Michigan licenses estheticians through the Michigan Board of Cosmetology, which operates under the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). You need a Michigan esthetician license to perform facials, skincare treatments, waxing, makeup application, eyelash extensions, and other skin care services for compensation anywhere in the state. Michigan requires training at a licensed school of cosmetology or through an apprenticeship, followed by both theory and practical exams administered by PSI Services.
Michigan is in the middle of significant regulatory changes. In 2024, the state increased its training requirement from 400 hours to 750 hours for anyone beginning their esthetics program on or after July 1, 2024. And in early 2025, Governor Whitmer signed HB 5684 (Public Act 160 of 2024), which substantially expanded the esthetician scope of practice effective March 20, 2025, adding dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, lash extensions, brow lamination, and other services into the statutory scope. Michigan is also one of the few states that does not require any continuing education for license renewal. Here is exactly how to get your Michigan esthetician license.
Michigan Esthetician License Requirements at a Glance
| Official License Title | Esthetician |
| Governing Agency | Michigan Board of Cosmetology, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) |
| Statutory Authority | Michigan Occupational Code, Act 299 of 1980, Article 12 (MCL 339.1201–339.1212); Administrative Rules R 338.2101–338.2195 |
| Minimum Age | 17 years old |
| Education Prerequisite | Completion of ninth grade or equivalent |
| Training Hours Required | 750 hours (for students beginning training on or after July 1, 2024); 400 hours (for students who began training before July 1, 2024) |
| Apprenticeship Alternative | Minimum 6 months in a licensed cosmetology establishment where skin care services are rendered |
| Licensing Exam | PSI Esthetician Theory exam + PSI Esthetician Practical exam |
| Exam Fee | $167 (theory + practical combined, paid to PSI Services) |
| License Application Fee | $39 (application + initial two-year license fee combined) |
| Total Initial Cost (state fees) | Approximately $206 (application + exam fees) |
| License Term | 2 years (expires August 31 of the renewal year) |
| Renewal Fee | $48 per renewal cycle (every 2 years) |
| Continuing Education | None required |
| Apply Online | michigan.gov/miplus (MiPLUS portal) |
| Board Website | michigan.gov/cosmetology |
Step 1: Meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Under MCL 339.1210, you must meet the following requirements to qualify for a Michigan esthetician license:
- Age: At least 17 years old. Note that some schools allow enrollment at 16, but you cannot take the state board exam or be licensed until you turn 17.
- Education: An education equivalent to completion of the ninth grade.
- Good moral character: Michigan requires applicants to affirm they have the ability and will serve the public in a fair, honest, and open manner. If you have a criminal conviction, you may still apply. You will be asked whether you have any judgments of guilt in criminal proceedings or civil actions. The Board evaluates these applications on a case-by-case basis, considering whether you have been rehabilitated and whether the offense is reasonably related to the profession.
Step 2: Complete Your Education
Michigan gives you two pathways to satisfy the training requirement: a school program or an apprenticeship.
School pathway: Complete your training at a LARA-licensed school of cosmetology that offers an approved esthetics program. If you began your training on or after July 1, 2024, you must complete at least 750 hours. If you began training before that date, the prior 400-hour minimum applies. The training must include a minimum number of practical applications as prescribed by LARA’s administrative rules. Esthetics coursework typically covers facial treatments, skin analysis, hair removal, makeup application, anatomy and physiology, sanitation procedures, product chemistry, business management, and Michigan cosmetology law.
Apprenticeship pathway: Alternatively, you may train as an apprentice for at least six months in a licensed cosmetology establishment where skin care services are rendered. The supervising practitioner must hold a current Michigan esthetician license and must submit monthly time sheets to verify your training progress. Apprenticeship candidates must still meet the minimum hourly requirements (750 hours for those beginning on or after July 1, 2024).
Important note about the hour increase: The increase from 400 to 750 hours took effect for new students beginning training on or after July 1, 2024. The change was driven partly by a U.S. Department of Education rule requiring schools seeking federal financial aid eligibility to a lign program hours with state minimum requirements. Many schools had already been offering 600 to 700+ hour programs voluntarily. The 750-hour minimum now applies to all new enrollees. Michigan’s 750-hour requirement ranks among the higher state standards. See the full breakdown in our esthetician hours by state comparison.
