Esthetician Schools in Wisconsin
If you want to become an esthetician in Wisconsin, now could be the perfect time. The field is growing rapidly, and Wisconsin requires less time in school to become an esthetician than many other states. If you want to work in the field while getting your training hours, Wisconsin also offers a path to esthetics licensure through apprenticeship.
Browse our directory of esthetician schools in Wisconsin, or skip ahead to learn about the state's esthetician licensing requirements and job outlook.
Browse All Esthetician Schools in Wisconsin
For School Owners
Don't see your school listed? Want to discuss becoming a featured school in the directory? Contact us to learn more.
5655 South 27th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53221
327 East Saint Paul Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
2310 West Court Street
Janesville, WI 53548
Skin And Acne Specialist & The Washington County School Of Esthetics
Slinger, WI 53086
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 Wisconsin have to offer.
Cost of Esthetician School Across WI
| Metro | Average Tuition |
|---|---|
| La Crosse / Eau Claire | $11,700 |
| Madison | $9,646 |
| Green Bay / Appleton | $9,402 |
| Rockford | $8,840 |
| Milwaukee | $8,202 |
| Wausau / Rhinelander | $7,000 |
Comparing Program Costs in WI
| Cosmetology School Costs |
|---|
| Highest range: $14,057 - $26,013 |
| Lowest range: $2,100 - $14,057 |
| Average: $18,313 |
| Esthetics/Skin Care School Costs |
| Highest range: $9,249 - $11,700 |
| Lowest range: $6,798 - $9,249 |
| Average: $8,976 |
How to Become a Esthetician in Wisconsin
- 450 education hours or 450 apprenticeship hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 2 years.
- 4 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average salary for estheticians in Wisconsin is $37,170.
- There is a predicted 18% job increase between 2020–2030 for estheticians.
Estheticians, also called "aestheticians" or "skincare specialists," are licensed professionals who perform skin and body treatments. Procedures include facials, waxes, makeup applications, and more.
Before you can work as an esthetician in Wisconsin, you must have state board licensure. To be eligible for licensure, you must:
Having a criminal record doesn't immediately stop you from gaining your esthetician's license. But, if you have a record, tell the board immediately and apply for a pre-application review.
If the conviction relates to the beauty industry, you must submit a form about that issue.
Esthetician Salary and Projected Job Growth in Wisconsin
Average yearly salary for esthetics in Wisconsin
On average, estheticians in Wisconsin earn an annual salary of $37,170, or $17.87 per hour. This is below the national average of $41,700. But, the cost of living in the state is also somewhat lower than average.
Salaries range from a low of around $18,880 to a high of $56,720, with the median salary being $35,370. Esthetician pay can depend on factors like location, treatments offered, and experience.
For example, an established esthetician working in a high-end city spa can generally expect to earn more than a new worker in a rural location.
Job growth for estheticians in Wisconsin is looking up. The state expects an estimated increase of 18% from 2020-2030. This translates to 90 new positions opening up each year.
The highest-paying metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas for estheticians in Wisconsin are:
| Metropolitan or nonmetropolitan Area | 2021 Median Salary |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $48,300 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $37,540 |
| Madison, WI | $35,420 |
| South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $33,940 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $33,500 |
Table information sourced from O*Net (2022)
How to Become an Esthetician in Wisconsin
Required to earn a esthetics license
To earn an esthetics license in Wisconsin, you must finish at least 450 hours at an approved school.
Training must last 11 to 30 weeks and should cover a variety of topics, including (but not limited to):
Esthetics schools in Wisconsin must gain and maintain licensure to operate. Schools renew licenses every two years on March 31 after proving they meet all standards.
Can I Apprentice as an Esthetician in Wisconsin?
Required to earn a esthetics license
It's also possible to gain your esthetics license in Wisconsin by apprenticeship. You must complete 450 training hours in 11-30 weeks. A cosmetology or esthetics instructor must supervise your work in a licensed establishment.
Esthetics apprenticeships must cover the same topics and techniques as a school curriculum. These include facials, physiology, infection control, spa treatments, hair removal, makeup, and more.
Wisconsin Esthetician Licensing Requirements
Once you complete 450 training hours, you should be ready to take (and pass) the state board exams and gain your license. You must pass two exams—practical and theory (written). DL Roope administers both tests.
The practical exam is only in English, but the written examination is in many languages. All Wisconsin State Law questions are in English only.
If you trained in a Wisconsin esthetics program, you can apply for your practical exam on paper or online.
If you graduated in another state or are reinstating a lapsed license, you must fill out an Out of State & Reinstate application.
Upon application, you need to pay a non-refundable fee of $177 for the practical exam or $137 for the written exam. This amount includes the exam and the State Board licensing fees. If you fail either exam, you may retake them. But you must pay a retake fee of $155 for the practical exam or $95.50 for the written exam.
You need at least a 75 on each test to pass. Results appear online after the test, and you're notified when they're available. You can also ask them to send the results by mail.
DL Roope complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in providing accommodations. If you need extra help to be able to take either exam, notify the Board in advance.
Wisconsin Esthetician Practical Exam
On the day of your practical exam, you must arrive at the time on your admission letter. Registration begins 30 minutes before your exam time. You must present the letter and a valid government-issued ID with a photo and signature.
If you're late, you give up your fee and can't take the test that day.
The practical exam takes approximately three hours and covers the following subjects:
All exam supply labels must be in English. There should be no handwritten labeling—original labels only.
In addition, you must use EPA-registered disinfectant wipes. These products need bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal properties.
Wisconsin Esthetician Written Exam
The written examination takes 90 minutes to complete and covers the following areas:
Scientific Concepts (55%)
Skin Care and Services (45%)
Wisconsin Esthetician Licensure Reciprocity
If you earned an esthetics license elsewhere and want to work in Wisconsin, you may be able to get licensure by endorsement. This lets you bypass the regular requirements. To do this, you must:
Active-duty military whose esthetician licenses are about to expire can apply for license extensions. They must be within 90-180 days of discharge.
This also applies to military spouses who haven't been able to work while the service member is on active duty.
Service members and spouses can also ask for hardship extensions beyond 180 days. They may also be eligible for continuing education waivers or extensions.
License Renewal
License renewal period
Continuing education required
All licensed estheticians in Wisconsin must renew their licenses every two years. The renewal date is the same for all licensees, occurring on March 31 of every odd-numbered year. Each renewal costs $11, though if you submit yours late, the price rises to $36.
All licensees must complete four hours of continuing education before renewing their licenses.
Contact the Wisconsin State Board of Esthetics
- 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison, WI 53705
- Website: Department of Safety and Professional Services
- Call: 608-266-2112
- Fax: 608-261-7083