Becoming A Licensed Makeup Artist In Five Simple Steps
If you are passionate about makeup and love experimenting with different looks, becoming a licensed makeup artist may be the natural next step for you. However, in order to gain some sort of recognition within your field and widen your employment prospects, getting certified will help. Read on to find out some steps to take in becoming a licensed makeup artist!
Find Out Licensing Requirements
In order to gain a makeup artist license in your state, you will first need to find out if you meet the basic requirements, which often include age and education level. From there, it helps to know how many hours of training you are required to undergo before you can receive your certification. For example, in Georgia, you will need to be at least 17 and have completed at least 1,000 hours of study in an esthetician program or 1,500 hours in a cosmetology program from a cosmetology school that is approved by the state board in order to be licensed as an esthetician or a cosmetologist.[1]
Find a Course
If your dream job is simply to be a makeup artist instead of working as a cosmetologist, esthetician or beautician, strictly speaking, you may not require certification. When you graduate from beauty school, you will receive a diploma in your area of specialization, but this is not the same as a licensed certification. It is advantageous to get a license because licensing can be complicated in the makeup artist industry. 41 states in the U.S. requires one to have a license to practice as a makeup artist, and only Louisiana and Nevada issue licenses specific to a makeup artist. In 39 other states, makeup services fall under licensing provided by cosmetology boards. Our advice is to always check the requirements of the state that you intend to practice in.
When you do choose to obtain certification, future employers and clients will see this as a testimony to your skills and dedication. You can choose a more general course such as an Esthetics program provided by The Elaine Sterling Institute or something more specialized if you already know the path you wish to take. For those with busy lifestyles or who are juggling part-time work, The Elaine Sterling Institute provides an Esthetician hybrid program as well.[2]
Complete Training
The majority of makeup certification courses include a combination of theoretical education and hands-on training. Training hours will include the time that you spend practicing on mannequins as well as serving real clients under the supervision of your instructors. This will allow you to acquire invaluable skills such as how to set up your workplace, choose the most suitable products for clients, and lots more.
In some states, you will also need to undergo an internship or apprenticeship before you qualify for certification. In Georgia, you can either put in 2,000 hours at an apprenticeship or 1,000 hours under a licensed esthetician program.
Apply for Your License
Once you have fulfilled all the requirements for your course, applying for your license is simple. If you have taken your license with a reputable training school, they should be able to assist you with this step. The timeframe for receiving your license may differ, but it should be in your hands fairly soon after completing your course!
Renew Your License When Needed
Just because you have obtained your license doesn’t mean that your training and education stop there. Depending on the state you are based in, you may need to renew your license every few years. This typically includes some additional hours of continuing education as well as the payment of an administrative fee. For example, Georgia requires estheticians to renew their license every 2 years at $50 and [3] . It is important to stay on top of these requirements to ensure you can continue practicing in the field of your choice!
There is no such thing as a makeup artist license. They have to either get an esthetician or cosmetology license to become a makeup artist. The esthetician program offers the most extensive lessons in makeup. Also, we do not offer an apprenticeship program.
I am not sure what a more “specialized” course would be. The esthetician program provides a four week makeup course including in the program. Sometimes people can take a more specialized makeup continuing education course such as body art or special effects but we do a some of that in the makeup course.
The state board of Georgia DOES NOT require CEUs for an esthetician license.