Get, Renew, Verify or Restore an Illinois Cosmetology License
Illinois cosmetology licensing is handled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Use this guide to choose the right licensing route, prepare your documents, understand the exam and fees, verify a license, plan for the 2027 renewal cycle or reactivate an expired credential.
- Minimum age: 16
- Standard school program: 1,500 hours
- Early exam eligibility: after 1,200 hours
- Illinois exam passing score: 75
- Initial license fee: $30
- Next ordinary renewal: September 30, 2027
Illinois Cosmetology License: What You Need to Do First
For a first Illinois cosmetologist license, the standard route is to meet the age and education condition, graduate from a licensed 1,500-hour cosmetology program lasting at least eight months, complete the current abnormal-skin-growth education requirement for original applicants, pass the authorized cosmetology examination and submit the required application materials and fees to IDFPR.
Choose the Correct Illinois Cosmetology License Route
Using the wrong application method is one of the easiest ways to create delays. Match your situation before you start.
Illinois Cosmetologist License Requirements
Meet the basic eligibility condition
You must be at least 16 years old and either be beyond Illinois compulsory-school-attendance age or hold a secondary-school graduation certificate or recognized equivalent.
Complete the qualifying cosmetology program
The standard Illinois route requires graduation from a licensed cosmetology school after completing 1,500 hours of cosmetology training over at least eight months.
Pass the authorized examination
The Illinois examination passing score is 75. State law allows an applicant to sit for the cosmetology examination after completing 1,200 hours, but the full 1,500-hour program is still required for the standard license route.
Complete abnormal-skin-growth education
For original-license applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, IDFPR requires proof of an approved abnormal-skin-growth education course that includes melanoma identification training. IDFPR currently identifies Impact Melanoma’s “Skinny on Skin” program as an approved online option.
How to Get an Illinois Cosmetology License
Confirm that your school is properly licensed
Use IDFPR resources to verify the school before you commit tuition or training time. A school name in advertising is not a substitute for a current Illinois license.
Complete the required cosmetology training
Finish the 1,500-hour program and the school’s final examination. Keep copies of your transcript and any school records showing completed hours, transfers or name changes.
Prepare the supporting documents
IDFPR’s current cosmetologist qualification sheet calls for an official transcript for the examination route. If your name differs across records, prepare acceptable name-change documentation. Original applicants in 2026 should also prepare proof of the required abnormal-skin-growth education.
Apply through the correct IDFPR cosmetology route
Start from the official IDFPR cosmetology page and choose the current Cosmetologist Online Examination or other method that matches your situation. Do not assume the school, exam vendor or this website issues the Illinois license.
Take and pass the authorized examination
The passing grade is 75. Beginning October 1, 2026, IDFPR has announced five language options for the cosmetology exam: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
Watch your application account and email
IDFPR advises applicants to keep contact information current and to review their online account for deficiencies when an online application is used. Respond to missing-document notices with the requested material instead of filing a duplicate application.
Verify the issued license before working
Use IDFPR License Lookup after issuance. IDFPR says a newly issued license may take up to 24 hours to appear in the lookup system.
Illinois Cosmetology Exam: Score, Timing and Retakes
| Exam point | Current Illinois rule or notice | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Early eligibility | After 1,200 cosmetology hours | You may be allowed to test before finishing the full 1,500-hour licensing program. |
| Passing grade | 75 | A lower score does not satisfy the Illinois licensure exam requirement. |
| Language options from Oct. 1, 2026 | English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese | Choose the supported language during the applicable scheduling process. |
| Published cosmetology exam fee from Oct. 1, 2026 | $200 | Confirm the fee on the IDFPR cosmetology page before paying, especially around the transition date. |
| After a third failed examination | 100-hour refresher or qualifying 250-hour refresher before a fourth attempt | Do not simply book another attempt without checking the remedial-training rule. |
The current administrative rule allows a cosmetology applicant who failed the third examination to qualify for a fourth attempt after the required refresher training. IDFPR can also apply waiver provisions in circumstances allowed by law and rule, so unusual cases should be confirmed directly with the Department.
