Indiana licenses estheticians through the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, which operates under the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA). You need an Indiana esthetician license to perform facials, skincare treatments, waxing, makeup application, and other esthetic services for compensation anywhere in the state. Indiana requires 700 training hours at a Board-approved school, and the state uses PSI for its written and practical licensing exams.
Indiana stands out for several reasons: it requires only a 10th grade education (no diploma or GED), it has no continuing education requirement for renewal, it offers a four-year license term (longer than most states), and a 2021 law exempted eyelash extension application from esthetician licensing entirely. Here is exactly how to get your Indiana esthetician license.
Indiana Esthetician License Requirements at a Glance
| Official License Title | Esthetician |
| Governing Agency | Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners |
| Statutory Authority | Indiana Code Title 25, Article 8 (IC 25-8); 820 IAC |
| Minimum Age | 18 years old |
| Education Prerequisite | Completion of 10th grade or equivalent |
| Training Hours Required | 700 hours at a Board-approved esthetician school |
| Licensing Exam | Written exam + practical exam, administered by PSI |
| Exam Fee | $52 (paid to PSI; subject to change) |
| License Application Fee | $40 (nonrefundable) |
| License Term | 4 years (expires August 1) |
| Renewal Fee | $40 every 4 years |
| Continuing Education | None required |
| Apply Online | Indiana PLA License Portal |
| Board Website | in.gov/pla |
Step 1: Meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirements
To apply for an Indiana esthetician license under IC 25-8-12.5, you must be at least 18 years old and have completed the 10th grade or its equivalent. Indiana does not require a high school diploma or GED for esthetician licensure, though some schools may set higher admission standards for their own programs. You must also have a Social Security Number; Indiana law (IC 4-1-8-1 and IC 25-1-5-11(a)) requires mandatory disclosure of your SSN on the application.
Indiana does not automatically disqualify applicants based on criminal history, but you must disclose any convictions on your application. The Board reviews conviction records on a case-by-case basis.
Step 2: Complete Your Education
You must complete at least 700 hours of Board-approved esthetician training at a licensed school. Indiana does not recognize apprenticeships for esthetician licensure; all training must be completed through a school program. Some Indiana schools offer 750-hour programs that exceed the state minimum by 50 hours, which can be helpful if you plan to seek reciprocity in a higher-hour state later. Indiana’s 700-hour requirement is slightly above average. See how it stacks up in our state-by-state esthetician hours comparison.
The Board requires schools to cover specific subjects within the curriculum, including Indiana laws and rules, sanitation, disinfection and sterilization, OSHA safety standards, communicable disease prevention, skin care theory, facial treatments, hair removal (waxing and tweezing), makeup application, and professional business practices. Full-time students typically complete the program in five to eight months, while part-time students should expect approximately nine months.
Important timing requirement: Your training must have been completed within the past three years at the time of your application. If more than three years have passed since you finished your program, you will need to complete new training before applying.
Program costs: Indiana esthetician programs average approximately $10,000 in tuition and fees, though costs vary widely by school and program length. Financial aid and payment plans may be available depending on the institution.
Step 3: Pass the Licensing Exams
After completing your 700 hours, you must pass both a written (theory) exam and a practical exam. Indiana uses PSI as its third-party testing vendor for both exams.
How to register: Register for your exams through the PSI candidate portal at candidate.psiexams.com, by phone at 1-800-733-9267, or through PSI’s automated IVR telephone system. The exam registration fee is $52 (subject to change; paid directly to PSI).
Written (theory) exam: The written exam covers Indiana state laws and rules, sanitation and disinfection procedures, sterilization, OSHA regulations, communicable disease prevention, and skin care theory and techniques. You must score at least 70% to pass (75% per IC 25-8-4-9).
Practical exam: The hands-on practical exam requires you to demonstrate esthetics skills including facial procedures, skin care techniques, and hair removal. You must score at least 70% to pass (75% per IC 25-8-4-9). PSI will provide detailed information about what supplies and equipment to bring when you schedule your exam.
Retake policy: If you fail either exam, you may retake only the portion you failed. Check with PSI for current retake fees and scheduling availability.
Step 4: Apply for Your License
After passing both exams, apply for your esthetician license through the Indiana PLA online portal. The application fee is $40 (nonrefundable).
Required documents: Your application must include the Beauty Culture Education Certification Form (completed and signed by your school), your exam pass notice from PSI, disclosure of any criminal convictions (if applicable), and documentation of any legal name changes (if applicable). All forms require original signatures; photocopies are not accepted.
