LICENSING GUIDE
Colorado
— Esthetician
Colorado’s esthetician license covers nonmedical skin-care services including facials and skin care, facial makeup, and permitted hair-removal services within the state-defined scope. The credential does not independently authorize medical practice.
Renewal Period:
24 months
Colorado Esthetician licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years and must generally be renewed every two years. A 60-day grace period follows the expiration date, but the license must be renewed to remain active beyond that period.
Last Verified:
October 31, 2026
PATHWAYS TO LICENSURE
School Pathway
Training Hours:
600
Complete an approved esthetician program consisting of at least 20 credit hours or 600 contact hours. Required subjects include facials and skin care, facial makeup, hair removal, Colorado laws and rules, management and ethics, and disinfection and safe work practices.
Apprenticeship Pathway
Available:
Yes
Colorado accepts completion of an apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and approved by the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools or Colorado Community College System as meeting the training requirement. Colorado’s licensing rule does not assign one separate fixed apprenticeship-hour total in this section; the approved program establishes its requirements.
LICENSE TRANSFER
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Colorado offers licensure by endorsement to applicants who hold a current, unrestricted license in good standing from another state, territory, or foreign country. Applicants must document substantially equivalent training and passage of a written licensing examination. They must also document passage of a practical examination or at least 1,000 hours of relevant work experience during the two years immediately preceding the application.
LICENSE MAINTENANCE
Continuing Education
Required:
Yes
Colorado does not require continuing education for routine, on-time Esthetician license renewal. Continuing education may be used to establish competency when reinstating a license that has been expired for more than two years: 16 hours for a license expired more than two but less than five years, or 24 hours for a license expired more than five years.
SOURCES & VERIFICATION
License Sources
Colorado Secretary of State
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
PSI Services and Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations
Colorado Division of Professions and Occupations and PSI Services
EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
Required Examinations
Examination Required:
Yes
Written Examination:
Required
Practical Examination:
Required
State Law Examination:
Not required
Applicants must pass the PSI National Esthetician practical examination and theory examination. Colorado laws and rules are included in the required education, but Colorado does not list a separate state-law examination for esthetician licensure.
No treatment scope rules have been published for this license type yet.