Program costs: The average cost of an esthetics program in Michigan is approximately $6,100 to $8,900, depending on the school and program length. Some schools offer financial aid through Federal Student Aid for students attending accredited institutions. Attending an accredited school is not required for licensure, but accreditation through agencies like NACCAS, ACCSC, or ACCET may be necessary for financial aid eligibility.
Step 3: Pass the Licensing Exams
After completing your training, you must pass both a theory (written) exam and a practical exam administered by PSI Services LLC on behalf of the Michigan Board of Cosmetology.
Step-by-step exam process:
- Apply for licensure through the MiPLUS online portal at michigan.gov/miplus and pay the $39 application fee.
- Once LARA determines your eligibility, they will submit an electronic file to PSI.
- Complete the PSI Examination Registration Form and submit it with the $167 exam fee (covers both theory and practical).
- Schedule your exams through PSI online at psiexams.com or by calling 855-579-4635.
Theory exam: The theory exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam. You must score at least 70% to pass. Results are typically provided immediately or within seven business days via email. The theory exam can be taken at PSI testing centers throughout Michigan (including Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing) or remotely via online proctoring.
Practical exam: The practical exam is 1 hour and 35 minutes long and has a total of 60 possible points. You must score at least 75% to pass. You are required to bring your own model (a live person) and your esthetics supplies and equipment. The model must present a valid government-issued photo ID at the exam site. The practical exam covers facial cleansing, product application, eyebrow tweezing, wax removal, and other esthetician services as outlined in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin.
Exam timeline rules: You must take your exam within one year of PSI receiving your payment, or the fee is forfeited. You must pass the practical exam first. Once you pass the practical portion, you have one year to pass the theory exam. If you fail, you may retake the exam by scheduling a new appointment and paying an additional fee.
After passing both exams, PSI issues a wallet-size pocket license containing your photo, signature, and license dates on exam day, so you are immediately licensed to practice. LARA will then mail your standard wall license separately.
Step 4: Apply for Your License
Your license application and exam eligibility are handled through a single process in Michigan. When you apply through MiPLUS and pay the $39 application fee (which includes the application processing fee and the initial two-year license fee), you are simultaneously applying for your license and establishing exam eligibility. Once you pass both exams, your license is issued automatically.
The online application requires your Social Security number (or an SSN affidavit if exempt), your training school transcripts or apprenticeship verification, and your good moral character attestation. Applications are completed at michigan.gov/miplus using a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover credit or debit card.
License Renewal
Michigan esthetician licenses expire on August 31 every two years. You will receive a renewal notification by mail and email approximately 60 to 90 days before your license expires.
To renew, log into the MiPLUS portal, accept the renewal attestation (certifying you have met all requirements), and pay the $48 renewal fee. Payment can be made by e-check, credit card, or debit card.
Michigan does not require any continuing education for esthetician license renewal. This makes it one of the least burdensome renewal processes of any state. As long as you renew on time and pay the fee, your license remains active.
Late renewal and relicensure: If your license has lapsed for less than three years, you can apply for relicensure by submitting the relicensure application and paying the $83 relicensure fee. You must also provide verification of licensure from any state where you hold or have held an esthetician license, or official transcripts from your school if not licensed elsewhere. If your license has lapsed for three or more years, you must either pass the licensing examination again within one year before applying, or hold (or have held) an active esthetician license in good standing in another state for at least one of the three years immediately preceding your application.
Transferring Your License to Michigan
Out-of-state estheticians may apply for a Michigan license through endorsement (reciprocity) under R 338.2121b. Michigan evaluates each reciprocity applicant individually based on whether your training and experience are substantially equivalent to Michigan’s requirements.
Key reciprocity details:
- You must hold an active license in good standing from another state.
- Michigan may accept licensed work experience as a substitute for training hours at a ratio of 100 hours for every six months of experience.
- You must provide verification of licensure sent directly from your state board to LARA via email at bpldata@michigan.gov or by mail.
- If not licensed in another state, you must submit official final transcripts from your school.
- Additional training or testing may be required if your previous state’s licensing standards are lower than Michigan’s.