One-year filing deadline: Once you submit your initial application, you have one year to provide all required supporting documents. If you do not complete the file within one year, your application is considered abandoned and you must start over as a new applicant with a new fee.
Mail correspondence to: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Phone: (317) 234-3031 or toll-free 800-457-9293. Email: pla12@pla.in.gov.
License Renewal
Indiana esthetician licenses follow a four-year renewal cycle, with all licenses expiring on August 1. You can renew online through the PLA license portal or by paper application.
Renewal fee: $40 per four-year cycle.
Continuing education: Indiana does not require any continuing education hours for esthetician license renewal, making it one of the least burdensome states for maintaining your license.
Late renewal (within 3 years of expiration): If you miss the August 1 deadline but apply within three years, you can still renew by paying a $50 late fee in addition to the standard $40 renewal fee.
Reinstatement (more than 3 years expired): If your license has been expired for more than three years, you must apply for reinstatement and pay a $40 reinstatement fee. If your license has been expired for five or more years, you must also retake and pass the written exam before reinstatement.
Transferring Your License to Indiana
Indiana offers reciprocity for estheticians licensed in other states on a case-by-case basis under IC 25-8-4-2. The Board evaluates whether your original state’s licensing requirements are substantially equal to Indiana’s.
Basic reciprocity requirements: You must hold a valid, active license from another state, be at least 18 years old, and have completed the equivalent of a 10th grade education. Your issuing state must have required a minimum of 70 hours of education and a minimum 70% passing score on a licensing exam.
If your training hours are below 700: Indiana allows you to substitute licensed work experience for the difference. Each year of documented licensed work experience is credited as 100 additional training hours. However, you must have completed at least 400 hours of formal education regardless of work experience. For example, if your state required 500 hours and you have three years of licensed work experience, you would receive credit for 500 + 300 = 800 hours, satisfying the requirement.
Alternative pathway: If you have a minimum of 1,000 hours of formal training plus at least five years of documented work history, the Board may grant reciprocity even if the standard hour-for-hour comparison does not fully align.
Exam requirements for reciprocity: Regardless of how long you have been licensed, you must take and pass Indiana’s Rules and Regulations exam. If your original state did not require a practical exam, you must also take and pass Indiana’s practical exam.
Reciprocity application fee: $40. Apply through the PLA online portal and submit certified proof of your current license directly from your issuing state board.
Provisional License
Indiana offers a provisional esthetician license for applicants from jurisdictions that do not issue an esthetician-specific license. If you can demonstrate sufficient training and experience that is substantially equivalent to Indiana’s requirements, the Board may issue a provisional license. Provisional licensees must work under the supervision of an Indiana-licensed cosmetologist or esthetician. You can upgrade to a full license after meeting the supervised experience requirements established by the Board. The application fee for a provisional license is $40.
Military Service Members and Spouses
Indiana provides accommodations for military-connected individuals under IC 25-1-17. If your military training or experience is substantially equivalent to Indiana’s esthetician licensing requirements, the Board shall issue you a license. This provision applies to active-duty service members, veterans, and reservists.
Military spouses and dependents: If you are a military spouse or dependent with a current esthetician license from another jurisdiction that you have held for at least one year, Indiana offers an expedited licensure pathway. You must be in good standing with your current state board.
Work experience in unlicensed states: If you practiced esthetics for three or more years in a state that did not require licensure (common for military families stationed at bases in less regulated jurisdictions), that experience may qualify you for Indiana licensure.
All military-related applications use the standard $40 fee. Contact the PLA directly at (317) 234-3031 to discuss your specific military service situation.
Scope of Practice
Under IC 25-8-2-9.5, Indiana estheticians are authorized to perform facials, apply makeup, and provide skin care services. This includes beautifying, massaging, or cleaning the body with cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams, as well as removing superfluous hair from the body by use of depilatories, waxing, or tweezers.
Eyelash extensions: Since July 2021, eyelash extension application has been exempt from esthetician and cosmetology licensing in Indiana under P.L.55-2021 and IC 25-8-1.1-2. Licensed estheticians may still perform eyelash extensions as part of their scope of practice, but unlicensed individuals may also apply eyelash extensions after obtaining certification from an Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) recognized program. The IDOH rule governing this exemption (410 IAC 1-8) became effective September 7, 2022.
Eyelash tinting: Eyelash tinting involves the application of hair color and is limited to licensed cosmetologists or barbers. Estheticians may not perform eyelash tinting unless they also hold a cosmetology or barber license.
Limitations: Indiana estheticians may not perform services that require a cosmetology license, including hair coloring, chemical straightening or perming, and hair cutting. Services involving medical procedures, injectables, or treatments that penetrate beyond the epidermis require separate medical licensure.
