How to Get Your Esthetician License in Michigan

To get your esthetician license in Michigan, you complete a 750-hour state-approved esthetics program, apply through the state MyLicense portal, and sit for the theory and practical exams administered by PSI. Once licensed, you renew every two years for $48, with no continuing-education requirement. At David Pressley School of Cosmetology, you can complete those 750 hours on a Royal Oak or Taylor campus, training on real guests in a student salon, with an admissions team that helps you plan the fees and financial aid. Here is the full process, step by step.

What are the requirements to become an esthetician in Michigan?

Before you enroll, Michigan sets a few basic requirements. These come from the state, so they apply wherever you train:

• Age: at least 17 years old.
• Education: completion of the 9th grade or higher.
• Good moral character: a standard tied to state licensing.

The Michigan Board of Cosmetology oversees esthetician licensing, and the steps below follow its process. If you are close to one of these thresholds, for example still finishing high school, the David Pressley admissions team can help you understand your timing before you apply, so you start the program at the right moment for you.

What are the steps to get your esthetician license?

Here is the path from enrollment to a license in hand.

1. Complete a state-approved esthetics program. Michigan requires 750 hours covering facials and skincare, hair removal, makeup, client communication, sanitation and safety, and state law. At David Pressley, you complete these hours with hands-on practice on real guests in the student salon.
2. Apply for the state board exam. Submit your application through the MyLicense portal, which carries a $39 fee. Then register with PSI Services LLC and pay the $161 exam fee. You must sit for the exam within one year of PSI receiving your payment.
3. Sit for the theory exam. The written theory exam is 100 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour limit, and you need 70% to pass. It covers sanitation and safety, client consultation, basic and advanced facials, hair removal, makeup, body treatments, and licensing.
4. Sit for the practical exam. The practical is 95 minutes and 58 points, and you need 75% to pass. It covers setup, cleansing, exfoliation, massage, masks, makeup, eyebrow shaping, lash and brow tinting, and cleanup.
5. Renew every two years. Once licensed, you renew by August 31 of the renewal year for a $48 fee through the state portal. Michigan has no continuing-education requirement, though many estheticians keep learning as they grow.

What will you study in the 750 hours?

Those hours are built to prepare you for both the exam and the treatment room. Your training covers:

• Facials and skincare: skin analysis, cleansing, exfoliation, and customized treatment plans.
• Hair removal: safe, sanitary waxing for the face and body.
• Makeup: application, color theory, and enhancing natural features.
• Skin science: anatomy, common conditions, and knowing when a service is not appropriate.
• Sanitation and safety: infection control and proper use of tools and equipment.
• Professional skills: client consultation and running a clean, professional workspace.

How long does it take?

Because the program is hour-based, your timeline depends on your schedule. Full-time day students at David Pressley can complete the 750-hour esthetics program in as little as about six months, or roughly 25 weeks.

Evening students take a little longer but can keep working while they train. The admissions team can help you choose the schedule that fits your life.

What can you do with a Michigan esthetician license?

A license opens the door to a range of skincare work, including:

• Skincare and facial specialist at a salon or spa
• Makeup artist or waxing specialist
• Lash and brow specialist
• Esthetics instructor or spa manager
• Medical spa or dermatology support roles
• Your own independent skincare practice

How much does it cost to get licensed?

Beyond tuition, the licensing process itself has a few set fees to plan for. Knowing them up front keeps the timeline from stalling:

• Application fee: $39 through the state MyLicense portal.
• Exam fee: $161 to PSI Services, which administers the theory and practical exams.
• Renewal: $48 every two years to keep your license active.

Tuition is the larger investment, and it varies by school and schedule. The David Pressley admissions team can walk you through the numbers so there are no surprises, and Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.

What happens after you pass the exam?

Once you pass both the theory and practical exams and your license is issued, you can begin working as a licensed esthetician right away. Many new graduates start in a salon or spa to build hands-on experience and a client base before deciding whether to specialize or work independently.

From there, the license grows with you. You might move into advanced skincare at a medical spa, focus on lashes and brows, teach as an esthetics instructor, or eventually open your own practice. Michigan does not require continuing education, but keeping up with new techniques is what keeps estheticians in demand as trends change.

How can you prepare for the state exams?

The written and practical exams are very passable when you have trained well. A few habits make the difference:

• Practice on real people: the hours you log with real guests in the student salon are the best possible preparation for the hands-on practical.
• Know your sanitation cold: sanitation and safety appear throughout both exams, so make those steps second nature.
• Time your services: the practical is timed, so rehearsing at exam pace keeps you from rushing on the day.
• Review the theory categories: facials, hair removal, makeup, anatomy, and licensing all appear on the written exam, so study across the full range.
• Prepare your kit: you supply your own tools for the practical, so pack and check everything ahead of time.

Because David Pressley training is hands-on from the start, most of this preparation happens naturally as you complete your hours, and your instructors help you get ready as the exam approaches.

Next step: Interested in a Michigan esthetics education? Talk with David Pressley admissions about the esthetics program, tour a campus, and plan your schedule. Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours do you need for an esthetician license in Michigan?

Michigan requires 750 hours of state-approved esthetics training for students starting after July 1, 2024.

How much does it cost to get an esthetician license in Michigan?

Beyond tuition, expect a $39 application fee, a $161 PSI exam fee, and a $48 renewal every two years. The David Pressley admissions team can walk you through tuition, and Financial Aid is available to those who qualify.

How long does esthetics school take in Michigan?

Full-time day students can complete the 750-hour program in as little as about six months. Evening schedules take longer but let you keep working.

Do Michigan estheticians need continuing education?

No. Michigan does not require continuing education to renew an esthetician license, though ongoing training is encouraged.

How long is an esthetician license valid in Michigan?

Two years. Licenses renew by August 31 of the renewal year for $48 through the state portal.

Can you go straight into esthetics school after high school?

Yes. As long as you are at least 17 and have completed the 9th grade, you can enroll, and many students begin their esthetics education right after high school.