How to Become a Licensed Esthetician in Idaho

Idaho is known for many industries including tourism and potatoes. This state may not be known for its role in the beauty industry, however, there are plenty of opportunities for licensed estheticians in Idaho including those found in:

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

If you are considering becoming a licensed esthetician in the state of Idaho, there are several important pieces of information that you will need to know. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Esthetician License Requirements and Training Schools in Idaho

Before you can become an esthetician in the state of Idaho, you must first be issued a license by the Idaho Board of Cosmetology. There are several steps you need to follow in order to become licensed in the state of Idaho.

Step 1: Complete a State Approved Esthetics Program

The Idaho Board of Cosmetology is responsible for the licensing of estheticians in the state. They require that those taking the licensing exam for esthetics be at least 16.5 years and have completed at least two years of high school or the equivalent.

The first step to becoming a licensed esthetician in Idaho is to complete either 600 hours of esthetician education at an approved school or 1200 hours of apprenticeship training under a state-licensed esthetician.

Your Idaho esthetics education and training will usually include the following focus areas:

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

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

Once you have met the requirements to take the esthetician licensing exam in the state of Idaho you will need to submit your application by examination.

The procedure for submitting your application by examination includes the following steps:

Complete the application by examination in full and provide a color passport photo and notary seal.
Submit a copy of your valid driver’s license or birth certificate.
Submit a copy of your transcript or diploma showing that you have completed the tenth grade.
Submit a copy of your marriage license or divorce decree if the name used on the accompanying documents does not match the name on your application.
If you are not licensed in another state, you must submit transcripts of your esthetician training from the school you attended.
If you are licensed in another state, certification of licensure and examination type must be ordered and sent directly to IBOL.
Attach proof of successful passage of the required exam.
Attach an itemized record of instruction with the services and hours you completed during training.
Attach the required endorsement fee of $65 and the esthetician license fee of $10.

Make your check or money order payable to IBOL (Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses).

Step 3: Take and Pass the Written and Practical Esthetics Exams

While the Idaho State Board of Cosmetology is the governing body over estheticians, it contracts with D.L. Roope Administrations to administer both the NIC written and practical exams. In order to receive admission to the exams, you will either receive an application for your beauty school upon graduation or, you can apply online.

Once your application to take the exam has been approved, you will receive an admission letter giving you details about the date, time, and location of your exam. You should arrive at your testing site at least 30 minutes prior to the start of 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 Written Esthetics Exam

You must bring your admission letter along with the proper photo identification to the written exam. Remember to dress professionally as if you were going to work in your field.

You have 90 minutes to complete the 100-question written exam. The NIC esthetics written exam will be 55 percent scientific concept questions and 45 percent skin care and services questions. All questions are in multiple-choice form.

The written exam will include topics such as:

Microbiology and contagious diseases
Infection control and cleansing techniques
Skin functions and hair growth
Factors that impact the skin
Contraindications for services
Chemistry and skin products

In order to pass the written exam you must score a 75% or better.

You can prepare for both the written and practical exams by reviewing candidate bulletins, your course materials, and even finding practice exams online. The more prepared you are for the exam, the less nervous you will feel, and the greater chance you will have at passing the first time you take them.

Sample questions can be found in the NIC written exam Candidate Information Bulletin.

What to Bring to the Practical Exam

Be sure to bring a current photo identification card such as a driver’s license or state-issued ID and your admission letter to the practical exam. You will not be allowed to test without these items.

Uniforms are not required, however, you are expected to dress professionally. You should also bring your mannequin head (no more than 2 are allowed) and a supply kit. The mannequin head must have removable makeup already applied when you arrive at the examination site so that you can demonstrate the cleansing section of the exam.

A suggested list of supplies can be found on page 11 of the Candidate Information Bulletin.

The Practical Esthetics Exam

The practical esthetics exam covers 9 different sections:

Work Area and Client Preparation, and Set Up of Supplies (15 minutes)
Cleansing of the Face with Product (10 minutes)
Exfoliating the Face with Product, Using Facial Brush, Including Towel Steaming (10 minutes)
Massaging the Face with Product (10 minutes)
Work Area and New Client Preparation, and Set Up of Supplies (15 minutes)
Hair Removal of the Eyebrows by Tweezing and Using Simulated Soft Wax (Untimed)
Facial Mask and Conclusion of Facial Service (10 minutes)
Facial Makeup (20 minutes)
Blood Exposure Procedure (Untimed)

The practical exam should take about 3 hours to complete from start to finish.

You are required to score at least a 75 percent in order to pass the exam. You will be notified of your score within 7-10 days after taking the tests. Once you have passed both exams, you can apply for official licensure.

Step 4: Renew Your ID Esthetician License Every Two Years

Your Idaho esthetician license will need to be renewed every other year on your date of birth in order for you to keep practicing. You will receive a renewal notice about six weeks prior to your renewal date with further instructions. You can also renew online. The fee for renewal of an esthetician license is $20.

The Idaho Board of Cosmetology does not require you to complete continuing education credits for license renewal. However, in order to keep your knowledge up to date and learn about advances in the field of esthetics, you may want to complete continuing education credits on your own. You may also feel the need to join professional associations.

Esthetician License Reciprocity in Idaho

You may not practice as an esthetician in the state of Idaho without an Idaho license. You can, however, be licensed by endorsement if you meet either of the following conditions:

• You have a current esthetician license from another state who has standards the same or greater than the Idaho requirements.
• You have a license from another state and work experience under that license for three of the last five years.

The procedure for submitting your application by endorsement includes the following steps:

Complete the application for endorsement in full and provide a color passport photo and notary seal.
Submit a copy of your valid driver’s license or birth certificate.
Submit a copy of your transcript or diploma showing that you have completed the tenth grade.
Submit a copy of your marriage license or divorce decree if the name used on the accompanying documents does not match the name on your application.
Order a certification of licensure from the state where you are currently licensed to be mailed to the Idaho office.
Attach the required fees of $65 for endorsment and $10 for original license.

Idaho State Board of Cosmetology Contact Information

Idaho State Board of Cosmetology
Bureau of Occupational Licenses
700 W. State Street
Boise, ID 83702
E-mail: cos@ibol.idaho.gov
Phone: (208) 334-3233
Fax: (208) 334-3945

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063

Idaho Written Exam Locations

Below is a map showing the locations of the written exams administered by ISO Quality Testing on behalf of D.L. Roope Administrations. Before you arrive at a test location, please be sure to call D.L. Roope Administrations toll-free at 1-888-375-2020 to confirm the test location’s current address and inquire about their hours of operation.

Map of Written Exam Locations in Idaho

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