A+ State Requirement Information

Nail Technician Licensing

TITLE 68: PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS CHAPTER VII: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION SUBCHAPTER b: PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS PART 1175 THE BARBER, COSMETOLOGY, ESTHETICS, HAIR BRAIDING, AND NAIL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1985 SECTION 1175.1001 EXAMINATION – NAIL TECHNICIAN

Section 1175.1001 Examination – Nail Technician

A) Eligibility. Each applicant must meet the following requirements:

Is at least 16 years of age.
Pursuant to Section 3C-2 of the Act:
a) Is beyond the age of compulsory school attendance or has a certificate of graduation from a school providing secondary education or the recognized equivalent of that certificate; and
b) Is a graduate of a cosmetology or nail technology school approved by the Division to teach nail technology in accordance with Subpart K of this Part, that includes a program of 350 hours in the study of nail technology extending over a period of not less than 8 weeks or more than 2 consecutive years.

B) Application. Each applicant shall file an application for examination, on forms provided by the Division, at least 45 days prior to an examination date. The application shall include:

An official transcript showing successful completion of the required program outlined in subsection (a)(2)(B) and a passing grade on the final examination administered by the school as set forth in Section 1175.1145; or, for those retaking the Division examination after 2 unsuccessful attempts, official transcripts showing successful completion of remedial training (60 hour refresher course) as required by Section 3C-7 of the Act;
Proof of any name change (i.e., marriage license, divorce decree, affidavit or court order) if a different name appears on supporting documents; and
The required fee set forth in Section 1175.100 of this Part.

C) An applicant who has graduated from a nail technology program in another jurisdiction with less than 350 hours may only acquire a maximum of 50 hours of nail technology training from a licensed Illinois cosmetology school or nail technology school.

(Source: Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 1888, effective January 20, 2011)

Nail Technician License Restoration

Section 1175.1030 Restoration – Nail Technician

a) A person applying for restoration of a nail technician license that has been expired or placed on inactive status for less than 5 years shall submit an application on forms provided by the Division and:

Pay the required fee as set forth in Section 1175.100; and
Provide evidence of successful completion of 10 hours of continuing education in accordance with Section 1175.1200(c).

b) A person applying for restoration of a nail technician license that has been expired or placed on inactive status for 5 years or more shall submit an application on forms provided by the Division along with:

Verification of employment, attesting to lawful practice in another jurisdiction within the 5 years preceding application for restoration;
Certification from the appropriate licensing authority in the jurisdiction in which lawful practice is claimed;
A completed Restoration Questionnaire;
Evidence of successful completion of 10 hours of continuing education earned within the 2 years immediately preceding restoration; and
The required fee as set forth in Section 1175.100.

c) If restoring after active military service, the applicant shall submit a copy of his/her Honorable Discharge form (DD-214) and the current renewal fee.

d) If an applicant takes and fails the examination, the license will not be restored until such time as he/she has successfully completed the examination.

e) An applicant for restoration under subsection (b) who is unable to comply with one or both of subsections (b)(1) and (2) shall submit official transcripts showing successful completion of a 60 hour nail technology refresher course from an approved cosmetology or nail technology school or pass the examination set forth in Section 1175.1010 within 2 years prior to or within 2 years after the restoration application. An applicant who completes this refresher course or takes the examination shall not also be required to complete 10 hours of continuing education, but shall comply with the remaining requirements of subsection (b).

(Source: Amended at 38 Ill. Reg. 21098, effective November 7, 2014)

Nail Technology Teacher License

Section 1175.1005 Examination – Nail Technology Teacher or Nail Technology Clinic Teacher

a) Eligibility. Each applicant must meet the following requirements pursuant to Section 3C-3 of the Act prior to filing an application for the nail technology teacher examination:

Be at least 18 years of age;
Have graduated from high school or its equivalent;
Hold a current license as a cosmetologist or nail technician;
For nail technology teacher, either:
A) Have completed a 500 hour program of teacher training in an approved cosmetology or nail technology school and have at least 2 years of full time experience as a practicing nail technician; or
B) Have completed a 625 hour program of teacher training in a school of cosmetology approved in accordance with Section 1175.1105 or school of nail technology approved in accordance with Section 1175.1100; and
For nail technology clinic teacher, have completed a 250 hour program of clinic teacher training in an approved cosmetology or nail technology school or within 5 years preceding the examination, has obtained a minimum of 2 years of practical experience working at least 30 full time hours per week as a licensed nail technician and has completed an instructor’s institute of 20 hours, as approved by the Division, prior to submitting an application for examination.

b) Application. Each applicant shall file an application, on forms provided by the Division, at least 45 days prior to the examination date. The application shall include:

Proof of any name change (i.e., marriage license, divorce decree, affidavit or court order) if a different name appears on supporting documents;
The required fee set forth in Section 1175.100;
For nail technology teacher, either:
A) An official transcript from an approved school of nail technology or cosmetology showing successful completion of a 500 hour program of teacher training as outlined in Section 1175.535 or 1175.1140 of this Part and 2 employment verification forms showing at least 2 years of full-time experience as a practicing nail technician; or
B) An official transcript from an approved school of nail technology or cosmetology, showing successful completion of a 625 hour program of teacher training as outlined in Section 1175.535 or 1175.1140 of this Part;
For nail technology clinic teacher:
A) An official transcript from an approved school of nail technology or cosmetology showing successful completion of a program of 250 hours of clinic teacher training; or
B) Proof that the teacher, within 5 years preceding the examination, has obtained a minimum of 2 years of practical experience working at least 30 full time hours per week as a licensed nail technician and has completed an instructor’s institute of 20 hours, approved by the Division, prior to submitting an application for examination.
A copy of the applicant’s current Illinois nail technology or cosmetology license; and
If the applicant is licensed in another state, a certification of licensure from the state of original licensure and from the state in which the applicant predominantly practices and is currently licensed.

Source: Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 1888, effective January 20, 2011)

Credit Hours

Section 1175.1210 Credit Hours

a) With the exception of program hours earned under subsection (e) of this Section, an approved CE program hour shall include at a minimum 50 minutes of actual class time, exclusive of time devoted by participants to pre-class or post-class preparation.

b) Participants completing courses at a university or college shall receive 15 CE credit hours for each semester hour or 10 CE hours for each quarter hour of school credit awarded.

c) A licensee who serves as an instructor, speaker or discussion leader of an approved course shall be allowed CE credit for actual presentation time. For preparation time, 1 hour of credit will be awarded for each 2 hours of actual presentation time. Preparation time for repetitious presentations shall not receive credit. No more than 10 hours can be earned under this subsection during any renewal period.

d) Credit shall be awarded for successful completion of courses taken pursuant to continuing education requirements in another state. Credit hours shall be awarded as stated in subsections (a), (b) and (c).

e) Renewal applicants may earn a maximum of 50% of the total hours required for each renewal through completion of individual study courses (see Section 1175.1200(c)(6)).

f) Continuing Education Earned in Other States. If a licensee has earned CE hours in another state or territory for which he/she will be claiming credit toward full compliance in Illinois, the applicant shall submit an out of state CE approval form along with a $10 processing fee within 90 days after completion of the course. The Committee shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of this program using the criteria set forth in this Section.

g) For the first renewal of the license, a licensee who obtained a hair braider or hair braiding teacher license under Section 1175.1400 (grandfather) shall successfully complete at least 65 hours of relevant training in health, safety, hygiene and business management.

(Source: Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 14983, effective September 9, 2011)