225 ILCS 410/ Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985.

(225 ILCS 410/Art. IIIA heading) ARTICLE IIIA. ESTHETICIANS

(225 ILCS 410/3A-1) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703A-1)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 3A-1. Esthetics defined.

(A) Any one or combination of the following practices, when done for cosmetic or beautifying purposes and not for the treatment of disease or of a muscular or nervous disorder, constitutes the practice of esthetics:

1. Beautifying, massaging, cleansing, exfoliating, or stimulating the stratum corneum of the epidermis by the use of cosmetic preparations, body treatments, body wraps, hydrotherapy, or any device, electrical, mechanical, or otherwise, for the care of the skin;

2. Applying make-up or eyelashes to any person or lightening or coloring hair on the body except the scalp; and

3. Removing superfluous hair from the body of any person.

However, esthetics does not include the services provided by a cosmetologist or electrologist. Estheticians are prohibited from using techniques, products, and practices intended to affect the living layers of the skin. The term esthetics includes rendering advice on what is cosmetically appealing, but no person licensed under this Act shall render advice on what is appropriate medical treatment for diseases of the skin.

(B) "Esthetician" means any person who, with hands or mechanical or electrical apparatus or appliances, engages only in the use of cosmetic preparations, body treatments, body wraps, hydrotherapy, makeups, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, creams or other preparations or in the practice of massaging, cleansing, exfoliating the stratum corneum of the epidermis, stimulating, manipulating, beautifying, grooming, threading, or similar work on the face, neck, arms and hands or body in a superficial mode, and not for the treatment of medical disorders.

(Source: P.A. 98-911, eff. 1-1-15.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-2) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703A-2)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 3A-2. Licensure as an esthetician; qualifications. A person is qualified to receive a license as a licensed esthetician if that person has applied in writing on forms provided by the Department, paid any required fees, and:

a. Is at least 16 years of age; and

b. Has a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education, or the recognized equivalent of such a certificate, or persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance; and

c. Has graduated from a school of cosmetology or esthetics approved by the Department, having completed a program of 750 hours in the study of esthetics extending over a period of not less than 18 weeks nor more than 4 consecutive years. Time spent in such study under the laws of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country or province shall be credited toward the period of study required by the provisions of this paragraph; and

d. Has passed an examination authorized by the Department to determine fitness to receive a license as a licensed esthetician; and

e. Has met any other requirements of this Act and rules.

(Source: P.A. 91-863, eff. 7-1-00.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-3) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703A-3)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 3A-3. Licensure as an esthetics teacher; qualifications.

(a) A person is qualified to receive a license as an esthetics teacher if that person has applied in writing on forms supplied by the Department, paid the required fees, and:

(1) is at least 18 years of age;

(2) has graduated from high school or its equivalent;

(3) has a current license as a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician;

(4) has either: (i) completed a program of 500 hours of teacher training in a licensed school of cosmetology or a licensed esthetics school and had 2 years of practical experience as a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician within 5 years preceding the examination; or (ii) completed a program of 750 hours of teacher training in a licensed school of cosmetology approved by the Department to teach esthetics or a licensed esthetics school;

(5) has passed an examination authorized by the Department to determine eligibility to receive a license as a licensed cosmetology or esthetics teacher;

(6) (blank); and

(7) has met any other requirements as required by this Act.

(b) (Blank).

(c) An applicant who is issued a license as an esthetics teacher is not required to maintain an esthetics license in order to practice as an esthetician as defined in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-911, eff. 1-1-15.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-4) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703A-4)

Sec. 3A-4. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 85-1302. Repealed by P.A. 89-387, eff. 1-1-96.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-5) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703A-5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 3A-5. Examination.

(a) The Department shall authorize examinations of applicants for a license as an esthetician or teacher of esthetics at such times and places as it may determine. The Department shall authorize no fewer than 4 examinations for a license as an esthetician or a teacher of esthetics in a calendar year. An applicant for licensure as an esthetician who has completed 600 hours in the study of esthetics may take the examination.

