Esthetician Schools in Indiana
If you love the beauty industry and want to focus on skin care, you can become an esthetician and earn your license in Indiana with just 700 hours of training at an approved beauty school. Browse our directory of esthetician schools in Indiana, or skip ahead to learn about the state's esthetician licensing requirements and job outlook.
Browse All Esthetician Schools in Indiana
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5750 A Crawfordsville Road
Speedway, IN 46224
1681 North College Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47404
9725 Crosspoint Commons
Indianapolis, IN 46256
833 Ferry Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
J. Michael Harrold Beauty Academy - Terre Haute – Accredited
Terre Haute, IN 47807
PJ's College of Cosmetology - Clarksville – Accredited
Clarksville, IN 47129
PJ's College of Cosmetology - Indianapolis – Accredited
Indianapolis, IN 46203
PJ's College of Cosmetology - Jeffersonville – Accredited
Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Rudae's School of Beauty Culture – Accredited
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
Related Beauty Careers
Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:
Esthetician Schools Near Me
Check out the Esthetics/Skin Care schools these cities in Indiana have to offer.
Cost of Esthetician School Across IN
| Metro | Average Tuition |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $14,592 |
| Louisville | $11,541 |
| Evansville | $11,400 |
| Indianapolis | $11,036 |
| Terre Haute | $10,500 |
| Fort Wayne | $10,269 |
Comparing Program Costs in IN
| Cosmetology School Costs |
|---|
| Highest range: $14,825 - $20,550 |
| Lowest range: $9,100 - $14,825 |
| Average: $16,848 |
| Esthetics/Skin Care School Costs |
| Highest range: $11,749 - $16,000 |
| Lowest range: $7,497 - $11,749 |
| Average: $11,316 |
How to Become a Esthetician in Indiana
- 700 education hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 4 years.
- 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average salary for estheticians in Indiana is $35,400.
- There is a predicted 11% job increase between 2018–2028 for estheticians.
Estheticians treat various skin flaws, improve skin health, erase aging signs, and apply makeup to enhance the face. Sometimes they also remove hair using wax. However, they don’t treat skin diseases.
The requirements to become an esthetician in Indiana include:
Esthetician Salary and Projected Job Growth in Indiana
Average yearly salary for esthetics in Indiana
The employment outlook is positive for Indiana estheticians, with a projected 11% job growth for skin care specialists in the state from 2018 to 2028. While this is less than half the projected growth nationwide (29%), it’s still faster than average for all occupations.
Skin care specialists in Indiana earned an average annual salary of $35,400 or $17.02 per hour in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This pay equates to a median hourly wage of $14.59. Comparatively, skin care specialists nationwide earned an average wage of $41,700 annually or $20.05 hourly.
However, salaries also vary based on industry and location. According to the BLS, skin care specialists in physician offices, hospitals, and other health practitioner offices earn the highest wages. Cities also tend to offer higher salaries than nonmetropolitan areas.
Median esthetician salaries for several metropolitan and nonmetropolitan in Indiana are:
| Metro Area | 2021 Median Salary |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $48,300 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,360 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $36,280 |
| Evansville, IN-KY | $35,790 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | $30,030 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,920 |
Table information sourced from the O*Net (2022)
What to Expect From an Esthetician Program in Indiana
Required to earn a esthetics license
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Cosmetology & Barber division issues licenses to estheticians. You must complete 700 training hours in esthetics at an Indiana beauty school, and your school must complete the Beauty Culture Education Certification form for you to apply for licensure.
Your esthetician education splits between the classroom and hands-on practical training. Expect your school to ask you to track the number of practice hours or projects you complete and have your instructor sign and initial your performance in a progress report. The projects may include treatments like:
Can I Apprentice as an Esthetician in Indiana?
Unfortunately, apprenticeships are not currently available for aspiring estheticians in Indiana.
Indiana Esthetician Licensing Requirements
Once you earn 700 training hours at a state-approved program and pass the written test, you are ready to apply for licensure. You can submit your application online at MyLicense.IN.gov or mail in a paper application with your $40 fee and any supporting documentation. You also need to submit the education certification form and a notice from PSI that shows you passed the written exam.
To take your esthetician exam, you need pre-approval. First, your school notifies the test administrator, PSI, of your eligibility. PSI then sends you an email confirmation, and you can schedule your exam online at www.psiexams.com or by calling (855) 898-0713. The exam is $48.
On the day of your examination, make sure to arrive at the testing site 30 minutes early with two forms of valid identification. The exam takes 90 minutes to complete, encompassing 95 total questions. You must pass with a score of 75% or higher. If you fail the written test, you can retake the exam unlimited times for one year without taking additional courses.
The exam content outline includes:
Indiana Esthetician Licensure Reciprocity
If you hold an esthetician license in another state or country, you may apply for licensure by reciprocity. Applicants must pay a $40 fee and include a copy of their certification from the state or country they previously worked in (or an English translation if the documents come from a foreign country).
You must be at least 18 years of age, have completed 10th grade and at least 700 hours of esthetics education, and received a minimum 70% passing score on the written and practical exams. Submit a transcript of your high school diploma and beauty school transcript if your education took place outside of the U.S.
Anyone with a conviction record must also include a copy that states the nature of the convictions, date, time served, probation, etc.
Indiana does give some leeway if your previous state or country had varying requirements to become an esthetician. For example, if the state didn’t require 700 training hours, you may exchange one year of licensed practice for 100 hours of education. However, you must have at least 400 hours of esthetics training at a beauty school.
If your jurisdiction doesn’t require a license to practice esthetics, you also can apply for a provisional esthetician license in Indiana. You must, however, submit proof of sufficient training or experience.
Esthetician Specialties in Indiana
There are several specialty services in Indiana that you don’t need to earn a license for. Indiana code doesn’t require you to have a license to apply eyelash extensions, perform natural hair braiding services, or engage in threading eyebrows.
Other beauty industry licenses available in Indiana include barber, cosmetologist, beauty culture instructor, electrologist, and manicurist.
License Renewal
License renewal period
Continuing education required
You must renew an Indiana esthetician license every four years. The licensing agency establishes the renewal date, and you can expect to receive a notice in the mail around 90 days before your license’s expiration date. To renew your license online, you need to pay a $40 fee before expiration. You may also print and mail the renewal application.
If you fail to renew on or before the expiration date, your license becomes invalid, and if too much time goes by, you must get your license reinstated. A late renewal comes with an additional $50 fee.
Contact the Indiana State Board of Esthetics
- 402 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
- Website: Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
- Email: pla12@pla.in.gov
- Call: 317-234-3031
- Fax: 317-233-4236
MyLicense
The Indiana Licensing Enterprise (or your MyLicense account) is your online portal for applying for esthetician licensure, renewing your license, or checking your application status.
PSI Candidate Information Bulletin
The CIB for the Indiana esthetician written exam includes application instructions and content outlines for the test.
Indiana Estheticians Facebook Page
This site, hosted by the National Coalition of Estheticians Association, provides information on Indiana’s regulatory board and how to become NCEA certified.