Washington Esthetician License Requirements

Washington requires 750 hours of training and two exams — one written, one practical — to earn an esthetician license. The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) issues the license, and the state also offers an advanced master esthetician tier for laser and medical-device work.

1. Meet the minimum age requirement. You must be at least 17 years old.
2. Complete your training. Finish 750 hours at a licensed school, or 2,000 hours through a DOL-approved apprenticeship program.
3. Take the state exams. You become eligible to test once you are within 100 hours of completing your required training. Both the written and practical exams are administered by Prov, Washington's testing vendor.
4. Pass both the written and practical exams. Exam fees are paid directly to Prov — $169 for the written exam and $119 for the practical exam.
5. Apply for your license. Apply online through SecureAccess Washington (SAW) for faster processing, or mail your application to the Cosmetology Program, PO Box 3856, Seattle, WA 98124-3856. The application fee is $35.
6. Renew every two years. Your Washington esthetician license expires on a two-year cycle.

Washington's 750-hour esthetics curriculum is defined in WAC 308-20-080. Training must be completed at a licensed school, or you can substitute a 2,000-hour apprenticeship through a DOL-approved apprenticeship program. The esthetics curriculum covers:

• Skin care: Compresses, massage, facials, wraps, masks, exfoliation, and the use of electrical or mechanical appliances and chemical compounds
• Hair removal: Tweezing, waxing, tape, chemicals, lotions, creams, sugaring, threading, and mechanical or electrical apparatus
• Safety and sanitation: Disinfection of work stations, equipment, and tools, plus chemical safety and storage
• Science and theory: Skin diseases and disorders, human anatomy and physiology, first aid, theory, and business practices

Washington also licenses a second tier: the master esthetician. If you already hold an esthetician license, you can qualify with 450 additional school hours; students starting fresh can complete a 1,200-hour combined program, and a 2,000-hour apprenticeship path is also available. The master esthetics curriculum adds laser, light, radio frequency, ultrasound, and plasma practices, medium depth chemical peels, advanced client assessment and contraindications, lymphatic drainage and advanced facial massage, advanced skin pathology, and spa body treatments.

Washington requires both a written and a practical examination for the esthetician license. As of May 1, 2026, the exams are administered by Prov, the state's testing vendor. Prov delivers the same National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) exams Washington has used previously.

When You Can Test

You do not have to wait until graduation — you are eligible to take your exams once you are within 100 hours of completing your required training. You must finish all of your hours and pass both exams before the DOL can process your license application.

Exam Fees and Scheduling

Exam fees are paid directly to Prov, not to the DOL:

• Written examination: $169
• Practical examination: $119

Prov offers testing locations across Washington, and translation services are available for candidates who need them. You can create your candidate account and schedule at provexam.com.

Retakes

You may take each exam once per day. If you fail, you can apply to retake the exam on another day — you will need to schedule a re-exam and pay the re-exam fee. Master esthetician candidates sit for their own written and practical exams covering the advanced curriculum.

Washington esthetician and master esthetician licenses must be renewed every two years. The renewal fee is $66, and Washington does not list any continuing education requirement — renewing takes only your license number and payment.

How to Renew Online

1. Gather your license number and payment for the $66 renewal fee.
2. Log in to SecureAccess Washington (SAW), or create an account if you don't have one.
3. Follow the renewal prompts and pay online. Online renewal is the fastest way to get your updated license.

You can renew up to 120 days before your license expires, so there is no reason to cut it close. The DOL warns that failure to receive a renewal notice is not an acceptable reason to renew late — track your own expiration date.

Late Renewal and Expired Licenses

If you miss your expiration date, a late fee applies — the late renewal fee is $131. If your license has been expired for more than one year, the DOL cancels it, and you must reapply for a new Washington esthetician license, which includes passing the state-approved written and practical exams again through Prov.

Washington is one of the few states with a two-tier skin care license. RCW 18.16.020 defines both the standard esthetician scope and the advanced master esthetician scope.

Esthetician (Standard License)

A Washington esthetician license covers care of the skin using preparations, antiseptics, tonics, essential oils, exfoliants, and superficial and light peels; wraps, compresses, cleansing, conditioning, stimulation, pore extraction, and product application and removal; temporary hair removal by waxing, threading, tweezing, depilatories, lotions, creams, and appliances; and services for the eyelashes and eyebrows, including extensions, tinting, and lightening. Estheticians may use devices and equipment for skin care — except lasers.

Master Esthetician (Advanced Tier)

A master esthetician can perform everything in the standard esthetician scope, plus:

• Medium depth chemical peels
• Medical devices for skin care and permanent hair reduction, including lasers, light, radio frequency, plasma, intense pulsed light (IPL), and ultrasound

Medical device use is subject to state law and health-profession oversight requirements. If you plan a career in laser hair removal, IPL treatments, or advanced clinical skin care, the master esthetician tier is the license Washington requires. You can verify any license at the DOL license lookup.