- The reciprocity application fee is $39.
Submit your application through the MiPLUS portal and mail or email your verification documents to: Bureau of Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909 or bpldata@michigan.gov.
Military Service Members and Spouses
Michigan offers several provisions for military service members, veterans, and military spouses:
- Application fee waiver: Veterans who were separated from service with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) character of service may qualify for a waiver of the initial application and license fees. You must provide Form DD214, DD215, or another acceptable form of documentation.
- Renewal fee exemption: Under the Michigan Occupational Code, an individual who holds a license and is on active duty in the armed forces is temporarily exempt from renewal license fees and any continuing education requirements while mobilized.
- Military spouse temporary license: Michigan may issue a temporary license to an applicant who is married to an active duty military member, holds a current license in good standing in another state, and is stationed in Michigan under permanent change of station orders.
- Experience substitution: Military service in a relevant occupational specialty may count toward licensing requirements. The Board evaluates military training on a case-by-case basis.
Scope of Practice
Michigan’s esthetician scope of practice was significantly expanded in 2025 with the passage of HB 5684 (Public Act 160 of 2024), signed by Governor Whitmer in December 2024 and effective March 20, 2025. The law amends MCL 339.1210 and provides the most detailed statutory scope of practice Michigan estheticians have ever had.
Licensed estheticians (and cosmetologists) may now perform the following skin care services:
- Beautifying the skin using cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams, including body wrapping
- Cleansing or stimulating the skin using hands, devices, apparatus, noninvasive light, or appliances
- Temporary hair removal using depilatories, waxes, razors, scissors, clippers, thread, or tweezers
- Facials, removable makeup application, and eyelash application
- Exfoliation of dead skin cells, including dermaplaning and microdermabrasion, using products, chemicals, mechanical devices, electrical services, or Class 1 medical devices
- Nonmedical grade hydrodermabrasion (those licensed before March 20, 2025 must have documented training)
- Nonmedical grade chemical peels
- High-frequency treatments (electrical current of not less than 5 megahertz)
- Eyebrow services including lamination and tinting (product must not last more than 6 weeks)
- Eyelash services including extensions and tinting
- Facial cupping
- FDA-approved noninvasive light therapy (must not penetrate living skin layers)
- Class 1 medical devices, including LED light therapy, galvanic current (0.1–0.5 milliamperes, up to 20 minutes), and microcurrent (must not cause visible contractions)
Critical limitation: All skin care services must be limited to the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of dead skin cells). No service may penetrate into the living layers of skin.
Key prohibitions: Estheticians cannot use razors, scissors, or clippers on the scalp. Estheticians cannot diagnose or treat any human disease, ailment, or medical condition. Microblading and permanent makeup are not within the esthetician scope of practice and are regulated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services under communicable disease rules. Michigan does not recognize a “medical esthetician” title; however, estheticians working in medical settings may perform additional services when delegated by a licensed physician.
LARA is required to promulgate implementing rules within 18 months of the law’s effective date. Updated administrative rules are expected by late 2026.
Esthetics Instructor Requirements
To become a licensed esthetics (limited specialist) instructor in Michigan, you must meet the following requirements under the Michigan Occupational Code and LARA’s instructor licensing guide:
- Hold a current Michigan esthetician license
- Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent
- Complete at least 300 hours of instructor training at a licensed school of cosmetology
- Pass the cosmetology instructor theory examination administered by PSI
The instructor application fee is the same structure as the esthetician license (application + two-year license fee). The biennial renewal fee for instructors is $48. Relicensure for lapsed instructor licenses is $83.
Recent Legislation
HB 5684 / Public Act 160 of 2024 (scope of practice expansion): Signed by Governor Whitmer in December 2024 and effective March 20, 2025. This law amended MCL 339.1201 and 339.1210 to create new definitions and add specific skin care services to the esthetician scope of practice. It was accompanied by HB 5683, which amended the Public Health Code to confirm that Parts 1703 and 1754 of the code do not prohibit licensed estheticians or cosmetologists from performing the newly authorized services. This legislation resolved years of regulatory uncertainty, particularly around dermaplaning and microdermabrasion, which the Board of Cosmetology had previously stated were outside the esthetician scope of practice.
