Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
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PROFESSIONS, OCCUPATIONS, AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
(225 ILCS 410/) Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act of 1985.

225 ILCS 410/3-6

    (225 ILCS 410/3-6) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703-6)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
    Sec. 3-6. Examination. The Department shall authorize examinations of applicants for licensure as cosmetologists and teachers of cosmetology at the times and places it may determine. The Department may provide by rule for the administration of the examination prior to the completion of the applicant's program of training as required in Section 3-2, 3-3, or 3-4. Notwithstanding Section 3-2, 3-3, or 3-4, an applicant for licensure as a cosmetologist who has completed 1,200 hours in the study of cosmetology may take the examination. If an applicant for licensure as a cosmetologist fails to pass 3 examinations conducted by the Department, the applicant shall, before taking a subsequent examination, furnish evidence of not less than 250 hours of additional study of cosmetology in an approved school of cosmetology since the applicant last took the examination. If an applicant for licensure as a cosmetology teacher fails to pass 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 an approved school of cosmetology since the applicant last took the examination. An applicant who fails to pass the fourth examination shall not again be admitted to an examination unless: (i) in the case of an applicant for licensure as a cosmetologist, the applicant again takes and completes a program of 1500 hours in the study of cosmetology in an approved school of cosmetology extending over a period that commences after the applicant fails to pass the fourth examination and that is not less than 8 months nor more than 7 consecutive years in duration; (ii) in the case of an applicant for licensure as a cosmetology teacher, the applicant again takes and completes a program of 1000 hours of teacher training in an approved school of cosmetology, except that if the applicant had 2 years of practical experience as a licensed cosmetologist within the 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 an approved school of cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology; or (iii) in the case of an applicant for licensure as a cosmetology clinic teacher, the applicant again takes and completes a program of 250 hours of clinic teacher training in a licensed school of cosmetology or an instructor's institute of 20 hours. The requirements for remedial training set forth in this Section may be waived in whole or in part by the Department upon proof to the Department that the applicant has demonstrated competence to again sit for the examination. The Department shall adopt rules establishing the standards by which this determination shall be made. Each cosmetology 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 of product chemistry, sanitary rules, sanitary procedures, chemical service procedures, hazardous chemicals and exposure minimization, knowledge of the anatomy of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails as they relate to applicable services under this Act and labor and compensation laws.
    The examination of applicants for licensure as a cosmetology, esthetics, or nail technology teacher may include all of the elements of the exam for licensure as a cosmetologist, esthetician, or nail technician and also include teaching methodology, classroom management, record keeping, and any other related subjects that the Department in its discretion may deem necessary to insure competent performance.
    This Act does not prohibit the practice of cosmetology by one who has applied in writing to the Department, in form and substance satisfactory to the Department, for a license as a cosmetologist, or the teaching of cosmetology by one who has applied in writing to the Department, in form and substance satisfactory to the Department, for a license as a cosmetology teacher or cosmetology clinic teacher, if the person 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 a license, until: (a) the expiration of 6 months after the filing of the written application, (b) 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 (c) the withdrawal of the application.
(Source: P.A. 99-427, eff. 8-21-15; 100-642, eff. 1-1-19; 100-934, eff. 1-1-19.)

225 ILCS 410/3-7

    (225 ILCS 410/3-7) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703-7)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
    Sec. 3-7. Licensure; renewal; continuing education. The holder of a license issued under this Article III may renew that license during the month preceding the expiration date thereof by paying the required fee, giving such evidence as the Department may prescribe of completing not less than 14 hours of continuing education for a cosmetologist, and 24 hours of continuing education for a cosmetology teacher or cosmetology clinic teacher, 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 and may include online instruction.
    For the initial renewal of a cosmetologist'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 a cosmetologist'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 shall establish by rule a means for the verification of completion of the continuing education required by this Section. This verification may be accomplished through audits of records maintained by registrants, by requiring the filing of continuing education certificates with the Department, or by other means established by the Department.
    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 that waiver under the following circumstances:
        (a) 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;
        (b) that to comply with the continuing education
    
requirements would cause a substantial financial hardship on the licensee;
        (c) that the licensee is serving in the United States
    
