If you’re planning to sit for the Minnesota Esthetician State Board Exam, knowing exactly what Minnesota requires makes the whole process easier to navigate.
This guide is designed to give you a structured, reliable overview of what to expect, from eligibility requirements to exam topics, format, and next steps after passing.
You’ll also find practice questions, exam tips, and the key rules that Minnesota tests on the most.
Everything you need is right here.
Let’s get started.
Minnesota Esthetician Stateboard Exam FAQs
To become an esthetician in Minnesota, you must complete 600 training hours at a board-licensed school, pass the State Laws & Rules and General Theory exams, and apply for licensure through the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology with required fees.
To qualify for an esthetician license in Minnesota, you must be at least 17, hold a high-school diploma/GED, complete 600 approved esthetics training hours, pass the required exams, and meet all application and fee requirements set by the Board.
Minnesota requires 600 hours of esthetics training completed at a Board-licensed cosmetology school. These hours must follow the state-approved esthetics curriculum outlined in Minnesota Rule 2105.0145 before you can take the licensing exams.
Esthetician programs in Minnesota typically cost between $6,000–$10,000, depending on the school, materials, and fees, but always confirm with your chosen school for the exact tuition.
Minnesota estheticians can perform cosmetic skincare services such as facials, exfoliation, waxing, makeup, and basic extractions.
Advanced Practice Estheticians (APEs) are additionally permitted to perform dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, and higher-level cosmetic exfoliation that remains within non-medical depth limits.
Minnesota’s esthetician exams cover infection control, client consultation, skin anatomy, basic facials, hair removal, makeup, Minnesota laws & rules, salon requirements, and safety procedures based on the PSI Candidate Bulletin and MN Board regulations.
Minnesota esthetician licensure requires three exams: General Theory (85 questions), State Laws & Rules (35 questions), and the Written Practical (55 questions).
Each includes scored and experimental questions per the PSI Candidate Bulletin.
You must score 75% or higher to pass all three Minnesota esthetician exams: the General Theory exam, the State Laws & Rules exam, and the Written Practical exam, according to the PSI Candidate Bulletin for Minnesota licensure.
In Minnesota, the average annual salary for an esthetician is around $59,382, with the range typically between $38,000 and $74,000, depending on experience and location.
To transfer an esthetician license to Minnesota, submit a reciprocity application, provide proof of your active license and training hours, pass the Minnesota Laws & Rules exam, and meet the state’s 600-hour esthetics education requirement.
Now that you know what to expect, let’s try out a quick practice test to see where you stand.
Esthetician Stateboard Exam Practice Test
Esthetics quiz
Tips to Pass the MN State Esthetician Laws & Rules Exam
Since the Laws & Rules exam can feel a bit tricky, here are some simple tips to make it feel easier.
1. Know Minnesota’s “quirky” rules; these are the exam traps
Every state has quirks. Minnesota has a lot of them, and the exam LOVES using them.
Examples you must know cold:
- Booth rental is illegal in Minnesota
- You must post your inspection results where clients can actually see them
- You have 30 days to tell the Board if you move or change your name
- Single-use items can’t be stored in a cute little closed jar after opening
- Implements must be in a closed, clean container; “open jars” don’t count
These aren’t intuitive, which is exactly why PSI tests them.
2. Think like an inspector, not a student
Most Laws & Rules test questions come from real Minnesota inspection issues.
If you can answer questions like:
- “Would an inspector write someone up for this?”
- “Would this cause cross-contamination?”
- “Would a client’s safety be at risk?”
…you’re already thinking the way PSI frames the exam.
This is the #1 mindset shift that raises scores.
3. Remember the numbers, they matter
Minnesota loves number-based questions.
Know these cold:
- 600 training hours
- 3-year license cycle
- 4 CE hours
- Minimum age 17
- 30 days to report changes
These are the easiest points on the entire test.
4. Study Rule 2105 in “3 buckets” so it finally sticks
Break MN Rule 2105 into:
- What you can/can’t do (prohibited practices + safety)
- How salons must operate (setup, storage, posting)
- How licenses work (CE, renewals, manager duties)
This makes even tough questions feel predictable.
Wrapping It Up
Now that you’ve gone through the full breakdown of Minnesota’s esthetician requirements, you’re in a good spot to plan your next steps.
The exams feel much more manageable when you know what’s on them and how Minnesota evaluates you.
If you want a program that helps you build those skills from day one, you can check it out below
