Kentucky Esthetician License Requirements

Kentucky licenses estheticians through the Kentucky Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists (KBC). You must complete 750 hours of esthetics training, pass PSI's theory and practical exams, and apply for licensure through the Board's online portal.

1. Complete 750 hours of esthetics training at a Kentucky-licensed school, and hold a diploma or certified documentation of 12th-grade equivalency. You must be at least 18 years old.
2. Register with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com once your school reports your completed hours to the Board (allow about 10 business days after graduation, plus up to 10 more for PSI to receive your eligibility).
3. Pass the theory exam ($85) at any of PSI’s theory testing locations. You must pass theory before you can schedule the practical exam, and your theory score is valid for six months.
4. Pass the practical exam ($85), held on-site at PSI’s Lexington, KY testing center on scheduled practical dates.
5. Apply for your license through the KBC online application portal with the $50 application fee, a compliant photo, and government-issued photo ID. You must receive your license or a license verification before providing services.

Kentucky requires 750 hours of esthetics training at a Board-licensed school of esthetic practices, under KRS 317A.090 and 201 KAR 12:082. Applicants must also hold a diploma or certified documentation of 12th-grade equivalency and be at least 18 years old before applying for licensure.

Kentucky’s hour requirement is comparatively low next to neighboring states because the esthetician scope is narrower than full cosmetology: Kentucky separately licenses cosmetologists (1,500 hours), nail technicians (450 hours), and shampoo/style technicians (300 hours). If you trained out of state, the Board requires your prior school to send certified educational-hours documentation directly to kbc@ky.gov before you apply.

Kentucky uses PSI Services to administer both the theory and practical esthetician licensing exams.

Theory Exam

Taken online through the PSI test-taker portal, $85. You must pass theory before PSI will let you register and pay for the practical exam. Theory scores are valid for six months from the pass date.

Practical Exam

Held in person at PSI’s testing center, 333 Waller Ave, Suite 120, Lexington, KY, $85. Candidates must arrive with two forms of valid, unexpired ID (one a state-issued photo ID), wear solid-color medical scrubs (white is prohibited), and bring a mannequin head and hand along with EPA-registered disinfectant showing bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal properties on the label. No electronic devices are allowed in the exam room, and late arrivals must reschedule and pay the fee again.

Retakes

A failed theory or practical exam may be retaken for the same $85 fee. Check the PSI candidate bulletin for your program (Esthetics) for full content outlines and accommodation requests.

Kentucky esthetician licenses renew during a window each year that runs July 1–31. Beginning with the cycle starting July 2026, license renewals became biennial, occurring every even-numbered year, with a renewal fee of $100. Renewals must be completed online by 11:59 PM Eastern on July 31 or the license becomes inactive and a $50 restoration fee applies on top of any past-due renewal fees.

No Continuing Education Required

Kentucky does not currently require continuing education hours for esthetician license renewal.

How to Renew

Renew through the KBC online licensing portal. First-time portal users must create a new account (old credentials from prior systems will not work) and locate their license using the registration code emailed by the Board each June. A current photo (taken within six months, no filters or AI-generated images) and a valid government-issued photo ID are required with every renewal.

Kentucky defines the esthetician scope of practice in KRS 317A.010(6) and (7). A licensed Kentucky esthetician may engage in one or more of the following “esthetic practices” for the public or for consideration:

• Skin care services: Beautifying, cleansing, exfoliating, facials, makeup application, stimulation, tinting, tweezing, or waxing, and the use of cosmetic preparations, lotions, creams, oils, antiseptics, or depilatories
• Hair removal: Removal of superfluous hair
• Eye area services: Eyelash tinting, artificial eyelashes, and eyelash extensions
• Massage: Massaging the skin
• Medical-adjacent skin care: Preoperative and postoperative esthetic skin care, but only when referred by or supervised by a medical professional

Esthetic practices exclude acts performed incident to treating an illness or disease, work performed as a student in a Board-approved school, and work performed by a licensed massage therapist. Every practicing esthetician must hold a current KBC license, and services may only be performed in a licensed esthetic salon. You can confirm any license through the Board’s verification portal.