Illinois Cosmetology License Fees
| Transaction | Published amount | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cosmetologist license application | $30 | The examination fee is separate. |
| Acceptance of examination | $30 | Used when the applicant qualifies through that method. |
| Endorsement | $45 | For qualifying applicants licensed in another jurisdiction. |
| Ordinary renewal | $25 per license year | A normal two-year cosmetologist cycle is therefore $50. |
| Restoration | $50 plus applicable lapsed renewal fees | The exact total depends on license history and the current IDFPR fee calculation. |
| Cosmetology exam from Oct. 1, 2026 | $200 | This is the examination fee announced by IDFPR for the new language and fee schedule. |
IDFPR application and examination fees are separate. Do not rely on a school invoice or a third-party prep site as proof of the state amount.
Moving to Illinois With an Out-of-State or Foreign Cosmetology License
Endorsement for another U.S. jurisdiction
Illinois uses endorsement rather than automatic reciprocity. A currently licensed cosmetologist in another state or U.S. jurisdiction generally must provide official certification from the original licensing jurisdiction and, when different, the jurisdiction where the applicant is currently licensed and practicing. The credential must be the same as or substantially similar to the Illinois cosmetologist license.
IDFPR may request school transcripts or proof of work experience if needed to evaluate substantial similarity. If the endorsement requirements are not fully met, the applicant may be asked for additional information, additional coursework or the Illinois examination.
Acceptance of an examination taken elsewhere
This route is different from endorsement. It can apply when the applicant is not currently licensed as a cosmetologist or cosmetology teacher in a U.S. jurisdiction but completed cosmetology training and passed a substantially similar licensing examination elsewhere. IDFPR’s current qualification sheet says the examination must have been passed within 12 months of the Illinois application.
Foreign endorsement
Applicants licensed in another country face a more document-heavy review. IDFPR currently calls for official licensing information, official school records and evidence of at least three years of cosmetology practice after qualifying for licensure, with that experience occurring within the five years before the Illinois application. Foreign-language documents must be accompanied by the required English translation.
Illinois Cosmetology License Renewal: Next Deadline Is September 30, 2027
Ordinary Illinois cosmetologist licenses expire on September 30 of each odd-numbered year. That means an ordinary cosmetologist is not in the normal renewal cycle in 2026; the next regular expiration is September 30, 2027. Teacher, clinic-teacher and school licenses use the even-numbered-year cycle, so do not copy a teacher deadline onto a cosmetologist license.
Renewal fee
The rule sets renewal at $25 per license year, making the normal two-year cosmetologist renewal $50.
Normal CE
Cosmetologists generally certify 14 hours of CE earned during the two-year prerenewal period, subject to the first-renewal exemption and other applicable rules.
Status update
IDFPR advises allowing about two to four business days after renewal for the license status to post in its systems.
Can all 14 Illinois cosmetology CE hours be online?
The current Illinois Administrative Code is the controlling rule to check. Section 1175.1210(e), amended effective October 6, 2025, says a licensee may earn the total hours required for renewal or restoration through in-person courses and online individual-study courses. IDFPR’s cosmetology CE webpage still displays older wording that says only half may be online, so there is a live wording conflict between that webpage and the newer rule. Before purchasing a course, confirm that the sponsor is approved and that the course meets the current rule.
Required CE topics
Illinois requires one hour of sexual-harassment-prevention training during each applicable professional-license renewal cycle, and that hour may count toward the profession’s CE minimum when the conditions are met. Cosmetology law also includes domestic-violence and sexual-assault-awareness education requirements under the applicable Act and rules.
Expired or Inactive Illinois Cosmetology License
If the ordinary online renewal window has closed, IDFPR directs cosmetologists to the reinstatement or restoration process rather than ordinary renewal. Practicing on an expired cosmetology license is treated as unlicensed activity under the profession rules.
