Connecticut Esthetician License Requirements

Connecticut has licensed estheticians since July 1, 2020, through the Department of Public Health (DPH). Unlike most states, Connecticut does not require a licensing exam — you qualify through approved education and an online application.

1. Complete 600 hours of study at a school approved under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-265g (or an out-of-state school with equivalent requirements), and obtain a certificate of completion.
2. Create an account and apply online. Applications are only accepted through the eLicense portal. After registering, select “Initial Application,” then expand the “Appearance Enhancement” grouping to find the esthetician application.
3. Pay the $100 application fee and upload your school’s certificate of completion (or a completed Affidavit of Experience form, if applicable).
4. Attest to infection control compliance. Confirm that you are in compliance with DPH’s infection prevention and control plan guidelines under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-231.
5. Receive your license. Once DPH approves your application and documentation, your esthetician license is issued, valid for two years.

Connecticut requires a course of not less than 600 hours of study at a school approved under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-265g or § 20-262, or an out-of-state school with equivalent requirements, per Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-265b(b). Applicants must receive a certificate of completion from the school documenting the 600 hours.

Connecticut also recognized an alternate, time-limited path for existing practitioners: applicants applying before January 1, 2025 could qualify by showing they had practiced esthetics continuously in Connecticut for at least two years prior to July 1, 2020, in place of the 600-hour certificate. This grandfathering pathway is no longer available to new applicants.

All applicants, regardless of path, must attest that they comply with the infection prevention and control plan guidelines the Department prescribes under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-231.

Connecticut is one of the few states that does not require a licensing examination for estheticians. There is no written or practical exam to pass — licensure is based entirely on completing an approved 600-hour education program (or, for applicants who applied before January 1, 2025, documented prior practice) and submitting the required application, fee, and infection-control attestation to the Department of Public Health.

Connecticut esthetician licenses expire and may be renewed every two years, for a renewal fee of $100, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-265b(d). Connecticut does not require continuing education hours to renew.

How to Renew

Renew online through the eLicense portal before your license expires. You may not carry on the occupation of esthetician after your license expires until you have applied to the Department for renewal.

Lapsed License

If your license has lapsed, reinstatement is available through DPH for a $100 reinstatement fee. See the Department’s Reinstatement of a Lapsed License page for current documentation requirements.

Connecticut defines the licensed scope of practice for “esthetics” in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-265a(4). A licensed Connecticut esthetician may perform skin care treatment services, including but not limited to:

• Skin care: Cleansing, toning, stimulating, exfoliating, or performing similar procedures on the body using cosmetic preparations, hands, devices, apparatus, or appliances to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin
• Makeup application
• Lash and brow beautifying
• Hair removal: Removing unwanted hair using manual and mechanical means

By statute, esthetics excludes: use of a prescriptive laser device; performance of a “cosmetic medical procedure” as defined in § 19a-903c; any practice, activity, or treatment that constitutes the practice of medicine; eyebrow threading as a means of shaping or removing facial hair; makeup application at a rented kiosk in a shopping center; and hairdressing or cosmetology services performed by a licensed hairdresser and cosmetician within that license’s own scope. You can verify any practitioner through DPH’s eLicense License Lookup.