If you are a cosmetologist, esthetician, hair braider, or nail technician in Illinois, then you need to know how to complete your Illinois cosmetology continuing education and renew your license . The renewal process can be a little daunting, whether this is your first or fifth renewal.
You not only want your CE hours done now, but you probably need your CE hours done now. We know the salon environment is busy and doesn’t leave you with a lot of extra time to search for answers to all of your renewal questions.
At Cosmo Credits, our goal is to make renewing your license simple and stress-free. We will walk you through the steps involved in renewing your license, cover lots of frequently asked questions, and provide some tips on making the renewal process go as smoothly as possible.
Take a seat in your salon chair and let’s get started. In a few minutes, you will have links to the courses you need and know how to renew your license like a pro!
What types of cosmetology board licenses are there in Illinois?
There are four types of licenses issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. They are:
- Cosmetology License
- Esthetician License
- Hair Braider License
- Nail Technician License
In addition, there is an instructor license for each one of the above license types.
What are my Illinois cosmetology continuing education requirements?
All licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, hair braiders, and nail technicians must complete continuing education to renew their license, However, not all license types have the same renewal requirements.
Cosmetologist Renewal Requirements
You are required to complete 14 CE hours each renewal cycle.
Of the 14 hours required, at least seven (7) must be completed in an “Instructor-Led” format.
The other seven (7) hours can be fulfilled through “Distance Learning” options, such as online courses. This is where Cosmo Credits comes in. We can help you complete these seven hours from your salon chair, couch, or favorite coffee shop. You can use your laptop, tablet, or phone on your schedule.
Nail Technician and Esthetician Renewal Requirements
You are required to complete 10 CE hours each renewal cycle.
Of the 10 hours required, at least five must be completed in an “Instructor-Led” format.
The other five (5) hours can be fulfilled through “Distance Learning” options, such as online courses. This is where Cosmo Credits comes in. We can help you complete these seven hours from your salon chair, couch, or favorite coffee shop. You can use your laptop, tablet, or phone on your schedule.
Hair Braider Renewal Requirements
You are required to complete 10 CE hours each renewal cycle.
Of the 10 hours required, at least five must be completed in an “Instructor-Led” format.
The other five (5) hours can be fulfilled through “Distance Learning” options, such as online courses. This is where Cosmo Credits comes in. We can help you complete these seven hours from your salon chair, couch, or favorite coffee shop. You can use your laptop, tablet, or phone on your schedule.
Are you an approved provider for the Illinois Cosmetology Board or IDFPR?
Our application with the Illinois cosmetology board is currently pending. If approved, we plan to offer the following courses.
Seven (7) hour renewal package for Cosmetologists includes:
3 hours of Sanitation
2 hours of Essential Business Skills
1 hour Hair, Skin, and Nails
1 hour Environmental Issues in the Salon
Five (5) hour renewal package for Estheticians, Nail Technicians, and Hair Braiders includes:
3 hours of Sanitation
2 hours of Essential Business Skills
Do your offer the Sexual Harassment Awareness Course Requirement?
This 1 hour CE course will be offered through another provider that is pre-approved by the IDFPR.
More about this requirement…
As a reminder, this new requirement was established by the IDFPR in 2020. Each renewal cycle, all those licensed under the IDFPR are required to complete a course on Sexual Harassment Awareness.
Do you offer the Domestic Violence Awareness Course Requirement?
Not at this time.
Illinois Domestic Violence CE Providers List
Do you report completed hours to the IDFPR?
No. The IDFPR does not have a CE reporting portal at this time. You are responsible for reporting your own completed continuing education hours to the IDFPR.
Where can I find live CE courses?
In addition to your online hours, you need 5 to 7 hours of live, classroom, or “instructor-led courses”.
We recommend contacting cosmetology schools in your area to find live courses. They often have courses year-round and especially close to renewal deadlines.
Here is the current list of all Illinois Board-approved CE providers. It does not separate which are online or in-person. You will need to contact the providers for more details on their class offerings and format.
Are there any variances for continuing education?
You may see varying opinions on this question, which makes it confusing. There are a few websites that are not up-to-date on the changes.
As of 2017, there are no longer exemptions for continuing education.
You can read the Board statement on exemptions here: Board Exemptions Statement.
Previously there were exemptions for licensees that were:
- Having their first renewal
- Over 62 years old
- Licensed by the department over 25 Years
What about COVID?
It does not appear there are any additional variances, exemptions, or waivers for COVID at this time.
For extreme hardship or active military, there are some waivers. You can read here for more information: Hardship Waivers and Military Exemptions
Instructor Renewal Requirements
If you hold an instructor license, you have different requirements and a different renewal deadline.
How do I renew my license?
Once your hours have been completed, you will need to submit a renewal application to the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (IDFPR) along with your renewal fee. This can be done online.
You will need to create an account with the IDFPR. Once you have logged in, you will be able to complete the renewal application and pay the required fee.
To renew your license online, here is the link: Renew Your Illinois Cosmetology License
If you have problems with your renewal, you can contact the IDFPR by phone or their contact page:
Phone: 1-800-560-6420
Contact Email: Email the IDFPR
What is the renewal fee?
The renewal fee for cosmetologists, estheticians, hair braiders, and nail technicians is $50.
When is my renewal deadline for my Illinois license?
Cosmetologist licenses shall expire on September 30th of each odd-numbered year. This means the next renewal deadline is September 30th, 2023.
Esthetician licenses shall expire on September 30th of each odd-numbered year. This means the next renewal deadline is September 30th, 2023.
Nail Technician licenses shall expire on October 30th of each odd-numbered year. This means the next renewal deadline is on October 30th, 2023.
Hair Braider licenses shall expire on October 30th of each odd-numbered year. This means the next renewal deadline is on October 30th, 2023.
What if my license is delinquent?
In Illinois, they call this “restoration” or reinstatement.
Restoration is when a person’s license has been expired or on inactive status for less than 5 years. In this case, you need to submit an application to the appropriate division to get your license back in good standing.
How do I get started with my Illinois license renewal?
Here is how you can complete all of your Illinois cosmetology continuing education requirements and renew your license in just a few steps.
Step 1: Complete Online Courses
- Register for a 5 hour and 7 hour renewal package to complete your online hours
- Read the course material and take the exam (All courses are self-paced & have unlimited exam retakes)
- Download and print the certificate of attendance after passing your exam
Step 2: Sexual Harassment Prevention Course
- Link to an approved Sexual Harassment Prevention Course
Step 3: Domestic Violence Awareness Course
Step 4: In-Person Courses
- Complete your in-person hours requirement
- 5 hours for Estheticians, Nail Technicians, and Hair Braiders
- 7 hours for Cosmetologists
Step 5: IDFPR Renewal
- Log in to your account
- Pay Renewal Fee
Step 6: Print License
The IDFPR no longer mails paper licenses to licensees. Licensees can print their licenses from the IDFPR website. To do this, you will need to log in to your online account and select the ‘Print License’ option.
Step 7: Post License
After you have printed your license, remember to post it in a conspicuous place in your business or work location.
Once all of these are done, you do not need to worry about renewing your license until 2025!
Have any other questions about renewing your license? Let us know below or send us an email.