StateLicensed

Esthetician License Requirements in Wisconsin

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
450 hrs
Upfront cost
$336.5
Exam
NIC Esthetics Written Examination, NIC Esthetics Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) - Cosmetology Examining Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Must have graduated high school or attained high school graduation equivalency; or be participating in a Board-approved program; or be at least 18 years old and meet the 'ability to benefit' rule under 20 USC 1091(d)., pass a criminal background check. No single fixed minimum age is published; eligibility instead runs through the high-school/equivalency route or the 18-plus 'ability to benefit' pathway above. Applicants must disclose criminal convictions via DSPS Form #2253 (Barbering and Cosmetology Convictions) as part of licensure. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 450 hours of training at a state-approved program. Must complete a course of instruction in aesthetics of at least 450 hours, in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks, at a school of cosmetology or aesthetics licensed in Wisconsin, exempted by statute, or accredited by a Board-approved accrediting agency (Wis. Stat. ch. 454). [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Esthetics Written Examination

    Pass the NIC Esthetics Written Examination (fee: $137.5). Computer-based written exam Original (first-time) written exam fee, includes both DSPS and D.L. Roope fees. Retake fee is $95.50. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Esthetics Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Esthetics Practical Examination (fee: $177). Hands-on practical exam Original (first-time) practical exam fee, includes both DSPS and D.L. Roope fees, and includes the fee for the candidate's first license. Retake fee is $155.00. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) - Cosmetology Examining Board with the $11 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) - Cosmetology Examining Board issues your Aesthetician for Wisconsin.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $11
License fee [3] $11
Renewal fee [3] $11
NIC Esthetics Written Examination [2] $137.5
NIC Esthetics Practical Examination [2] $177

The $11 'Initial Credentialing Fee' (DSPS Form #1681, endorsement pathway) doubles as the license issuance fee; renewal is also $11 every two years (DSPS Renewal Dates & Fees schedule, code 86, due 03/31 of odd years), with a $36 late fee. Candidates who qualify by examination instead pay exam fees directly to D.L. Roope Administrations Inc., which already include the first license fee (see exams array) rather than a separate DSPS application fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 0 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Renews every two years, due March 31 of each odd-numbered year. Continuing education is not required for renewal (eliminated by 2017 Wisconsin Act 81); DSPS instead emails licensees a digest describing statute/rule changes. Late renewal (license expired 5+ years) requires retaking the current licensing examination.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Endorsement (DSPS Form #1681) requires an active license from at least one other state, completion of a one-hour Wisconsin statutes/rules course from a Board-approved provider, and Verification of Licensure (Form 373) from each state where licensed. Wisconsin has not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact as of this research date (2025 legislation to join had been introduced but not enacted); no compact currently covers Wisconsin estheticians.

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

Cost calculator

  • $11
  • $11
  • $137.5
  • $177
Total$336.5

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Wisconsin require for an Aesthetician license?

At least 450 training hours completed in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks at a licensed or Board-approved school of cosmetology or aesthetics.

What education is required before I can enroll or apply?

You must have graduated high school or attained high school equivalency, be enrolled in a Board-approved program, or be at least 18 and meet the federal 'ability to benefit' rule.

How do I apply for an initial Aesthetician license?

You schedule and pass the state board exam with DSPS's contracted vendor, D.L. Roope Administration Inc.; the practical exam fee includes your first license fee.

When do I renew my Aesthetician license, and is continuing education required?

The Aesthetician credential renews March 31 of each odd-numbered year for an $11 fee. No continuing education is required; DSPS instead emails licensees a digest of statute/rule changes.

Can I get a Wisconsin Aesthetician license by endorsement from another state?

Yes. You need an active license in at least one other state, a completed one-hour course on Wisconsin statutes and administrative code, and Verification of Licensure (Form 373) from each state where you're licensed.

Sources

  1. [1] dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/Aesthetician/Default.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] dlroope.com/forms/wisconsin/WI_RESRF_FORM.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] dsps.wi.gov/Credentialing/Renewal/RenewalDatesFees.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] dsps.wi.gov/Credentialing/Business/fm1681.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11