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Cosmetology License in Illinois: Cost, Steps & How to File

Every Illinois business owner eventually asks the same three things about a cosmetology license: who issues it, roughly what it costs, roughly how long it takes. The first one has an Illinois-specific answer and it's at the top of this page.

Typical cost (US range)
$100–$500
Typical timeline
30–90 days
Renewal
Commonly every one to two years, with continuing education in many states.
Who needs it
hair stylists, estheticians, nail technicians, and barbers

Who issues a Cosmetology License in Illinois

In Illinois, a cosmetology license is issued by the office below. That is the office to confirm every figure with.

One office is missing from the list above: we could not verify a current official web address for the state board of cosmetology and barbering in Illinois, so we are not linking one. Contact that agency directly.

Starting point for anything else in Illinois: the state business portal, https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/home.html. It is a starting point, not the issuer of this permit.

The general US process

This sequence is the shape the process takes across the US. It is not a list of Illinois requirements, and no step here should be read as one — the issuing office named above sets the actual requirements.

  1. Step 1: Complete a state-approved programme. Required hours are set by the state and differ by discipline.
  2. Step 2: Apply to sit the state's exams through the board that licenses cosmetology.
  3. Step 3: Pass the written exam covering sanitation, chemistry and anatomy.
  4. Step 4: Pass the practical exam where the state still uses one.
  5. Step 5: Submit fingerprints and a background check where required.
  6. Step 6: Pay the initial licence fee.
  7. Step 7: License the salon separately. The establishment licence is usually distinct from the personal one.

What varies: required training hours, whether a practical exam is used, reciprocity with other states, and whether an apprenticeship route exists.

Documents usually asked for

A typical list, not an Illinois checklist.

Heads up: Put the renewal in a calendar now. Commonly every one to two years, with continuing education in many states — and reminder letters are a courtesy, not a guarantee, in most of the country.

Related permits in Illinois

Business License in Illinois

Cosmetology License in states bordering Illinois

Rules stop at the state line — same permit, each state bordering Illinois:

Cosmetology License in IndianaCosmetology License in IowaCosmetology License in KentuckyCosmetology License in MissouriCosmetology License in Wisconsin

See Cosmetology License in all 50 states & DC →

Frequently asked questions

Who issues a cosmetology license in Illinois?

The state office named at the top of this page.

How much does a cosmetology license cost in Illinois?

We don't publish an Illinois figure we haven't verified. The typical US range is $100–$500. The office named above has the real number for your address.

How long does it take to get a cosmetology license in Illinois?

Typical US processing is 30–90 days, and expedited handling is often available for a fee. The issuing office publishes its own turnaround, and that is the number to trust.

Nothing on this page is a verified Illinois requirement beyond the office name above — we hold no researched figure or rule for Illinois here yet, so this page is left out of search until we do. Everything else — the numbered process, the document list, the cost and timeline — is the general US pattern, not an Illinois rule, and is labelled that way above. Requirements, fees and deadlines are set by the issuing office; confirm with it before you file or pay.