What Education Degree Is Needed For A Professional Makeup Artist

Makeup Artist License Requirements

The worldwide cosmetics industry is expected to grow into an $863 billion business by 2024, according to Zion Market Research, up from $532 billion in 2017. As the global makeup market inches toward a $ane trillion enterprise, you can work toward getting the license y'all demand to capture some of those dollars through a career as a makeup artist.

Here, we'll talk over which makeup artist jobs crave licenses, the deviation between several different kinds of licenses, and how to earn the 1 that's right for you. Yous'll exist introduced to licensure requirements like grooming hours and mandatory exams, also as to the things you lot need to do to maintain your license once you become it. Finally, you'll learn about how the rules, laws, and requirements vary depending on where you alive—each state, subsequently all, sets its ain standards for what you'll need to exercise to work as a makeup artist.

Types of Makeup Artist Jobs that Crave Licenses

The type of makeup artist yous want to be will play a function in whether yous even need to earn a license in the first place. The truth, however, is that where you live and work will exist the biggest determining factor. Who needs a license, what kind, and for what kind of piece of work varies considerably from one state to the next. Many states, for instance, don't crave y'all to obtain a license to work every bit a makeup artist at all. Others do, merely only for certain work environments.

For instance, yous almost never have to earn a license in society to piece of work as an contained freelance makeup artist, specially in the film, TV, and fashion industries, although licenses are sometimes required for sole proprietors who piece of work with private clients. Yous too are unlikely to need a license if applying makeup as a part of a job focused on selling cosmetics, like the sales professionals who work at makeup counters in stores or mall kiosks.

You lot might demand a license to work at a licensed salon, particularly if y'all program to offer treatments beyond just applying makeup. Equally previously stated, however, nigh states don't offering specific licenses for makeup artists. In those cases, a salon might require you to become a licensed esthetician or cosmetologist, both of which include cosmetics and makeup application in their grooming and job descriptions.

Discover Dazzler SCHOOLS Almost Yous!

What is the Difference Between a Makeup, Cosmetology, and Esthetics License?

The main divergence betwixt makeup, cosmetology, and esthetics licenses are the treatments and procedures they qualify you to perform. Licensed makeup artists deal specifically with the application of makeup in various forms. Pare-care specialists, or estheticians, pursue an esthetics license assuasive them to performs facials, chemical peels, waxing, and makeup application. Some salons require their makeup artists to earn the esthetician license. Cosmetology licenses, on the other hand, are reserved for those who prove they are competent in not simply peel and hair, but also nails.

Cosmetology and esthetician license requirements vary considerably by state, but each comes with a specific number of required training hours and each telephone call for you to pass an exam. Cosmetology programs are more comprehensive—they teach hair, nails, skin, and makeup—and therefore take longer to complete than esthetician programs, a specialty field dealing only with skin. If you lot live in a state that requires makeup artists to be licensed, it is probable that you'll pursue an esthetician license or a cosmetology license. Only two states—Louisiana and Nevada—offer licenses specifically for makeup artistry.

Individual state boards decide whether you need a license to become a makeup artist, and if so, some types of makeup artistry are exempt—amusement, mode, or sales, for example. Many states don't require you to obtain any license to work as a makeup artist. Some exercise -- merely not for all kinds of makeup artistry. Others require you lot to obtain an esthetician or cosmetologist license, while others only require that you consummate some level of training or schooling.

Steps to Get a Licensed Makeup Artist

Licensure standards vary from state to state, but these are the basic steps yous'll accept to take no thing where you alive:

Find out your state's requirements. Does your board require a license? If so, is information technology for makeup artistry, esthetics, or cosmetology?
Detect and enroll in a school or program that teaches that specialty.
Complete the program and the required number of grooming hours.
Complete the required apprenticeship or other practicum training.
Take and pass whatever required tests.
Apply for licensure and receive your license.
Go on your license in good standing by participating in continuing instruction and renewing your license according to your land board'due south schedule.

State Licensing Requirements for Makeup Artists

In guild to earn a makeup license in the states that issue them, you lot must see the minimum requirements for age and instruction, complete the set number of training hours, and pass all required exams. Some states don't accept any minimum educational activity requirements. Others require you to have completed either 8th, tenth, or 12th course. Some states only issue licenses to applicants who are at to the lowest degree 16, while in other states it can be 17 or 18.

California, Texas, and New York have some of the highest populations of makeup artists in the state. Here'due south a look at the requirements in those states to serve equally examples.

California
You must be at least 17 and take a 10th-class education. You also must complete 600 training hours and laissez passer ii exams (meet required test information below). You don't need a license there to work as a freelance makeup artist in the amusement, tv set, and film industries, or if you're applying makeup while selling cosmetics.

