Esthetician License Requirements in Rhode Island
- Training hours
- 600 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $25
- Exam
- Esthetician Theory (NIC-based written examination), Esthetician Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Rhode Island Department of Health – Board of Hairdressing and Barbering
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
High school diploma or GED (or, in lieu of that, verification of 25 or more years of prior experience in the practice for which the license is sought). No minimum age for esthetician licensure is specified in 216-RICR-40-05-4 or on the Department's own application form, so minAge is recorded as null rather than assumed. No formal criminal background check (fingerprint-based BCI) is required for standard licensure; applicants self-disclose any criminal convictions and prior disciplinary history on the application (Items 11-12 of the Department's Esthetician application), and the Department may deny/discipline based on that disclosure. A BCI from the RI Attorney General's Office is required only under the separate military-spouse/veteran expedited-licensure pathway (Military Expedition Form). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. Rhode Island licenses esthetics as a single tier (no separate 'master esthetician' license exists). Applicants must complete not less than 600 hours of continuous study and practice over a period of not less than four (4) months in an approved school of hairdressing/cosmetic therapy, or hold a diploma/certificate from a recognized foreign skin care school that required at least 600 equivalent hours (216-RICR-40-05-4 § 4.4.3(C)). Confirmed independently by the Department's own Esthetician application form, which lists 'Esthetician (Requires 600 Hours of Training).' [1]
- 3
Esthetician Theory (NIC-based written examination)
Pass the Esthetician Theory (NIC-based written examination). Computer-based written theory exam; minimum passing score 70%; also offered in Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese The Department's Esthetician application confirms candidates schedule their own written-exam appointment directly with PSI (www.psiexams.com) after completing all required training hours. PSI's own exam-sitting fee is set by PSI and is not published on the Department's page; the $25 fee tracked under Fees below is the Department's own application-by-examination fee, paid separately to RIDOH. health.ri.gov/licensing/barbering-hairdressing-and-cosmetology returned HTTP 403 on direct fetch; verified via archive snapshot dated 2026-03-07 (Wayback Machine). [2]
- 4
Esthetician Practical Examination
Pass the Esthetician Practical Examination. Hands-on skills demonstration given in a manner prescribed by the Department; minimum passing score 70% Distinct from the PSI-administered written exam; practical exam format and scheduling are set directly by the Department, not by PSI (216-RICR-40-05-4 § 4.5.2(C)). [1]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Health – Board of Hairdressing and Barbering with the $25 application fee. [3]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Health – Board of Hairdressing and Barbering issues your Esthetician for Rhode Island.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $25 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $25 |
| Esthetician Theory (NIC-based written examination) [2] | None specified |
| Esthetician Practical Examination [1] | None specified |
| 90 Day Temporary Permit (out-of-state licensees while RI application is pending) [3] | $25 |
| Reinstatement of lapsed license (per lapsed renewal cycle, capped at $100) [3] | $25 |
Per the Department's Fee Structure for Licensing (216-RICR-10-05-2, effective 03/25/2026): Esthetician Application by Examination $25.00, Application by Verification/Endorsement $25.00, Reexamination $25.00, Renewal $25.00. No fee distinct from the $25 application fee is listed for initial license issuance, so 'license' is recorded as null rather than assumed. Independently confirmed by the Department's own Esthetician application instructions, which state the $25.00 application fee (check/money order to the RI General Treasurer) is nonrefundable.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Licenses expire on September 30 of every other year following the date of original issuance, on an odd/even-year basis (216-RICR-40-05-4 § 4.6(A)-(C)). No continuing-education hour requirement for estheticians was found anywhere in Part 4 of the regulation, so ceHours is recorded as null rather than assumed.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Rhode Island grants licensure by endorsement to an esthetician licensed in another state where requirements are equivalent, upon verification of licensure in good standing and proof of having passed a written and practical examination (216-RICR-40-05-4 § 4.5.3(A)). Applicants from states with non-equivalent requirements may instead receive instructional credit toward the 600-hour requirement — 40 hours of credit for each 3-month period actively licensed and practicing, capped at 200 hours (§ 4.5.3(A)(3)(b)). Out-of-state licensees may also work under a non-renewable 90-day temporary permit while their RI application is processed (§ 4.5.3(B)). The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet operational in any state, including Rhode Island, so no compacts are listed here.
1 state-approved training provider in Rhode Island — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $25
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Rhode Island require to become a licensed esthetician?
At least 600 hours of continuous study and practice over a minimum of four months at an approved school of hairdressing/cosmetic therapy (or an equivalent foreign skin care school). Rhode Island has only one esthetician license tier — there is no separate master esthetician credential.
Who administers Rhode Island's esthetician licensing exam?
The written theory exam (NIC-based) is scheduled directly with PSI Services LLC through www.psiexams.com. A separate hands-on practical exam is administered directly by the Rhode Island Department of Health, not by PSI.
How much does it cost to apply for an esthetician license in Rhode Island?
The Department's application-by-examination fee is $25 (nonrefundable), and the biennial renewal fee is also $25, per the Department's published fee schedule. This does not include PSI's own exam-sitting fee, which is paid separately to PSI.
How often do I need to renew my Rhode Island esthetician license, and is continuing education required?
Licenses expire September 30 of every other year, on an odd/even-year cycle tied to your original issue date. No continuing-education hours are required for esthetician renewal in Rhode Island.
Can I transfer my out-of-state esthetician license to Rhode Island?
Yes. Rhode Island offers licensure by endorsement if your original state's requirements were equivalent, provided you verify licensure in good standing and passage of a written and practical exam. If your prior state's requirements weren't equivalent, you can apply partial instructional-hour credit toward the 600-hour requirement, and a non-renewable 90-day temporary permit is available while your application is processed.
Sources
- [1] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-4 — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] health.ri.gov/licensing/barbering-hairdressing-and-cosmetology — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-10-05-2 — accessed 2026-07-11