To work as a cosmetologist in Illinois, you will require an Illinois cosmetology license. To get an Illinois cosmetology license, you will need to meet certain requirements and provide the required documentation to the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. To learn more about the Illinois Cosmetology License, please read the information below.
What Are the Minimum Requirements to Acquire an Illinois Cosmetology License?
Applicants who want to get their Illinois cosmetology license must have completed their education in an accredit school. The training requirements that a school must meet are described in detail on the website of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Even after completing your education, there are still some channels applicants must go through before they can obtain their license from the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Before the license can be granted, applicants must go through an exam issued by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology. Once the exam has been passed, applicants can obtain their cosmetology license for the state of Illinois.
Can I Get My Illinois Cosmetology License Through an Apprenticeship?
While some states allow applicants to get their cosmetology license through an apprenticeship, this is not the case for Illinois. However, a certain amount of training hours could be a substitution for a part of the formal education.
With an internship, applicants can substitute 150 hours of 1500 hours of cosmetology program training. However, the internship program can only be participated in once the student has completed 750 hours of valid school training and with an average grade of 80.
Considering the strict education requirements for the Illinois Cosmetology License, it is advised that all future cosmetologists map their training meticulously and ensure they meet all the requirements before applying.
Do I Have to Renew My Illinois Cosmetology License After Acquiring It?
Some states do not require a renewal of a cosmetology license. However, this is not the case for the state of Illinois. The Illinois cosmetology license expires on the 31st of July of an odd-numbered year. License holders are expected to renew their license a month before their license expires.
There are some exceptions to this general rule, more specifically for cosmetology instructors and cosmetology clinic teachers. For these license holders, their license expires on the 30th of September each even-numbered year.
To renew your Illinois cosmetology license, you will require some additional education during the time where you work as a licensed cosmetologist. To get your licensed renewed, you will need at least 14 hours of cosmetology continued education within the 2-year licensure period.
There is an exception to this rule for cosmetology teachers and cosmetology clinic teachers. For these license holders, the state of Illinois requires a total of 24 hours of continued education. However, this education must be provided by a sponsor registered with the department.
Naturally, each license holder must pay a pre-determined fee for the renewal of their license. To renew your license, you will be required to pay a fee of $50 every two years. This fee applies to both cosmetologists, cosmetologist instructors, and cosmetology clinic teachers.
How Do I Renew My Illinois Cosmetology License?
To renew your Illinois Cosmetology License, you must make sure it is a renewal year. Before you submit your application for renewal, you must also make sure that you meet the continued education requirements. If you meet the requirements, you can head over to the government website and complete your license renewal online.
When you find yourself on the government website, head over to the license renewal section and click on the button ‘License Renewals’. Follow the instructions on the screen to renew your license online.
Where Can I Get My Continued Education for My Illinois Cosmetology License?
Continued Education is referred to as CEUs and applicants can acquire these CEUs per unit. One CEU unit equals to one hour of continued education.
As explained earlier, to get your license renewed as a cosmetologist, you will need 14 CEUs every two years. CEUs can be obtained from manufacturers, equipment providers, online providers, trade shows and other sources. However, license holders must always check if the CEU in question is accepted by the Illinois Board of Cosmetology; this can be done online or by contacting the Illinois Cosmetology Board directly.
How Much Will I Have to Pay for Continued Education?
The price for continued education can vary considerably from provider to provider. However, the average price for continued cosmetology education has been determined on $15/hour. To ensure your provider is delivering a valid CEU course, please check the full list of approved sponsors on the IDFPR website.
Can I Transfer an Out-of-State License to the State of Illinois?
It is possible for applicants to transfer an out-of-state license to the state of Illinois. However, like with obtaining an Illinois cosmetology license, applicants must meet certain requirements before they can do so.
Some applicants can bypass the examinations for a license transfer by getting an endorsement. To find out which endorsements could enable you to bypass the examination procedures, please contact the Illinois Board of Cosmetology beforehand.
If you want to obtain a transfer for your out-of-state license, you will need to provide proof of your education. Naturally, the education you have enjoyed must be of equal or higher value as the cosmetology education available in Illinois. In addition to your education documentation, you must provide proof of your work experience and your current cosmetology license.
Can I Get a Digital License Opposed to a Paper License?
Many states are starting to provide cosmetologists with a digital license instead of a paper license; this is because the digital license is considered better for the environment. One of the states that provides the digital license is the state of Illinois, which means that license holders can obtain their license by downloading it from the government website.
In some rare instances, the Illinois Cosmetology Board may provide license holder with a paper copy of the license. However, these instances are extremely rare and must be requested specifically at the Illinois Cosmetology Board.