Reinstatement
IDFPR’s current cosmetologist reinstatement packet requires a completed reinstatement application and proof of 14 hours of CE. It specifically lists one hour of sexual-harassment-prevention training completed within the required period and domestic-violence/sexual-assault-awareness training where applicable. Submit completion certificates rather than sponsor rosters.
Restoration
Longer-lapsed or other restoration situations can require additional evidence. Illinois rules provide routes involving recent authorized cosmetology experience, licensure certification and CE, or a qualifying refresher-course or examination route when the required experience documentation cannot be supplied.
How to Verify an Illinois Cosmetology License
IDFPR provides a free Professional Regulation License Lookup. IDFPR identifies the lookup as a primary-source verification tool and says its license data is updated daily. Use it to confirm that a license was actually issued and to review the current status rather than relying only on a paper copy, social-media profile or salon website.
Open IDFPR License Lookup
Start from the official Check License page and choose Professional Regulation License Look Up.
Search the individual or entity
Use the strongest identifying information you have. If a record does not appear, reduce unnecessary filters and check spelling before assuming the person is unlicensed.
Match the credential and status
Confirm the license type, license number, name, current status and expiration date. A salon/shop registration and an individual cosmetologist license are separate credentials.
Allow for recent issuance
IDFPR says a newly issued license may take up to 24 hours to become visible in the lookup system. Renewal status can take about two to four business days to post.
For a dedicated verification walkthrough, see our Illinois cosmetology license lookup guide. For agency contacts and board-specific information, see the Illinois State Board of Cosmetology guide.
Illinois IDFPR Cosmetology Contacts
Chicago office
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
Springfield office
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Main IDFPR phone: 1-888-473-4858
TTY/TDD: 1-866-325-4949
For cosmetologist application questions not answered by the qualification sheet or Department FAQs, IDFPR’s cosmetologist qualification document also lists 1-800-560-6420.
Office addresses are useful for agency identification and contact, but a specific application should be mailed only to the address stated on that application or IDFPR instruction sheet.
Illinois Cosmetology License FAQs
How many hours do I need for an Illinois cosmetology license?
The standard Illinois cosmetology program is 1,500 hours and must extend over at least eight months. The state also recognizes specific alternate routes for certain already-licensed professionals.
Can I take the Illinois cosmetology exam before finishing 1,500 hours?
Yes. Illinois law allows a cosmetology applicant to take the licensing examination after completing 1,200 hours, but the standard license still requires completion of the full qualifying 1,500-hour program.
What score do I need to pass the Illinois cosmetology exam?
The Illinois cosmetology examination passing grade is 75.
How much does the Illinois cosmetologist license application cost?
The current administrative rule sets the initial cosmetologist license fee at $30. The examination fee is separate. IDFPR has announced a $200 cosmetology examination fee effective October 1, 2026.
When does an Illinois cosmetologist license expire?
Cosmetologist licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years. The next regular ordinary-cosmetologist expiration after 2026 is September 30, 2027.
How many continuing-education hours does an Illinois cosmetologist need?
The normal requirement is 14 hours during the two-year prerenewal period. The first renewal after original license issuance is generally exempt from the profession-specific 14-hour requirement, and separate mandated training rules may also apply.
Can Illinois cosmetology CE be completed fully online?
The current administrative rule, amended effective October 6, 2025, allows the total hours required for renewal or restoration to be earned through in-person courses and online individual-study courses. Because an IDFPR cosmetology CE webpage still shows older “half online” language, confirm the sponsor and current IDFPR instructions before purchasing.
Does Illinois have cosmetology license reciprocity?
Illinois uses endorsement rather than automatic reciprocity. IDFPR reviews whether the out-of-state credential and qualifications are the same as or substantially similar to Illinois requirements and may ask for additional documentation, coursework or examination.
What if my Illinois cosmetology license expired?
If ordinary online renewal is no longer available, use IDFPR’s reinstatement or restoration process. Do not continue practicing on an expired license.
Where can I verify an Illinois cosmetology license?
Use IDFPR’s Professional Regulation License Lookup from the official Check License page. IDFPR identifies the lookup as primary-source verification and says its database is updated daily.