Michigan Licensing Overview for a Cosmetologist
Licensing for a cosmetologist in Michigan is controlled by the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs – Cosmetology Department.
General Guidelines for a Cosmetologist in Michigan
Specific requirements to perform cosmetologist services can generally be used as a guideline, but make sure to check with your local governing rules and regulations.
Who’s allowed to perform these services?
Cosmetologist
General requirements for cosmetologist license required?
At least 17 years old; 9th grade education
What’s the state licensing site for cosmetologist?
Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs – Cosmetology Department
What are some training programs available for cosmetologist?
How long is a license good for and when do I need to renew?
Renews every 2 years by August 31
What are fees associated with licensing?
$48
Cosmetologist / Esthetician Licensing
A cosmetologist is a beauty professional who specializes in the beautification and health of their client’s hair, skin and nails. An esthetician is a beauty professional that specializes in the beautification and health of their client’s skin, particularly through hair removal, skin and facial treatments and the application of makeup. With additional training, a cosmetologist can become an esthetician and vice versa. While there are fundamental differences between cosmetologists and estheticians as we have just explained, the process of becoming licensed within each career is almost the same. The process of being a fully licensed cosmetologist and/or esthetician varies between each state.
There are four main steps that need to be completed to become a qualified cosmetologist / esthetician in the state of Michigan. These include:
- The successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course
- Submission of an application and apply for exams with The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Successfully undergo state testing and pass the minimum requirements of each test
- Maintain your knowledge base through regular education to keep your cosmetologist / esthetician license current.
Education
There are basic educational requirements needed before one can become a licensed cosmetologist and/or esthetician in the state of Michigan. The minimum education requirement for this profession is a certificate or diploma in cosmetology/esthetician taken at a registered beauty school, through vocational training or through a junior college. To successfully complete this course, students are required to complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of training before they can apply for licensure. For further training, some beauticians may choose to earn an associate degree to boost their qualifications. For those looking to begin their own start up business, an associate degree is worth pursuing.
Another popular method in which to become a standard cosmetologist in Michigan is through an apprenticeship. To gain an apprenticeship, a student must be over the age of 17 and have successfully completed at least the 9th grade. For those wishing to undertake an apprenticeship instead of attending a registered beauty school, they will need to be accepted under the charge of a licensed cosmetologist and complete 1,920 supervised hours within the field.
Application for licensure
Upon the successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course or an apprenticeship, students within the state of Michigan are required to submit an application for licensure. This license application must be submitted to The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs for both a cosmetology license and an esthetician license.
Licensing Exam
The state of Michigan requires students who wish to become fully licensed as either a cosmetologist or an esthetician to successfully pass a licensing exam. Michigan examinations are conducted by PSI online. This exam consists of two parts: a theoretical exam, and a practical exam. There is a combined cost of $161 to undertake the examinations for cosmetologists, and estheticians are required to pay a $182 fee for both examinations.
The theoretical cosmetology examination takes 120 minutes to complete. The theoretical examination covers a range of questions including but not limited to:
- Rules and regulations
- Health and safety
- Styling
- Chemical straightening
- Coloring
The theoretical esthetician examination takes 120 minutes to complete. The theoretical examination covers a range of questions including but not limited to:
- State licencing
- Health and safety regulations
- First aid
- Client interactions
- Skin analysis
- Esthetic science
- Hair removal
- Facials
- Make up types
The practical cosmetology examination takes 3 hours and 10 minutes to complete, and professionals are required to bring their own equipment. The practical examination covers a range of tasks including but not limited to:
- Hair analysis
- Hair styling
- Hygiene control and safety
- Hair colouring
- Manicures
- Hair cutting
- Makeup application
The practical esthetician examination takes 95 minutes to complete, and professionals are required to bring their own equipment. The practical examination covers a range of tasks including but not limited to:
- Hygiene and safety
- Makeup application
- Skin analysis
- Facials
- Hair removal
Continuing Education
Following the successful completion of your state license to become either a cosmetology it is important to remember that you must renew this license every two years and professionals will be notified of this 60 days prior to the date. For cosmetologists, this fee is $25. For estheticians, there will be a $48 fee on August 31 every other year.
In Michigan, there are no continuing educational requirements for cosmetology or esthetician licenses, however, many professionals continue to grow their expertise. This allows them to stay up to date with the latest techniques and trends in the field of beauty.