How to Become a Licensed Esthetician in Florida

Florida residents and visitors alike all want to look their best. In this state, the beauty industry is a booming one with a high demand for professionals who work in it.

Nationally, 24 percent of the revenue from the beauty industry can be attributed to skin care services. Estheticians are helping people in Florida have and keep their beautiful skin. There are several different types of esthetician jobs in Florida. As a licensed esthetician you can work in places like:

Spas and massage clinics
Beauty Salons
Resorts and hotels
Medical spas
Dermatology offices
Film and fashion industries

If you are considering a career as a licensed esthetician in the state of Florida, there are several things you need to know. Keep reading to find out exactly what they are.

Esthetician License Requirements and Training Schools in Florida

Before you can become an esthetician in the state of Florida, you must be issued a license by the Florida Board of Cosmetology. Listed below are steps you need to follow in order to become a licensed esthetician in the state of Florida.

Step 1: Complete a State Approved Esthetics Program

The Florida Board of Cosmetology requires applicants to be at least 16 years of age or have a high school diploma and to have completed a minimum of 260 hours of esthetics training at an approved school. An esthetician license in the state of Florida is known as a Facial Specialist license.

Your esthetics education and training will need to include:

Manual facials
Machine facials
Waxing
Skin care products
Nutrition
Waxing
Aromatherapy
Body treatments
Microdermabrasion
Retail and sales techniques
Makeup artistry
Anatomy and physiology
Infection control, safety, and sanitation

Your esthetics education should include a mix of theory and hands-on training.

Let Esthetician Schooling Connect You With a High Quality Esthetician School in Your Area!

Are you ready to take the next step and begin your career as a well-paid esthetician? Esthetician Schooling has partnered with some of the best esthetician schools in the nation. Our huge network of nationally recognized esthetician schools will make it easy for you to find the right school and get started training immediately!

The beauty schools in our network contain one or more of the following high quality standards:

State Board Recognition
NACCAS Accreditation
Student Financial Aid
Job Placement Assistance for Those Who Qualify

To get started, simply fill out the quick 1-minute application below.

Step 2: Complete and Submit the Esthetician Application for License and Registration

You can apply online or via paper application for your Florida facial specialist license and registration. If submitting a paper application be sure to do the following:

Complete Sections I-II and IV-VI on the paper application
Include the $85 application fee
Submit proof of completion the of Board-approved HIV/AIDS course
Have your school submit the “Certification of Eligibility” portion of the application
Submit previous course evaluation documentation

The application, fee, and all supporting documentation should be mailed to the following address:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783

The state of Florida Department of Cosmetology does not require its estheticians, also known as facial specialists, to take an Esthetician Theory Exam or an Esthetician Practical Exam. They are, however, required to keep up their registration with the state.

Step 3: Take and Pass the HIV/AIDS Board Exam

Although written and practical exams are not required for estheticians in the state of Florida, applicants need to complete a board-approved HIV/AIDS course. Some courses are available online and some must be taken at a physical location. These courses help ensure the safety of facial specialists, their clients, and other people in the community.

Even without a written or practical exam to take, estheticians in this state should take their profession and careers seriously. Taking more than the required 260 hours of education or even completing an apprenticeship can help you excel in this field.

It is also vital that estheticians be registered as facial specialists in the state. Practicing in any area of esthetics without the proper state licensure and registration can lead to criminal charges and the inability to practice legally in this field in any state.

Step 4: Renew Your FL Esthetician License Every Two Years

In order to continue practicing as a facial specialist, you will need to renew your license prior to October 31st every other year. The renewal application fee is $55. You are also required to complete at least 16 hours of continuing education during the two-year renewal period. You can access a list of board-approved continuing education providers here.

As a licensed professional, you are required to document your continuing education credits and keep this documentation to submit when you complete your license renewal application. Each continuing education credit should include:

The date, time, and location of the course
Subjects covered in the course
Number of credits received for the course

It is important that you maintain these records in a safe place where you will remember where you put them.

You can enhance your career and your salary by adding to your education and licensure. Many facial specialists in Florida become certified in electrology, permanent makeup, and even body wrapping.

Esthetician License Reciprocity in Florida

If you are moving to Florida from another state where you currently have an esthetician license, you might be able to apply for a Florida facial specialist licensure endorsement. You must be at least 16 years of age and have the following:

A license from another state where the licensing requirements are equal or greater than those in Florida
Have proof of earning a high school diploma
Completed a minimum of 260 hours of esthetics educations
Within two years prior to submitting your application, have completed a Board-approved HIV/AIDS course
Proof of your license in another state sent directly from that state’s board
Pay the application fee of $59.00

You can apply online or with a paper application. Mail your fee and other required documents to the Florida Board at:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 N. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399

Florida State Board of Cosmetology Contact Information

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Division of Professions
Board of Cosmetology
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Phone: 850-487-1395
Fax: 850-921-0038

Florida Continuing Education Locations

Below is a map showing the locations of the places that provide continuing education courses needed for renewal of your esthetician license. The following abbreviations are used for each course that is offered at a location:

CM – Chemical Makeup
EI – Environmental Issues
ELE – Elective
HIV – HIV/AIDS Course
LR – State/Federal Laws & Rules
OSH – Occupational Safety Health Administration
SAS – Sanitation/Sterilization
WC – Workers’ Compensation

Please refer to the key above when using the map below.

Map of Continuing Education Locations in Florida

The map ID you have entered does not exist. Please enter a map ID that exists.