Minnesota licenses estheticians through the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, which oversees all cosmetology-related licensing in the state. You need a Minnesota esthetician license to perform facials, skin care treatments, waxing, makeup application, and other esthetic services for compensation anywhere in Minnesota.
Minnesota requires 600 hours of approved training plus three written exams administered through PSI Services. Unlike most states, Minnesota does not require a hands-on practical exam — all testing is computer-based. Minnesota also offers an Advanced Practice (AP) esthetician tier for practitioners who want to perform dermaplaning, chemical peels, microneedling, and other advanced services. The total cost for the basic esthetician license including exams and application is approximately $280. Most people complete the full process in 5 to 8 months. Here is exactly how to do it.
Minnesota Esthetician License Requirements at a Glance
| Official License Title | Esthetician |
| Governing Agency | Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners |
| Statutory Authority | Minnesota Statutes Chapter 155A; Minnesota Rules Chapters 2105 & 2110 |
| Minimum Age | 17 years old |
| Education Prerequisite | High school diploma or GED |
| Training Hours Required | 600 hours at a Board-licensed cosmetology school |
| Licensing Exam | Three PSI written exams: General Theory + Written Practical + MN Laws & Rules (no hands-on practical) |
| Exam Fees | Approximately $85 (combination) paid to PSI |
| License Application Fee | $195 ($155 license + $40 application) |
| Total Initial Cost (state fees) | Approximately $280 (excluding tuition) |
| License Term | 3 years (expires last day of birth month) |
| Renewal Fee | $115 ($100 license + $15 application) |
| Continuing Education | 8 hours per 3-year cycle |
| Apply Online | Board Online Application Portal |
| Board Website | mn.gov/boards/cosmetology |
Step 1: Meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirements
Before enrolling in a Minnesota esthetician program, confirm you meet these baseline requirements:
- Age: At least 17 years old
- Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent (or beyond the age of compulsory education per Minnesota Statutes 120A.22)
Minnesota does not automatically disqualify applicants based on criminal history. The Board evaluates applications on a case-by-case basis.
Step 2: Complete Your Education
You must complete 600 hours of esthetics training at a Board-licensed cosmetology school. Minnesota does not recognize apprenticeships for esthetician licensure — all training must be completed through a school program. Both private cosmetology schools and community college programs are recognized if licensed by the Board.
Curriculum breakdown (per Minnesota Rules 2110.0520):
- First 120 hours (Preclinical/Theory): Theory of anatomy, dermatology, and chemistry as related to skin care; infection control; safety procedures; Minnesota statutes and rules; elementary service skills (limited to instructor demonstrations and student-to-student practice)
- 200 hours of planned clinical instruction and experience in applied sciences
- Remaining hours (~280): Applied science and skills in cosmetic care of the skin, client consultation, skin analysis, facials, makeup application, waxing, business practices, and Minnesota laws
Minimum practical service requirements:
- 60 facials
- 40 makeup applications
- 20 face waxes (half hard wax, half soft wax)
- 20 body waxes (half hard wax, half soft wax)
Full-time students typically complete the program in 4 to 6 months. Part-time students should expect up to 12 months depending on the school’s schedule.
Training expiration: If more than 5 years have elapsed since completing your training, you must also submit a Board-approved skills course certificate (no more than 1 year old) with your application.
At 600 hours, Minnesota’s requirement is at the national average. See where all states fall in our esthetician hours by state comparison chart.
Step 3: Pass the Licensing Exams
After completing your 600 hours, you must pass three written exams administered by PSI Services. Minnesota does not require a hands-on practical exam.
| Exam | Questions | Time Limit | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Theory | 85 (75 scored + 10 experimental) | 1.5 hours | 75% |
| Written Practical | 55 (50 scored + 5 experimental) | 1.5 hours | 75% |
| MN Laws & Rules | 35 | 1 hour | 75% |
General Theory content areas: Safety and infection control (35%), client consultation and professional conduct (10%), skin structure and physiology (14%), basic facials (23%), hair removal (10%), and makeup (8%).
Written Practical content areas: Safety and infection control (24%), skin analysis (16%), basic facial (26%), makeup (12%), and hair removal (22%).
How to register: Schedule your exams through PSI Exams online or by calling 1-800-733-9267. You can take all three exams as a combination or schedule each separately. All passing results must be no more than one year old at the time of license application.
Reference materials: Milady’s Standard Fundamentals for Estheticians (11th Edition, 2013) and Salon Fundamentals — Esthetics: A Resource for Your Skin Care Career (2nd Edition, 2007).
Step 4: Apply for Your License
After passing all three exams, apply for your esthetician license through the Board’s online application portal. The license application fee is $195 ($155 license + $40 application).
Required documents:
- Completed application form
- Original course completion certificate with notarized signatures from the school manager or owner
- Original passing exam results for all three exams (no more than 1 year old)
- Payment of $195
Processing time: The Board processes completed applications within 15 business days (standard) or 5 business days (expedited processing with an additional $150 fee).
Board mailing address: Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, 1000 University Ave West, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104. Phone: (651) 201-2742. Email: cosmetology@state.mn.us.
License Renewal
Minnesota esthetician licenses renew every three years, expiring on the last day of your birth month. The renewal fee is $115 ($100 license + $15 application). A late renewal penalty of $45 applies in addition to the renewal fee.
If you fail to renew within 3 years of expiration, you must pass the MN Laws & Rules exam and Written Practical exam again and pay the full initial license fee ($195) to reinstate.