If an applicant neglects, fails without an approved excuse, or refuses to take the next available examination offered for licensure under this Act, the fee paid by the applicant shall be forfeited to the Department and the application denied. If an applicant fails to pass an examination for licensure under this Act within 3 years after filing his or her application, the application shall be denied. However, such applicant may thereafter make a new application for examination, accompanied by the required fee, if he or she meets the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication. If an applicant for licensure as an esthetician is unsuccessful at 3 examinations conducted by the Department, the applicant shall, before taking a subsequent examination, furnish evidence of not less than 125 hours of additional study of esthetics in an approved school of cosmetology or esthetics since the applicant last took the examination. If an applicant for licensure as an esthetics teacher is unsuccessful at 3 examinations conducted by the Department, the applicant shall, before taking a subsequent examination, furnish evidence of not less than 80 hours of additional study in teaching methodology and educational psychology in a licensed school of cosmetology or esthetics since the applicant last took the examination. An applicant who fails to pass a fourth examination shall not again be admitted to an examination unless (i) in the case of an applicant for licensure as an esthetician, the applicant shall again take and complete a program of 750 hours in the study of esthetics in a licensed school of cosmetology approved to teach esthetics or a school of esthetics, extending over a period that commences after the applicant fails to pass the fourth examination and that is not less than 18 weeks nor more than 4 consecutive years in duration; or (ii) in the case of an applicant for a license as an esthetics teacher, the applicant shall again take and complete a program of 750 hours of teacher training in a school of cosmetology approved to teach esthetics or a school of esthetics, except that if the applicant had 2 years of practical experience as a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician within 5 years preceding the initial examination taken by the applicant, the applicant must again take and complete a program of 500 hours of teacher training in licensed cosmetology or a licensed esthetics school.

(b) Each applicant shall be given a written examination testing both theoretical and practical knowledge which shall include, but not be limited to, questions that determine the applicant's knowledge, as provided by rule.

(c) The examination of applicants for licensure as an esthetics teacher may include:

(1) teaching methodology;

(2) classroom management; and

(3) record keeping and any other subjects that the Department may deem necessary to insure competent performance.

(d) This Act does not prohibit the practice of esthetics by one who has applied in writing to the Department, in form and substance satisfactory to the Department, for a license as an esthetician or an esthetics teacher and has complied with all the provisions of this Act in order to qualify for a license, except the passing of an examination to be eligible to receive such license certificate, until: (i) the expiration of 6 months after the filing of such written application, or (ii) the decision of the Department that the applicant has failed to pass an examination within 6 months or failed without an approved excuse to take an examination conducted within 6 months by the Department, or (iii) the withdrawal of the application.

(Source: P.A. 100-642, eff. 1-1-19; 100-934, eff. 1-1-19.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-6) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703A-6)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 3A-6. Licensure; renewal; continuing education; examination; military service. The holder of a license issued under this Article may renew such license during the month preceding the expiration date thereof by paying the required fee, giving evidence the Department may prescribe of completing not less than 10 hours for estheticians, and not less than 20 hours of continuing education for esthetics teachers, within the 2 years prior to renewal. The training shall be in subjects, approved by the Department as prescribed by rule upon recommendation of the Board.

For the initial renewal of an esthetician's license which requires continuing education, as prescribed by rule, one hour of the continuing education shall include domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education as prescribed by rule of the Department. For every subsequent renewal of an esthetician's license, one hour of the continuing education may include domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education as prescribed by rule of the Department. The one-hour domestic violence and sexual assault awareness continuing education course shall be provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Department, except that completion from March 12, 2016 to March 15, 2016 of a one-hour domestic violence and sexual assault awareness course from a domestic violence and sexual assault awareness organization shall satisfy this requirement.

The Department may prescribe rules regarding the requirements for domestic violence and sexual assault awareness continuing education courses and teachers.

The Department, in its discretion, may waive enforcement of the continuing education requirement in this Section, including the domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education requirement, and shall adopt rules defining the standards and criteria for such waiver, under the following circumstances:

(1) the licensee resides in a locality where it is demonstrated that the absence of opportunities for such education would interfere with the ability of the licensee to provide service to the public;

(2) the licensee's compliance with the continuing education requirements would cause a substantial financial hardship on the licensee;

(3) the licensee is serving in the United States Armed Forces; or

(4) the licensee is incapacitated due to illness.

(Source: P.A. 98-911, eff. 1-1-15; 99-427, eff. 8-21-15; 99-766, eff. 1-1-17.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-7)

Sec. 3A-7. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 98-911, eff. 1-1-15. Repealed by P.A. 99-427, eff. 8-21-15.)

(225 ILCS 410/3A-8)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 3A-8. Inactive status. Any esthetician or esthetician teacher who notifies the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the Department may elect to place his or her license on inactive status and shall, subject to rules of the Department, be excused from payment of renewal fees until he or she notifies the Department in writing of his or her desire to resume active status.

Any esthetician or esthetician teacher requesting restoration from inactive status shall be required to pay the current renewal fee and to qualify for the restoration of his or her license, subject to rules of the Department. A license shall not be restored from inactive status unless the esthetician or esthetician teacher requesting the restoration completes the number of hours of continuing education required for renewal of a license under Section 3A-6.

Any esthetician or esthetician teacher whose license is in inactive status shall not practice in the State of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 99-427, eff. 8-21-15.)