Licensing Requirements for Electrologists

WRITTEN BY Beauty Schools Directory Editorial Staff | UPDATED ON 02/09/2024

Learning the trade is a big, but not the only, step in becoming an electrologist. Aspiring electrologists also need to fulfill the licensing requirements of their state in order to practice in the industry. Electrology is a tightly, but inconsistently, regulated industry where the path to a career can be very different depending on where you live and what you want to do.

What Are the Requirements for Obtaining an Electrology License?

Electrologist licensing requirements vary considerably from one state to the next. They involve both education and whether or not you need a license.

Some states have licenses specifically for electrologists, while others require that you earn an esthetician license before completing an electrology certificate program. Other states give you the option of participating in an apprentice program. And some states don’t license or regulate electrologists at all. For information specific to your state, follow this link to individual state requirements. 

Training Hour Requirements

The states that do issue licenses determine how many electrology training hours you’re required to complete before you’re eligible to apply for a license. Training hours refer to the amount of time you’ll spend in your electrolysis training program or school. In most states this number is around 600 hours, but some states, like Florida, require as few as 320 hours. On the other end of the spectrum are states like Indiana, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, which require more than 1,000 hours.

If you’re considering an apprenticeship alternative in a state that allows it, you should be prepared to complete many more apprenticeship hours than you would if you took the classroom route. However, completing an apprenticeship can help you start to build your clientele, and you are usually paid.

Required Exams

Exam requirements, too, vary from state to state. Some states don’t test you with an examination during the licensing process. Other states do, but the test isn’t always the same from one place to the next—in fact, some boards administer their own exam specific to only their state. There are, however, national exams that you might take:

International Board of Electrologist Certification (IBEC)
Although passing this exam doesn’t lead to licensure until you satisfy all your state’s requirements, the IBEC exam is the national industry standard.

National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC)
The NIC electrology exam comes in two parts. The theory, or written portion, tests your knowledge. The hands-on, or practical portion, tests your skills.

Electrolysis Certification

The American Electrology Association (AEA) recommends that electrologists pursue the Certified Professional Electrologist (CPE) certification. In fact, the AEA states that earning this credential is one of the most important things you can do to enjoy a successful career in the field.

Getting certified is voluntary. However, it shows employers and clients that you’ve gone above and beyond the standards required by your state licensing board.

Maintaining Your Electrology License

In some cases you’ll have to renew your license periodically to keep it in good standing. This requirement, too, varies by state. Often you will be required to earn continuing education credits (CEUs) to renew your license. As with everything else, the number and type of CEUs differ from one state to the next.

Find your state in the chart below to see any CEU requirements. For the most up-to-date information you should always check with your state for updates.

Continuing Education

Over half the states don’t require continuing education—but that doesn’t mean that you should ever stop improving. Whether you take a class, watch some videos, attend a seminar, or go to a trade show, lifelong learning is the key to keeping up with new trends, techniques, and technology to stay on top of your game throughout your career.

Requirements for Electrologists by State

Expand All
Alabama
does not require licensure

Visit the Alabama electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Alaska electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Arizona electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 16 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours or 350 hours and 1,500 hours of cosmetology training
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Arkansas electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 17 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours or 2-year apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the California electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Colorado electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 1 CEU every year

Visit the Connecticut electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 16 years old
Education: 10th grade or equivalent
Training Hours: 300 hours or 600-hour apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Delaware electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: No education required
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the D.C. electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: 10th grade or equivalent
Training Hours: 320 hours
Continuing Education: 2 CEUs every 2 years

Visit the Florida electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Georgia electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: No education required
Training Hours: 600 hours or 800-hour apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Hawaii electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the NIC Written and Practical exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 16 1/2 years old
Education: 2 years old of high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 800 hours or 1,600 hours apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Idaho electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school degree or GED equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 3 CEUs every 2 years

Visit the Illinois electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: No education required
Training Hours: 300 hours and 1,500 hours of cosmetology training or 700 hours of esthetician training
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Indiana electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: No age requirement
Education: high school degree or GED equivalent
Training Hours: 425 hours
Continuing Education: 0.6 CEUs every 2 years

Visit the Iowa electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 17 years old
Education: high school degree or GED equivalent
Training Hours: 500 hours or 1,000-hour apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Kansas electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Kentucky electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours or 600-hour apprenticeship
Continuing Education: 0.3 CEU every year

Visit the Louisiana electrology page to learn more.

You must get a certificate. Other requirements include:

Age: 17 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours in a school of electrology
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Maine electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 2 CEUs every 2 years

Visit the Maryland electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 1,100 hours
Continuing Education: 1 CEU every 2 years

Visit the Massachusetts electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: 9th grade or equivalent
Training Hours: 400 hours or 6-month apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Michigan electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Minnesota electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Mississippi electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Missouri electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Montana electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Nebraska electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 500 hours or 1,000-hour apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Nevada electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 1,100 hours
Continuing Education: 1 CEU every 2 years

Visit the New Hampshire electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBEC and Jurisprudence exams. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 2 CEUs every 2 years

Visit the New Jersey electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 17 years old
Education: 10th grade or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the New Mexico electrology page to learn more.

Visit the New York electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 21 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 1 CEU every year

Visit the North Carolina electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 0.5 CEU every year

Visit the North Dakota electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 750 hours
Continuing Education: 2.5 CEUs every 2 years

Visit the Ohio electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 21 years old
Education: B.S. degree in approved field
Training Hours: 600-hour internship
Continuing Education: 1.0 CEUs every 3 years

Visit the Oklahoma electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 0.8 CEUs each year

Visit the Oregon electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Pennsylvania electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 650-hour apprenticeship
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Rhode Island electrology page to learn more.

Visit the South Carolina electrology page to learn more.

Visit the South Dakota electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBEC exam or the Society for Clinical & Medical Hair Removal exams. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 1 CEU every year

Visit the Tennessee electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Texas electrology page to learn more.

You must pass a state exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: Not required

Visit the Utah electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 600 hours
Continuing Education: 1 CEU every 2 years

Visit the Vermont electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Virginia electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Washington electrology page to learn more.

Visit the West Virginia electrology page to learn more.

You must pass the IBCE exam. Other requirements include:

Age: 18 years old
Education: high school or equivalent
Training Hours: 450 hours
Continuing Education: 1.2 CEU every 2 years

Visit the Wisconsin electrology page to learn more.

Visit the Wyoming electrology page to learn more.

Electrology Schools in Your State

Electrology
Commercial Career
Select a beauty program and state to view schools