Continuing education: You must complete 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education per 3-year renewal cycle:
Core CE (4 hours — mandatory):
- 1 hour on Minnesota laws and rules governing cosmetology practice
- 3 hours on health, safety, and infection control consistent with OSHA standards
Elective CE (4 hours — choose from approved topics):
- Product chemistry and chemical interaction
- Proper use and maintenance of machines and instruments
- Business management, professional ethics, and human relations
- Techniques relevant to esthetics practice
Approved CE providers: Board-licensed cosmetology schools, postsecondary institutions, Board-recognized professional associations, and (for elective hours only) Board-licensed salons. Marketing or sale of products is prohibited during CE classes.
CE exemptions: Instructor licenses, school manager licenses, and inactive licenses are exempt from CE requirements.
Transferring Your License to Minnesota
Minnesota offers licensure by endorsement for estheticians licensed in other states. The process varies based on your training hours:
Path A — 600+ training hours:
- Hold an active esthetician license in good standing from another state with training hours equal to or greater than Minnesota’s 600-hour requirement
- Pass all three Minnesota PSI exams (General Theory, Written Practical, and MN Laws & Rules)
- Provide certification of licensure (no more than 90 days old) sent directly from your previous state(s) to the Minnesota Board
- Pay the $195 license application fee
Path B — Fewer than 600 training hours:
- Must have held an active esthetician license for at least 3 years in another state
- Pass all three Minnesota exams
- May need supplemental training at a Minnesota-licensed school
International applicants: Must enroll in a Board-licensed school for training evaluation and skill assessment. All foreign documents must be evaluated by a Board-approved credentialing agency at the applicant’s expense.
All endorsement applicants must pass the MN Laws & Rules exam — no exceptions. If you are transferring from a state with similar requirements like Michigan (400–600 hours) or Ohio (600 hours), you will still need to pass all three exams.
Military Service Members and Spouses
Minnesota provides licensing accommodations for military-connected applicants under Minnesota Statutes 197.4552:
Temporary Military (MT) License:
- Available to active-duty military members, military spouses, and veterans with honorable or general discharge within the past 2 years
- Requires a current, valid esthetician license from another state with no disciplinary history
- Criminal background check required
- Fee: $100 for a 1-year temporary license
- Not renewable — you must apply for full Minnesota licensure before expiration
Expedited processing: Military-related applications are processed within 5 business days.
Scope of Practice
Per Minnesota Statutes 155A.23, Subd. 5, an esthetician is “any person who, for compensation, performs personal services for the cosmetic care of the skin only.” Permitted services include:
- Facials and body wraps
- Cleansing, stimulating, or massaging the face, neck, arms, legs, or trunk
- Makeup application (including airbrush)
- Hair removal using depilatories, waxes, sugaring, or tweezing
- Eyelash and eyebrow tinting, shaping, and enhancements
- Basic exfoliation and basic extractions
- Other cosmetic services on the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis
Prohibited for basic estheticians: Use of mechanical or electrical skin care apparatuses (requires AP esthetician license), any service penetrating beyond the epidermis, and laser services (classified as practice of medicine under Minnesota Statutes 147.081).
Advanced Practice (AP) Esthetician: Minnesota offers an AP esthetician tier for practitioners who complete an additional 500 hours of training beyond the basic 600 hours. AP estheticians may perform advanced exfoliation (including dermaplaning), chemical peels, electrical energy treatments (galvanic current, microcurrent, radio frequency, light therapy), lymphatic drainage, and skin needling. AP estheticians may not use any tool designed to penetrate beyond the epidermal-dermal junction.
For a comparison of esthetician licensing requirements across all states, see our complete esthetician licensing guide. You can also check whether a cosmetology license covers esthetician services in your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours do I need to become an esthetician in Minnesota?
You need 600 hours of esthetics training at a Board-licensed cosmetology school. Full-time students typically complete the program in 4 to 6 months. Minnesota does not offer an apprenticeship pathway for estheticians. If you want to perform advanced services like dermaplaning or chemical peels, you need an additional 500 hours for the AP esthetician license (1,100 total).
How much does it cost to get an esthetician license in Minnesota?
State fees total approximately $280: about $85 for PSI exams (combination) and $195 for the license application ($155 license + $40 application). Expedited processing adds $150. Tuition for Minnesota esthetics programs varies by school.
Does Minnesota require a hands-on practical exam?
No. Minnesota uses three written/computer-based exams administered by PSI. There is no hands-on practical demonstration. The Written Practical exam tests your applied knowledge of esthetics procedures in a written format.
How often do I need to renew my esthetician license in Minnesota?
Every 3 years, on the last day of your birth month. The renewal fee is $115. You must also complete 8 hours of continuing education per 3-year cycle.
Can I transfer my esthetician license from another state to Minnesota?
Yes, through endorsement. You must hold an active license in good standing and pass all three Minnesota PSI exams, including the MN Laws & Rules exam. If your state required fewer than 600 training hours, you must have held an active license for at least 3 years or complete supplemental training.
What is the difference between an esthetician and AP esthetician in Minnesota?
A basic esthetician (600 hours) can perform facials, waxing, makeup, and basic skin care. An AP esthetician (1,100 total hours) can additionally perform dermaplaning, chemical peels, microcurrent, radio frequency treatments, skin needling, and other advanced services using electrical or mechanical devices.
Can I do eyelash extensions with an esthetician license in Minnesota?
Yes. Eyelash and eyebrow enhancements fall within the esthetician scope of practice. Minnesota also offers a separate eyelash technician license (14 hours of training) for individuals who want to perform only eyelash services without a full esthetician license.
Official Resources
- Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners (official website)
- Online License Application Portal
- Fee Schedule (Minnesota Statutes 155A.25)
- PSI Exams (exam registration)
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 155A (cosmetology law)
- Minnesota Rules 2110.0520 (esthetician training curriculum)
- Minnesota Statutes 155A.271 (continuing education requirements)
- Board Contact: (651) 201-2742 | cosmetology@state.mn.us
- Board Address: 1000 University Ave West, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55104