Armed Forces; or
        (d) that 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 410/3-7.1

    (225 ILCS 410/3-7.1) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703-7.1)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
    Sec. 3-7.1. Inactive Status. Any cosmetologist, cosmetology teacher, or cosmetology clinic teacher who notifies the Department in writing on forms prescribed by the Department, may elect to place his or her license on an 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 cosmetologist, cosmetology teacher, or cosmetology clinic 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 cosmetologist, cosmetology teacher, or cosmetology clinic teacher requesting the restoration completes the number of hours of continuing education required for renewal of a license under Section 3-7.
    Any cosmetologist, cosmetology teacher, or cosmetology clinic teacher whose license is in an inactive status shall not practice in the State of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 89-387, eff. 1-1-96; 90-302, eff. 8-1-97.)

225 ILCS 410/3-8

    (225 ILCS 410/3-8)
    Sec. 3-8. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 98-911, eff. 1-1-15. Repealed by P.A. 99-427, eff. 8-21-15.)

225 ILCS 410/3-8a

    (225 ILCS 410/3-8a) (from Ch. 111, par. 1703-8a)
    Sec. 3-8a. (Repealed).
(Source: P.A. 85-981. Repealed by P.A. 89-387, eff. 1-1-96.)

225 ILCS 410/3-9

    (225 ILCS 410/3-9)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
    Sec. 3-9. Licensed barber seeking license as cosmetologist. A licensed barber who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a cosmetologist must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a cosmetologist, except that such applicant shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her barber license in subjects that are common to both barbering and cosmetology and shall complete an additional 500 hours of instruction in subjects not within the scope of practice of a barber. The Department shall provide for the implementation of this provision by rule.
(Source: P.A. 99-427, eff. 8-21-15.)

225 ILCS 410/3-10

    (225 ILCS 410/3-10)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
    Sec. 3-10. Licensed esthetician or licensed nail technician seeking license as a cosmetologist. A licensed esthetician or licensed nail technician who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a cosmetologist must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a cosmetologist except that such applicant shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her esthetician or nail technician license in subjects that are common to both esthetics or nail technology and cosmetology. The Department shall provide for the implementation of this provision by rule.
(Source: P.A. 99-427, eff. 8-21-15.)

225 ILCS 410/3-11

    (225 ILCS 410/3-11)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 3-11. Licensed barber teacher seeking license as cosmetology teacher. A licensed barber teacher who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a cosmetology teacher must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a cosmetology teacher, except that an applicant who has at least 3 years of experience as a licensed barber teacher shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her barber teacher license in subjects that are common to both barbering and cosmetology in the supplemental cosmetology course. The Department shall provide for the implementation of this provision by rule.
(Source: P.A. 103-675, eff. 1-1-25.)

225 ILCS 410/3-12

    (225 ILCS 410/3-12)
    (This Section may contain text from a Public Act with a delayed effective date)
    Sec. 3-12. Licensed esthetician teacher or licensed nail technician teacher seeking license as a cosmetology teacher. A licensed esthetician teacher or licensed nail technician teacher who submits to the Department an application for licensure as a cosmetology teacher must meet all requirements of this Act for licensure as a cosmetology teacher, except that an applicant who has at least 3 years of experience as a licensed esthetician teacher or licensed nail technician teacher shall be given credit for hours of instruction completed for his or her esthetician teacher or nail technician teacher license in subjects that are common to both esthetics or nail technology and cosmetology. The Department shall provide for the implementation of this provision by rule.
(Source: P.A. 103-675, eff. 1-1-25.)

225 ILCS 410/Art. IIIA

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