Ohio Licensing Overview for a Cosmetologist
Licensing for a cosmetologist in Ohio is controlled by the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology.
General Guidelines for a Cosmetologist in Ohio
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 16 years old; 10th grade education.
What’s the state licensing site for cosmetologist?
Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
What are some training programs available for cosmetologist?
How long is a license good for and when do I need to renew?
Renews by January 31 in odd-numbered years.
What are fees associated with licensing?
$45
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.
There are four main steps that need to be completed to become a qualified cosmetologist / esthetician in the state of Ohio. These include:
- The successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course
- Successfully undergo state testing and pass the minimum requirements of each test
- Submission of an application with the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
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 Ohio. The minimum education requirement for this profession is a certificate or diploma in cosmetology / esthetician undertaken at a registered beauty school. To successfully complete this course, students are required to undertake a minimum of 1500 hours of training before they can be signed off. For further training, some beauticians may choose to gain an associate degree to boost their qualifications. For those looking to begin their own start up business, an associate degree is desirable.
To become an esthetician, students are required to undertake a minimum of 600 registered hours of coursework at a school of estheticians.
The state of Ohio does not currently offer cosmetology or esthetician apprenticeships as a career pathway.
Application for licensure
Upon the successful completion of a cosmetology / esthetician course or an apprenticeship, students within the state of Ohio are required to submit an application for licensure. This license application must be submitted to the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology for both a cosmetology license and an esthetician license and will allow you to undertake the state exams.
Licensing Exam
The state of Ohio requires students who wish to become fully licensed as either a cosmetologist or an esthetician to successfully pass a licensing exam. The Ohio licensing exam consists of two parts: a theoretical exam, and a practical exam.
The theoretical exam for both cosmetology and esthetician consist of questions relating to the fields of hygiene, human anatomy, skin analysis, chemistry and more.
The theoretical esthetician exam consists of 110 multiple choice questions that covers a range of areas of the profession including (but not limited to):
- Principles of Infection
- Electricity/Chemistry
- Anatomy
- Procedures and practices
- General questions
The theoretical cosmetology exam consists of 110 multiple choice questions that covers a range of areas of the profession including (but not limited to):
- Infection
- Trichology
- Chemical procedures
- Hair care procedures
- Chemistry and electricity
- Anatomy
- Ohio administrative code
The practical cosmetology exam will typically look at a range of areas of the profession including (but not limited to):
- Set Up and Client Protection
- Cleansing/Steaming
- Extractions
- Hair Removal
- Mask/Massage
The practical esthetician exam will typically look at a range of areas of the profession including (but not limited to):
- Hygienic set up
- Facial cleansing
- Hair removal
- Makeup application
- Facial mask
Continuing Education
Following the successful completion of your state license to become either a cosmetology or an esthetician, it is important to remember that you must renew this license every two years. This process is simple and can be done online through the Ohio State Board of Cosmetology.
In Ohio, professionals are required to undertake a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education in a relevant field to satisfy the renewal procedures of the state. This allows them to stay up to date with the latest techniques and trends in the field of beauty.