New York Esthetician License Requirements

New York licenses estheticians through the Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. To earn a New York esthetician license you must complete 600 hours of approved training and pass both a written and a practical examination.

1. Meet the minimum age. You must be at least 17 years old.
2. Complete a 600-hour approved course of study. Your school director completes the Affirmation of New York State Approved Schooling section of your application as proof you finished.
3. Take the 1-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness course. All applicants qualifying through New York State education must complete this course before submitting the application.
4. Get a health certification. A physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner must complete the Health Certification section of the application. You must apply within 30 days after it is signed and dated.
5. Apply online through New York Business Express. The initial application fee is $40. You can add a $10 six-month temporary license and remit one combined $50 fee so you can work while finishing the exam process.
6. Pass the New York State written and practical exams. Each exam costs $15 and is administered by the Department of State.
7. Receive your license. A New York esthetics license is valid for four years.

The standard path to an esthetics license in NY is a 600-hour approved course of study at a New York State approved school, followed by the state written and practical exams. Your school director must complete the Affirmation of New York State Approved Schooling section of your application as proof of successful completion.

New York also recognizes several alternative qualification paths:

• Education outside New York State: The Department of State may waive the New York schooling requirement if you document an equivalent level of schooling from another state or country. You must submit a school certificate, a transcript listing subjects and hours completed, and a current certification of licensure or verified hours from your state board. You still take both New York exams.
• Five years of experience: With five years of legal experience in an equivalent occupation, documented by a licensing-agency certification and two detailed experience statements, you can be licensed without examination or further education.
• Endorsement: If you hold an esthetics license in a state on New York's endorsement list, you can be licensed without exams by submitting an original certification from that jurisdiction.

Applicants qualifying through New York State education must also complete a 1-hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness course before applying.

New York requires both a written and a practical examination for an esthetics license. Unlike states that contract with a national testing company, both exams are administered directly by the NYS Department of State. Each exam has a $15 fee, payable when you schedule through your New York Business Express account.

Written Examination

The written exam is multiple-choice and based on the pre-licensing curriculum. You have 2 1/2 hours to complete the test, beginning at the conclusion of the instructions. Results are reported as pass or fail only — no numerical score is given — and a passing result stays valid for five years. The esthetics written exam can be scheduled in Bengali, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, or Turkish.

Practical Examination

The practical exam is held at designated sites around the state. The Department of State publishes a supply list and a list of tasks evaluated for the esthetics practical, so you know exactly what to bring and what will be scored.

Exam Policies

Bring current government-issued photo ID and your examination confirmation. If you cancel, no-show, or arrive late, you forfeit the exam fee. To change an appointment, you must reschedule at least six days before your exam date. Details are on the Department of State website.

A New York esthetician license is valid for four years, and the renewal fee is $40.00. The Department of State does not list any continuing education requirement for esthetics license renewal — you renew by paying the fee. Licenses become eligible for renewal 90 days before the expiration date, and renewal notices are sent automatically 90 days ahead.

How to Renew Online

1. Log in to New York Business Express with your NY.GOV ID.
2. If you haven't already, claim your license record — you cannot renew online until your existing license is connected to your NYBE profile. You'll need your name, license ID number, and either your NY.GOV ID or your SSN and date of birth.
3. From My Dashboard, open Individual License Information, then License Details for the license you want to renew.
4. Select Renew License and pay by Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.

Paper renewals are accepted using the Appearance Enhancement Operator Renewal form (DOS-1404), but you must include your name, license number (UID), address, and expiration date.

Late Renewal

A $10.00 late renewal penalty applies if you renew more than one year late. An esthetics license can be renewed up to five years after expiration; beyond five years you are ineligible until you pass the written exam again.

Under New York law, the practice of esthetics means providing services for a fee or any other consideration to enhance the appearance of the face, neck, arms, legs, or shoulders of a human being. Services may be performed by manual, mechanical, chemical, or electrical means and instruments, using compounds or procedures including makeup, eyelashes, depilatories, tonics, lotions, waxes, sanding, and tweezing.

In practice, a New York esthetician license allows you to:

• Perform facials, cleansing, exfoliating, extractions, and facial masks
• Provide waxing and threading for face and body hair removal
• Apply makeup for special events and teach clients makeup techniques
• Advise clients on skincare, sun protection, and maintaining healthy skin

The scope explicitly excludes the practice of electrology, which is licensed separately. Make-over consultants (such as Mary Kay consultants) and makeup applied in a theatrical setting are exempt from licensure.

Licensed estheticians work in settings such as spas, salons, dermatology offices, and film or television productions. To operate your own location, the business itself needs an Appearance Enhancement Business license from the Department of State in addition to your individual esthetics license.