Esthetics Instructor Requirements
To become an esthetics instructor in Indiana, you must hold a primary beauty culture license (cosmetologist, electrologist, manicurist, barber, or esthetician) issued by the Indiana Board, and you must maintain that primary license throughout the duration of your instructor license. You must also hold a high school diploma or its equivalent (a higher standard than the 10th grade requirement for practitioner licensure).
Instructor candidates must complete 1,000 hours of instructor training and pass mandatory classes in four areas: State License Law (2 hours), OSHA (2 hours), Communicable Disease (2 hours), and Sanitation/Disinfection/Sterilization (2 hours).
Recent Legislation
P.L.55-2021 (effective July 2021): This law exempted eyelash extension application from cosmetology and esthetician licensing requirements in Indiana. It created IC 25-8-1.1-2, allowing unlicensed individuals to apply eyelash extensions after completing a certification program recognized by the Indiana Department of Health. The IDOH subsequently adopted 410 IAC 1-8 to establish the certification framework, effective September 7, 2022.
P.L.82-2024 (effective March 2024): This law established a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program for cosmetologists in Indiana. However, this apprenticeship pathway applies only to cosmetologists, not to estheticians. Estheticians must still complete the traditional 700-hour school program. There is no apprenticeship alternative for esthetician licensure in Indiana as of early 2026.
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national median salary for skincare specialists was $41,560 per year ($19.98 per hour) as of May 2024. National salaries range from approximately $27,160 at the 10th percentile to $77,330 at the 90th percentile.
In Indiana, esthetician wages reflect a lower cost of living compared to coastal states. BLS data show an annual mean wage of approximately $30,110 for Indiana skincare specialists, though more recent salary aggregators report higher averages. Indeed reports an average of $21.24 per hour based on Indiana salary data, while ZipRecruiter places the average at $26.63 per hour ($55,386 annually). These figures do not include tips, commissions, or self-employment income, which are common in the esthetics industry and can significantly increase total compensation. The highest-paying settings tend to be medical spas, dermatology offices, and outpatient care facilities.
Nationally, employment of skincare specialists is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Approximately 14,500 openings are projected annually, driven by both new positions and the need to replace workers who leave the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours do I need to become an esthetician in Indiana?
You need 700 hours of esthetics training at a Board-approved school. Full-time students typically complete the program in five to eight months, while part-time students should expect about nine months. Indiana does not offer an apprenticeship pathway for estheticians.
How much does it cost to get an esthetician license in Indiana?
The state fees total approximately $92: $52 for the PSI exam registration and $40 for the license application. Tuition for Indiana esthetics programs averages approximately $10,000 but varies by school.
Does Indiana require continuing education for estheticians?
No. Indiana does not require any continuing education hours for esthetician license renewal. You simply pay the $40 renewal fee every four years.
Do I need a high school diploma to become an esthetician in Indiana?
No. Indiana requires only the completion of 10th grade or its equivalent. You do not need a high school diploma or GED, though individual schools may set their own higher admission requirements.
What is the passing score for the Indiana esthetician exam?
You must score at least 70% on both the written exam and the practical exam (75% per IC 25-8-4-9). Both exams are administered by PSI.
Can I transfer my esthetician license from another state to Indiana?
Indiana offers reciprocity on a case-by-case basis. You must hold a valid license, be at least 18, and have a 10th grade education. If your training hours fall below 700, you can supplement with licensed work experience (100 hours credit per year, minimum 400 hours formal education required). You must pass Indiana’s Rules and Regulations exam regardless of your experience level.
Do I need an esthetician license to apply eyelash extensions in Indiana?
No. Since July 2021, eyelash extension application has been exempt from esthetician and cosmetology licensing. Unlicensed individuals can apply eyelash extensions after completing an IDOH-recognized certification program. Licensed estheticians and cosmetologists can still offer eyelash extensions as part of their existing scope of practice.
For a comparison of esthetician licensing requirements across all states, including training hours, exam formats, fees, and reciprocity rules, see our complete esthetician license guide.
Official Resources
- Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (official Board page)
- Indiana PLA License Portal (apply, renew, manage your license)
- PSI Candidate Portal (register for exams)
- Indiana Code Title 25, Article 8 (Beauty Culture statutes)
- IC 25-8-12.5 (Esthetician Licenses chapter)
- IC 25-1-17 (Military Licensing provisions)
- Board Contact: (317) 234-3031 | Toll-free: 800-457-9293 | pla12@pla.in.gov
- Board Address: 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204