Esthetician / Washington
2026 data Washington board official source

Washington Esthetician License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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Specializes in skin care including facials and waxing.

What the Washington data shows for Estheticians

Becoming a licensed esthetician in Washington means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 860 training hours, a passing score on State Esthetics Exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 16. Washington regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Esthetics School".

The initial price tag is $139, and renewal costs $66 every 2 years. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Washington, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Varies by state — check with state board.

Licensing Ease Score

B-
Licensing Ease Score
65/100
Esthetician · Washington

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
860 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$139
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B
$33/yr
$66 every 2 years
Continuing Education A+
None required
No continuing-education mandate
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Washington

Education / Training Hours
Esthetics School
860 hours
Exam Requirement
State Esthetics Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$139
Renewal Fee
$66
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
16 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Esthetician All Washington licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Esthetician in Washington? ▼
Washington requires 860 education/training hours, passing an exam (State Esthetics Exam), and an initial fee of $139. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as an Esthetician in Washington? ▼
Certification as an esthetician in Washington means clearing the state's checklist: 860 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Washington licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Esthetician license to Washington from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for estheticians: Varies by state — check with state board. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Washington licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Washington require a background check for Esthetician licensing? ▼
Washington does require a background check before issuing an esthetician license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this esthetician license

Esthetician in Washington, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in an esthetician-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Washington's esthetician requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Esthetician in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state esthetician license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Washington's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Washington overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Washington licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.