Licensure
Wis. Stat. § 454.06
in effect(1) Application. All applications for licenses under this section shall be filed with the examining board. No initial license may be issued under this section unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The applicant pays the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a), except as provided in s. 454.13 (1).
(b) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, the applicant presents evidence satisfactory to the examining board that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony committed while engaged in the practice of barbering or cosmetology.
(c) The applicant has graduated from high school or has attained high school graduation equivalency as determined by the department of public instruction; is participating in a program approved by the examining board; or is at least 18 years old and meets the ability to benefit rule under 20 USC 1091 (d).
(2) Cosmetologist license. The examining board shall issue a cosmetologist license to any person who does all of the following:
(a) Satisfies the conditions in sub. (1).
(b) Graduates from a course of instruction of at least 1,550 training hours in not less than 10 months in a school of cosmetology licensed under s. 440.62 (3) (ar), exempted under s. 440.61, or accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the board, or has successfully completed an apprenticeship under s. 454.10.
(c) Passes an examination conducted by the examining board to determine fitness to practice cosmetology.
(4) Aesthetician license. The examining board shall issue an aesthetician license to any person who does all of the following:
(a) Satisfies the conditions in sub. (1).
(b) Completes either of the following:
1. A course of instruction in aesthetics of at least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks, in a school of cosmetology or a school of aesthetics licensed under s. 440.62 (3) (ar) or (b), exempted under s. 440.61, or accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the board.
2. At least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks under the supervision of a licensed cosmetologist or aesthetician in a licensed establishment that is also licensed as a specialty school of aesthetics under s. 440.62 (4) (a).
(c) Passes an examination conducted by the examining board to determine fitness to practice as an aesthetician.
(5) Electrologist license. The examining board shall issue an electrologist license to any person who does all of the following:
(a) Satisfies the conditions in sub. (1).
(b) Completes either of the following:
1. A course of instruction in electrology of at least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks, in a school of cosmetology or a school of electrology licensed under s. 440.62 (3) (ar) or (c), exempted under s. 440.61, or accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the board.
2. At least 450 training hours in not less than 11 weeks and not more than 30 weeks under the supervision of a licensed electrologist in a licensed establishment that is also licensed as a specialty school of electrology under s. 440.62 (4) (b).
(c) Passes an examination conducted by the examining board to determine fitness to practice as an electrologist.
(6) Manicurist license. The examining board shall issue a manicurist license to any person who does all of the following:
(a) Satisfies the conditions in sub. (1).
(b) Completes either of the following:
1. A course of instruction in manicuring of at least 300 training hours in not less than 7 weeks and not more than 20 weeks, in a school of cosmetology or a school of manicuring licensed under s. 440.62 (3) (ar) or (d), exempted under s. 440.61, or accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the board.
2. At least 300 training hours of training in not less than 7 weeks and not more than 20 weeks under the supervision of a licensed cosmetologist or manicurist in a licensed establishment that is also licensed as a specialty school of manicuring under s. 440.62 (4) (c).
(c) Passes an examination conducted by the examining board to determine fitness to practice as a manicurist.
(7) Posting of license certificates. The examining board shall furnish a certificate to each licensee, certifying that the holder is licensed to practice cosmetology, aesthetics, electrology, or manicuring. The licensee shall post the certificate in a conspicuous place in the licensed establishment. A licensee who holds an inactive license may not post a certificate for that inactive license.
(8) Expiration and renewal. The renewal date for licenses issued under subs. (2) to (6) is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fees for such licenses are determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). The examining board may not renew a license issued to a person under subs. (2) to (6) unless the person certifies to the examining board that the person has reviewed the current digest under s. 454.125.
(8m) Inactive licenses.
(a) Any person who has been issued a license under subs. (2) to (6) may apply to the examining board to classify that license as inactive. Upon application under this paragraph, the examining board may classify a license as inactive if the examining board determines that the person who holds that license is in good standing with the examining board and intends to refrain from the practice that is authorized under the license during the period that the license is an inactive license.
(b) An inactive license is subject to sub. (8), except that the amount of the renewal fee for an inactive license shall be one-half of the amount of the renewal fee determined by the department for the license under s. 440.03 (9) (a).
(c) The examining board may remove the inactive classification of an inactive license if the person who holds that inactive license applies to the examining board to remove the inactive classification and the person meets any additional requirements of the examining board.
(d) A person may perform work that is included in the practice for which that person holds an inactive license if that work is minimal, as determined by the examining board by rule.
(9) Training permit. A person shall obtain a training permit from the examining board before beginning training under sub. (4) (b) 2., (5) (b) 2. or (6) (b) 2. The examining board shall issue a training permit to a person who satisfies the conditions in sub. (1) (b) and (c) and who pays a $10 fee.
(10) Temporary permit.
(a) The examining board may issue a temporary permit to practice as a cosmetologist without examination if the applicant meets all of the requirements of sub. (2) for licensure except passage of an examination and if the applicant is scheduled to take the examination for licensure.
(b) The examining board may issue a temporary permit to practice as an aesthetician without examination if the applicant meets all of the requirements of sub. (4) for licensure except passage of an examination and if the applicant is scheduled to take the examination for licensure.
(c) The examining board may issue a temporary permit to practice as an electrologist without examination if the applicant meets all of the requirements of sub. (5) for licensure except passage of an examination and if the applicant is scheduled to take the examination for licensure.
(d) The examining board may issue a temporary permit to practice as a manicurist without examination if the applicant meets all of the requirements of sub. (6) for licensure except passage of an examination and if the applicant is scheduled to take the examination for licensure.
(e) A temporary permit issued under this subsection is valid for not more than 6 months and may not be renewed. The fee for a temporary permit issued under this subsection is specified in s. 440.05 (6).
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/454.06Fetched: 10/7/2026