Minnesota Esthetician License Requirements

Minnesota licenses estheticians through the Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. You qualify by completing a Board-approved 600-hour training program and passing the PSI written exam.

1. Complete your training. Finish at least 600 hours at a licensed Minnesota cosmetology or esthetics school, covering preclinical theory, applied skills, and supervised clinical practice.
2. Pass the PSI written exam. Schedule your exam at test-takers.psiexams.com/mncos or through candidate.psiexams.com. Results are valid for 1 year.
3. Submit your application. Complete the Initial Operator License Application, include your payment, your original Course Completion Certificate, and your original passing exam results.
4. Pay the application fee. The total for an initial operator license is $195, made up of a $155 license fee and a $40 application fee.

Minnesota requires at least 600 hours of esthetician training under Minn. R. 2110.0520, structured as follows:

• Preclinical instruction (120 hours): Theory of anatomy, dermatology, and chemistry as related to skin care; infection control; safety procedures; Minnesota statutes and rules governing skin care practice; student orientation; and elementary service skills limited to observing an instructor or student-to-student practice.
• Applied science and skills instruction: Client consultation and skin analysis, facial and makeup applications, and waxing procedures.
• Clinical instruction and experience (200 hours): Hands-on applied practice. Each student must complete at least 60 facials, 40 makeup applications, and 20 face waxes plus 20 body waxes, with half of all waxes being hard wax and half soft wax. Your school documents and submits this to the Board.
• Business practices: Instruction in business practices and Minnesota labor and licensing law.

Minnesota uses a single written theory exam administered by PSI Services on behalf of the Board; there is no separate state practical exam.

Registration

Schedule your exam at test-takers.psiexams.com/mncos or through candidate.psiexams.com. Before testing, review PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin, which outlines exam content and reference materials, alongside Minnesota Statutes chapter 155A and Minnesota Rules chapters 2105 and 2110.

Results

A passing exam result is valid for 1 year. Submit your original passing results with your license application, along with your school's Course Completion Certificate documenting your required facials, makeup applications, and waxing services.

Minnesota esthetician (practitioner) licenses run on a 3-year cycle and expire on the last day of your birth month in the year due. The renewal fee is $115, made up of a $100 license fee and a $15 application fee.

Continuing Education

Before renewing, complete 8 total hours of continuing education:

• 4-hour Core course: 1 hour of laws and rules, plus 3 hours of health, safety, and infection control standards
• 4-hour Professional Practice course: Board-approved topics such as product chemistry and chemical interaction, proper use of machines and instruments, business management, or techniques relevant to your license

How to Renew

Renew online through your licensee account, or submit the Active License Renewal application by mail or in person with your fee payment. Applications for licenses expired more than six months are accepted only by mail or in person. A late renewal fee of $45 applies if your license lapses before you renew.

Minnesota defines the esthetician scope of practice in Minn. Stat. § 155A.23. An esthetician is any person who, for compensation, performs personal services for the cosmetic care of the skin only — cleansing, conditioning, and beautifying the skin of the head, face, neck, arms, hands, legs, feet, and trunk of the body.

• Facial and skin care services: Facials, makeup application, and skin analysis
• Hair removal: Waxing, including both hard and soft wax techniques
• Eyelash extensions: Application, removal, and trimming of natural or synthetic lash fibers, including cleansing of the eye area

Minnesota law draws a distinction between a standard esthetician and an advanced practice esthetician, who holds a separate license and may additionally use mechanical or electrical skin care apparatuses or appliances on the epidermal layer of the skin. A standard esthetician license does not authorize the use of such equipment. All licensees must practice in a Board-registered salon, and you can verify any practitioner through the Board's license verification search.