New York
Yous need to earn an esthetician license which you tin merely get after completing 600 training hours and passing two exams. There are no minimum education requirements, but you must be at least 17 years old. You only need a license in the Empire Country, even so, if yous plan to piece of work in a salon.

Texas
No license is needed to work every bit a makeup creative person.

Makeup Programs

A scattering of states issue licenses specifically to makeup artists, just well-nigh require you to go an esthetician license or, in some cases, a full cosmetology license. That means, depending on where you lot live, y'all'll take to enroll in and complete a formal makeup, esthetician, or cosmetology plan at a recognized school. Visit our makeup school page for more information nigh specific training programs.

Training 60 minutes Requirements

States that upshot licenses require you to first spend fourth dimension learning, studying, and practicing the trade. That'due south known as your training hours. Well-nigh of the time you spend in your program volition count toward your required preparation hours, only some of the time you spend studying the academic portion of your training might not.

Training hours include the time you spend learning and practicing techniques on live models or mannequins, besides as your training in how to correctly prep clients, set up workstations, maintain tools and supplies, choose colors, and apply products. According to the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), the national average requirement for an esthetician license—the most common license for makeup artists—is 650 training hours, but that varies by state. Florida, for example, requires just 260 training hours. States like Kentucky, on the other paw, require 1,000.

Required Exams

You'll likely accept to take one or ii exams in guild to earn a license. The National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) administers the most mutual tests, although some states exam you with their own versions of the national exam, which are usually similar. In most cases, your exam volition have two parts. The theory, or written portion, tests your knowledge and the applied, and easily-on portion tests your skills.

You can visit the NIC's Testing Program page, choose your exam (esthetician or cosmetology), and see exactly what volition be covered. The NIC provides test primers that include all the bailiwick matter found on the exam, which parts count for the most points, how much time you lot'll have to consummate each section, and all required rules and regulations. Yous can also purchase do tests and instructional DVDs, should you lot demand more resources afterward reviewing the sample test.

Apprenticeships/Hands-on Experience

Some states require you lot to complete hands-on, existent-world training known as an apprenticeship or internship. This practical experience, which takes place in a real, working salon, spa, or other professional person work environment is divide from your grooming program, which is usually conducted in a simulated piece of work surroundings. If your state requires an apprenticeship, you might be paired with a mentor through your esthetics or cosmetology program, or you might have to find one yourself. Whatsoever wages you earn volition probable exist less than what you lot'd make as a full employee, simply you'll receive valuable on-the-job training that fifty-fifty the best schoolhouse simply can't provide in a classroom setting.

In some states, you tin substitute your required training hours for apprenticeship hours. If yous choose this option, and if your state allows it, be prepared to spend much more than fourth dimension training. Virtually all states that allow this substitution require more than apprenticeship hours than traditional training hours. Most states, in fact, require twice equally many apprenticeship hours than grooming hours.

sponsored content, school availability varies by location

sponsored content, school availability varies past location

sponsored content, school availability varies by location

sponsored content, schoolhouse availability varies past location

sponsored content, school availability varies past location

Continuing Education and Maintaining Licensure

Just as each state has its own regulations regarding training and licensing, u.s. also set their own requirements for keeping your license in adept standing. In most cases, you'll have to renew your license throughout the class of your entire career. In many states, renewal takes identify every year or every other year, sometimes on your birthday and sometimes on the ceremony of the date your license was granted in the first place. A handful of states require renewal in different time increments.

In many cases, you'll have to complete extra training hours in guild to get your license renewed. They'll be like to the training hours you completed to get your license. The average is about six, simply some states will crave 10 or more. You should as well expect to pay a fee for renewal. There is a broad range of fee amounts depending on where yous alive. In some states, the cost is every bit low as $xx and in others, it'south more than $100. For more complete information, visit the individual state pages, where you'll find verbal and up-to-date information on the specific requirements, fees, and standards for your state.

What is the Difference Between Licensing and Certification?

The terms "license" and "certificate" are frequently used interchangeably, but they are non the same thing. In states that license makeup artists, licenses are mandatory—you tin can't work without one. Certification, on the other hand, is voluntary. You might choose to pursue certification to stand out to potential employers, to receive supplemental grooming in a specialty, or because a specific employer requires it.

In brusk, states accolade licensure once you've completed a recognized programme, satisfied the country's grooming 60 minutes requirements, and passed all necessary tests. Certification demonstrates that you've sought and completed extra, supplementary, and frequently specialized training. You can piece of work as a licensed makeup artist without certification, but fifty-fifty if you become certified, you typically can't work without a license.

ExpertRating, for example, is the exclusive skills certification provider for pinnacle freelance sites similar Upwork. Many makeup artists pursue ExpertRating certification to boost their marketability every bit independent contractors. Other common certifications are manufacture-specific, like special effects makeup certification, photoshoot makeup certification, and theater makeup certification.

Makeup Artistry Schools in Your State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
N Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Due south Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Due west Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming