Maryland Esthetician License Requirements

Maryland licenses estheticians — officially the “Limited Esthetician” category — through the State Board of Cosmetologists, part of the Maryland Department of Labor. You must complete 600 hours of esthetics training (or a 12–24 month apprenticeship), pass PSI’s theory and practical exams, and apply for your license.

1. Complete your training. Finish 600 hours of instruction in an esthetician program approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) or the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), or train 12–24 months as a registered apprentice (at least 20 hours per week) under a licensed senior cosmetologist or an esthetician with 2 years of experience. You must be at least 17 and have completed 9th grade or a G.E.D.
2. Apply to test with PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com, including a digital school seal from your program.
3. Pass the theory exam ($47), 75 scored questions in 90 minutes covering safety, infection control, skin analysis, and skin care.
4. Pass the practical exam ($47), demonstrating workstation prep, a basic facial, eyebrow waxing/tweezing, and makeup application. Both exams must be passed within 2 years of each other.
5. Apply for your Limited Esthetician license with the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists and pay the $28 license fee. You must work through a licensed beauty salon to provide services.

Maryland requires 600 hours of instruction in an approved esthetician program under Board rule, or a 12–24 month apprenticeship at a minimum of 20 hours per week under a licensed senior cosmetologist or a licensed esthetician with 2 years of experience. Apprentices must complete the Board-approved apprenticeship curriculum and their sponsor must submit monthly training reports.

All applicants must be at least 17 years old and have completed at least the 9th grade or a G.E.D. Out-of-state trained applicants need a certification letter from their home state board, bearing that board’s seal, showing training equivalent to Maryland’s requirement (or a current out-of-state license) before they can sit for the exam.

Maryland contracts with PSI Services to administer its cosmetology and esthetics licensing exams. You must pass both a theory and a practical exam.

Theory Exam

$47 (or $77 bundled with the practical exam). Consists of 75 scored questions plus 10 non-scored experimental questions, with 90 minutes to complete. Major topics include Safety and Infection Control (40% of the exam), Client Consultation and Skin Analysis (19%), and Skin Care (17%).

Practical Exam

$47 (or bundled as above). Covers workstation preparation, a basic facial (25 minutes), eyebrow waxing and tweezing, makeup application (25 minutes), and workstation preparation for the next client.

Registration and Validity

Register and schedule online at test-takers.psiexams.com — PSI stopped accepting mailed, faxed, or emailed applications as of March 31, 2025. There is no limit on retakes, but both exams must be passed successfully within a 2-year period of each other for your scores to remain valid, and fees are non-refundable.

Maryland Limited Esthetician licenses renew every 2 years. The renewal fee is $28, and a license that lapses is automatically assessed a $28 reinstatement fee (rising to $56 for a late renewal). The Board mails renewal information roughly 60 days before your expiration date.

Continuing Education

Maryland law requires 6 hours of Board-approved continuing education as a condition of renewal, with a compliance effective date of January 1, 2026. Courses must come from an approved provider — check the Board’s list of approved CE providers before enrolling.

How to Renew

Renew online through the Board’s electronic licensing system using your registration number. Licenses are delivered as an emailed PDF rather than a mailed paper card, so keep your email address current with the Board. You must be affiliated with a licensed beauty salon to provide esthetic services under Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. §5-605.

Maryland defines the scope of practice for a Limited Esthetician license in Md. Code, Business Occupations and Professions §5-101(o) and COMAR 09.22.01.04. A licensed esthetician may provide, for compensation:

• Skin and scalp treatments: Cleansing, exercising, exfoliating, massaging, cosmetic microneedling, stimulating, toning, or performing similar procedures on the skin or scalp by electrical, mechanical, or other means
• Product application: Applying alcohol, cream, lotion, astringent, or other cosmetic preparations to the face, body, or scalp
• Hair removal: Removing superfluous hair by electrical, mechanical, or other means — but not by laser or light-based devices
• Additional included services: Applying eyelash extensions, superficial exfoliation treatments of the epidermis, relaxation/hydration/contouring/beautification treatments for the face, skin, body, eyelashes, or eyebrows, and nonablative skin rejuvenation

Maryland law expressly excludes from esthetic services the diagnosis of illness, disease, or injury, and ablation of the dermis or hypodermis. Every esthetician must hold a current Board license and be affiliated with a licensed beauty salon. You can verify any license through the Board’s license search.