Training hour increase (effective July 1, 2024): A 2023 legislative amendment to MCL 339.1210 increased the minimum esthetics training requirement from 400 hours to 750 hours for any student beginning training on or after July 1, 2024. The change aligned state minimum hours with what most schools were already requiring, and was partly driven by a U.S. Department of Education rule requiring schools seeking federal financial aid eligibility to match their program hours to state minimums. Similar increases applied to cosmetologists (1,500 to 2,000 hours) and manicurists (400 to 600 hours).
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the national median annual wage for skincare specialists was $41,560 (approximately $19.98/hour) as of May 2024. Michigan-specific data from the BLS shows the mean annual wage for estheticians in the state at approximately $51,120 ($24.58/hour), which is well above the national median. This figure does not include tips and commissions, which are common in the esthetics industry.
Nationally, esthetician salaries range from about $27,160 at the 10th percentile to $77,330 at the 90th percentile (BLS, May 2024). Earning potential varies significantly by location, employer type, and specialization. The Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills metro area and Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro area are among the top employment centers for estheticians in Michigan.
The BLS projects employment of skincare specialists nationally to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. About 14,500 openings for skincare specialists are projected each year nationwide. Michigan’s expanded scope of practice is expected to increase demand for licensed estheticians in the state, particularly in medical spas and aesthetic clinics where the newly authorized advanced services are in high demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of training do I need to become an esthetician in Michigan?
If you began your training on or after July 1, 2024, you need 750 hours. If you started before that date, the prior 400-hour requirement applies. Check with your school about their specific program hours.
Does Michigan require continuing education for estheticians?
No. Michigan does not require any continuing education credits for esthetician license renewal. You simply pay the $48 renewal fee every two years.
Can I perform dermaplaning and microdermabrasion in Michigan?
Yes. As of March 20, 2025, dermaplaning and microdermabrasion are explicitly within the statutory scope of practice for licensed estheticians under MCL 339.1210(2)(e). All exfoliation services must be limited to the stratum corneum.
Can I perform chemical peels in Michigan?
Yes. Nonmedical grade chemical peels are within the esthetician scope of practice as of March 20, 2025 under HB 5684. The chemical peel must not penetrate beyond the stratum corneum.
Do I need to bring my own model to the practical exam?
Yes. The PSI esthetician practical exam requires a live model. Your model must present a valid government-issued photo ID at the exam site, and the name on the ID must match the name you provided on your examination registration form.
Can I take the theory exam online?
Yes. PSI offers remote online proctored testing for the theory (written) portion of the exam. The practical exam must be taken in person at a PSI testing site.
Is microblading within the esthetician scope of practice?
No. Microblading and permanent makeup are not governed by the Board of Cosmetology. These services are regulated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services under communicable disease rules. Contact the Communicable Disease Division at 517-335-8165 for information.
How do I transfer my out-of-state license to Michigan?
Apply for licensure by endorsement through MiPLUS and provide verification of your current license sent directly from your state board. Michigan evaluates each applicant individually and may accept work experience at a ratio of 100 hours per six months of licensed practice. The fee is $39.
For a comparison of esthetician licensing requirements across all states, including training hours, exam formats, fees, and reciprocity rules, see our complete esthetician licensing guide.
Official Resources
- Michigan Board of Cosmetology (LARA): michigan.gov/cosmetology
- MiPLUS Online Licensing Portal: michigan.gov/miplus
- Esthetician Licensing Guide (PDF): LARA Esthetician Licensing Guide
- MCL 339.1210 (Esthetician Statute): Michigan Legislature – MCL 339.1210
- HB 5684 / Public Act 160 of 2024: Michigan Legislature – HB 5684
- Administrative Rules R 338.2101–338.2195: Michigan Administrative Rules – Cosmetology
- PSI Esthetician Candidate Information Bulletin: PSI CIB – Michigan Esthetician
- PSI Exam Scheduling: psiexams.com or call 855-579-4635
- LARA Veterans and Military Resources: michigan.gov/lara/about/veterans
- Bureau of Professional Licensing: Phone: 517-241-0199 | Email: bplhelp@michigan.gov
- Mailing Address: Bureau of Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909