How to Become a Licensed Esthetician in Louisiana

Both men and women have done some strange things throughout time all for the sake of looking good. For instance, curdled milk was supposed to cure acne, boiled nettles were known to even out a poor complexion, and crocodile fat was used to smooth wrinkles.

While you won’t find many residents in Louisiana using crocodile fat as a beauty treatment, you will find them seeking the help of cosmetology professionals like estheticians to help them look and feel their best.

Louisiana offers many different types of esthetician jobs in locations such as:

Spas
Salons
Resorts and hotels
Medical spas
Dermatology and chiropractic offices
Film and fashion industries

If you are considering a career as a licensed esthetician in the state of Lousiana, this article will tell you exactly what you need to do to obtain licensure.

Esthetician License Requirements and Training Schools in Louisiana

In order to become an esthetician in Louisiana, you must be issued an esthetician license by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. Follow the steps below to obtain your esthetician license in the state of Louisiana.

Step 1: Complete a State Approved Esthetics Program

The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology requires that applicants for the esthetics exam be at least 16 years of age and have successfully completed a 10th-grade education. You must complete a minimum of 750 hours of education at an approved cosmetology school. There is no apprenticeship program offered for estheticians in Louisiana.

Your esthetics education and training will include the following:

1. Scientific Concepts

Sanitation & Sterilization
Human Physiology & Anatomy
Skin Histology
Skin Diseases & Disorders
Nutrition
General Chemistry

2. Services

Skin Analysis
Draping
Product Selections
Cleansing Procedure
Selecting & Employing Massage
Selecting & Employing Mask Therapy
Electricity & Various Electrical Apparatus
Hair Removal
Hazards to Skin
Aromatherapy
Spa
Makeup

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 Examination

You will need to obtain and complete your esthetician exam and licensing application with the help of your state-approved esthetics educational institution. You cannot access the application online. Your school will have all of the information that you need. You will also be required to pay an application fee.

Temporary Permit

The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology will also allow you to apply for a temporary permit. You will need to meet the following requirements in order to qualify:

You have been previously licensed as an esthetician
You are applying for a license by reciprocity
You need to work as an esthetician in Louisiana, but you haven’t been scheduled by the State Board to take and pass your written and practical exams.

If you meet the above requirements, you qualify for a temporary permit. To apply for the permit, complete the following steps:

Complete and submit the Temporary Permit Application
Submit a legible copy of your current license
Pay the $25.00 permit fee

Step 3: Take and Pass the Exams for State Licensure

The State Exam

Louisiana is unique in that not only are esthetician applicants required to take the written and practical examinations, they must also take a state specific exam. You can review this document to study for the exam.

Preparing for the Written and Practical Exams

The National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) recommends the following reference materials to help you prepare for and pass the written (theory) and practical esthetics exams, which can be purchased at discounted prices on Amazon:

Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals (2013, 11th Edition)
Salon Fundamentals: Esthetics Textbook (2007, 11th printing, 2nd Edition, August 2013)

We also recommend that you purchase and study the following books in preparation for your exams:

Salon Fundamentals Esthetics Licensure Exam Prep Book (Spiral-bound – 2007)
Modern Esthetics: A Scientific Source for Estheticians (Milady)

The Esthetics Practical Exam

In order to be admitted to the practical exam, you must bring:

Your social security card
A current government-issued identification card such as a driver’s license
Your clearance paper from the state board to take the practical exam
Your exam supply kit (refer to page 5 of the Candidate Information Bulletin)

In addition, you also must adhere to the dress code on page 4 of the Candidate Exam Bulletin. Candidates who do not abide by the dress code will be denied testing and are considered to be a “no show”. A “no show” candidate is required to pay a $25 fee prior to being scheduled for a future exam date.

The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Practical Esthetician Exam has four sections:

Prep for Facial – This section will not be timed. You will be graded on your image and appearance as well as sanitation and safety measures used.
Skin and Treatments – This section is not timed either. You will be graded again on your appearance and image. You will be required to properly analyze and diagnose the skin type of a model. You will also be graded on your knowledge of skin enemies, treatments, and conditions.
Facial Procedure – You will have 20 minutes to complete this section. You will be required to prepare the client for services, to use cleaning, massage, and manipulation techniques, and apply a mask.
Makeup Application – You will have 45 minutes to complete your assigned makeup application. You will be graded on your analysis of your model’s face shape and features and your knowledge regarding shading, contouring, and highlighting.

You must score at least a 70 percent in order to pass the practical examination.

The Esthetics Written Exam

You will be given 90 minutes to complete the written esthetics exam. The written exam will consist of 60 percent scientific concepts questions and 40 percent esthetics practices questions.

The esthetics written exam will include topics such as:

Microbiology
Infection control
Anatomy
Hair growth cycle
Cleansing procedures
Skin functions
Factors that impact the skin
Contraindications for services
Chemistry

Practice questions and references for study can be found in the NIC Written Exam Candidate Information Bulletin.

Once you have passed all three exams, your license will be sent to your school where it will be placed on file. You can then obtain your Louisiana esthetician license from your school.

Step 4: Renew Your LA Esthetician License Every Two Years

Your esthetician license will be due for renewal each year during the month of your birthday. You must fill out an application and pay the $25 renewal fee.

The Louisiana Cosmetology state board does not require renewal applicants to have continuing education credits.

Esthetician License Reciprocity in Louisiana

If you are from out of state and need to obtain a Louisiana esthetician license, you will be required to take the NIC exam if you have not successfully passed it before. If you can show proof that you have taken and passed the NIC exam you will only be required to take the state written exam in order to transfer your esthetician license.

Either way, you will need to submit the following:

A completed and signed Application for Reciprocity
A current passport size picture
A copy of your valid driver’s license or government identification card
A copy of your Social Security card
Your current original esthetician license
Certification from the state where you received your esthetics training
A check or money order to pay the non-refundable application fee of: $50 if you have a Louisiana identification or $75 if you have an out-of-state identification (made payable to the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology)

The application and all required paperwork should be submitted directly to the state board. Once your application is approved, you will be notified to take the written exam.

You must also register for the National exam online with the National Theory Testing Company. The exam is in English only.

Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Contact Information

Lousiana State Board of Cosmetology
11622 Sunbelt Court
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Toll-Free: 1-866-257-7901
Phone: 225-756-3404
Fax: 225-756-3410

Louisiana Written and Practical Exam Locations

Below is a map showing the locations of the esthetician written and practical exams administered by ISO Quality Testing. Before you arrive at an IQT test center, please be sure to call IQT toll-free at 1-866-773-1114 or 727-733-1110 to confirm the test center’s current address and inquire about their hours of operation.

Map of Written and Practical Exam Locations in Louisiana

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