StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Ohio

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$85
Exam
Esthetics Licensing Examination (Theory and Practical)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, Equivalent of an Ohio public school tenth-grade education (ORC 4713.28(A)(2)). Ohio Revised Code 4713.28(A) requires the applicant be at least 16, hold the equivalent of an Ohio 10th-grade education, submit a written application with proof of legal residence, and 'submit to having a photograph taken by the board' — there is no fingerprint-based criminal background check requirement in this statute, and ORC 4713.28(B) expressly bars the Board from denying a license based on prior incarceration or conviction, so backgroundCheck is recorded as false rather than assumed true. codes.ohio.gov blocks direct fetches, so this fact was verified via an archive.org snapshot dated 2025-12-06. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. Ohio Revised Code 4713.28(A)(8): an applicant for an initial esthetician license must have successfully completed at least 600 hours of Board-approved esthetics training in a school; no apprenticeship pathway exists for the entry-level license. Ohio also licenses a second, post-entry tier — 'Advanced Esthetician' — obtainable via 1,800 hours of practice as a licensed esthetician/cosmetologist OR an additional 150 hours of Board-approved advanced esthetician training beyond the base 600 hours (ORC 4713.30(A)(7)); this record covers only the entry-level Esthetician license. codes.ohio.gov blocks direct fetches, so this fact was verified via an archive.org snapshot dated 2025-12-06. [1]

  3. 3

    Esthetics Licensing Examination (Theory and Practical)

    Pass the Esthetics Licensing Examination (Theory and Practical) (fee: $40). Written (theory) exam plus a hands-on practical exam performed on a mannequin head/hand at a Board examination center; both sections are covered by the Board's own Testing Information Packets (TIPs) for Esthetics rather than a national or contracted exam vendor. Applications for examination are submitted through the elicense.ohio.gov portal; the Board schedules and administers the exam itself at its own testing center (relocated from Grove City to Dublin, OH beginning January 2026). A retake examination costs $31.50 and a missed ('no show') examination incurs a $45.00 fee; a $10.00 work permit fee also applies. codes.ohio.gov blocks direct fetches for related statute citations, but this page (cos.ohio.gov) was reachable only via an archive.org snapshot dated 2025-05-28 because direct fetches to cos.ohio.gov also returned 404s during research. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board issues your Esthetician License for Ohio.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $45
Renewal fee [3] $65
Esthetics Licensing Examination (Theory and Practical) [2] $40
Examination fee [3] $40
Work permit [3] $10
Retake examination [3] $31.5
No-show examination fee [3] $45
Duplicate license fee [3] $20
Late renewal fee [3] $45

Ohio does not charge a separate 'application' fee distinct from the $40.00 examination fee (submitted with the exam application), so application is recorded as null. Figures are from the Board's own Fee Summary Sheet, which the Board's page labels as 'Current Fees as of August 1, 2020' — the most recent version of this page found (no newer fee sheet located); it was reachable only via an archive.org snapshot dated 2024-07-13 because direct fetches to cos.ohio.gov returned 404s during research. A separate $73.50 reciprocity application fee is documented in the reciprocity fact group, sourced from a more recent (2025) Board page, and is not duplicated here to avoid citing conflicting fee figures from different page vintages under one source. Renewal for every personal licence type the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board issues — barber, cosmetology, esthetics, hair design, natural hair styling, manicurist and instructor — is $65 per two-year cycle on the Board's current fee chart (last updated 2024-10-28); the $55 figure previously recorded here came from an older capture of that chart. A $45 late fee applies after the deadline, and reciprocity is $70.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 4 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Esthetician licenses fall under 'Cosmetology & Branches of Cosmetology' and renew biennially by January 31 of each odd-numbered year (e.g., 2025, 2027). Required continuing education is 4 hours per cycle: 3 hours Infection Control & Safety plus 1 hour Board Laws & Rules; completion is verified through the CE Broker platform before the online renewal application can be finished. Exemptions from the CE-hours requirement (renewal fee is still owed): licensees who have held an Ohio Board license for 30+ years (original issuance before a Board-set cutoff), licensees age 65 or older by the applicable cutoff date, and first-time licensees for their first renewal cycle. Reachable only via an archive.org snapshot dated 2025-05-30 because direct fetches to cos.ohio.gov returned 404s during research. The renewal fee is $65 per two-year cycle.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No compact is operational: the Board's own 'Cosmetology Compact' page states plainly that 'Details are currently in development,' so compacts is recorded as empty regardless of any enactment status. Ohio instead offers direct state-to-state reciprocity/endorsement: the applicant must have held the out-of-state esthetics license or government certification for at least 1 year immediately preceding application and have actively practiced it for at least 1 of the preceding 5 years; the applicant's prior-state board must send a 'Board Certification' directly to the Ohio Board (not accepted from the applicant, and only if prepared within the last 6 months); a 1-hour Human Trafficking recognition course/quiz must be completed before applying; and a non-refundable $73.50 reciprocity application fee is paid via elicense.ohio.gov. Ohio will NOT accept a Florida 'Facial Specialist' or 'Full Specialist' license via reciprocity for an Ohio Esthetics license. Out-of-country applicants may qualify case-by-case if their training hours are certified as at least 80% of Ohio's 600-hour esthetician requirement (i.e., 480+ hours), subject to additional credential-evaluation and Human Trafficking-course requirements. Reachable only via an archive.org snapshot dated 2025-05-28 because direct fetches to cos.ohio.gov returned 404s during research.

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

Cost calculator

  • $45
  • $40
Total$85

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours do I need to become a licensed esthetician in Ohio?

You must complete at least 600 hours of Board-approved esthetics training at a licensed school (ORC 4713.28(A)(8)); Ohio has no apprenticeship pathway for the entry-level esthetician license.

How do I apply for the Ohio esthetics licensing exam after graduating?

Create an account at elicense.ohio.gov, select 'I DON'T HAVE A LICENSE,' and follow the prompts to apply for an examination under the Getting Licensed / Exams section; once the Board approves your application you'll receive an email that you're eligible to schedule.

How much does it cost to renew an Ohio esthetician license?

The personal renewal fee for an Esthetician license is $55.00, payable through your elicense.ohio.gov account; a late fee applies if you miss the January 31 (odd-numbered year) renewal deadline.

Does Ohio require continuing education to renew an esthetician license?

Yes — 4 hours per 2-year renewal cycle (3 hours Infection Control & Safety plus 1 hour Board Laws & Rules), tracked through CE Broker; licensees who are 65+, have held an Ohio Board license 30+ years, or are renewing for the first time are exempt from the CE-hours requirement but still owe the renewal fee.

Can I transfer my out-of-state esthetician license to Ohio through reciprocity?

Yes, if you've held your current license at least 1 year and actively practiced within the last 5 years; your current board must send Ohio a Board Certification directly, and you must complete a Human Trafficking recognition course and pay a $73.50 reciprocity fee. Note that Florida's Facial Specialist and Full Specialist licenses are specifically not accepted via this route.

Sources

  1. [1] codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4713.28 — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] cos.ohio.gov/pathway-to-licensure/exams — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] cos.ohio.gov/for-licensees/fees — accessed 2026-07-27
  4. [4] cos.ohio.gov/pathway-to-licensure/reciprocity — accessed 2026-07-11