [1] michigan.gov/lara/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bpl/Cosmetology/Licensing-Info/Esthetician-Licensing-Guide.docx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] proctor2.psionline.com/media/programs/MI/pdf/156.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11