Florida regulates electrology—a permanent hair‑removal technique—through the Department of Health’s Electrolysis Council. Anyone who wants to practice as an electrologist or run an electrology facility in the state must meet specific education, examination and licensing requirements. The rules, which are laid out in the Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code, are designed to ensure that electrology services are safe, sanitary and provided by trained professionals.
Licensure by Examination
Florida’s primary path to licensure is Licensure by Examination, which is targeted at individuals completing their initial training. Before applying for a license, students must finish a 320‑hour electrolysis training program at a Florida‑approved schoolfloridahealth.gov. This program comprises at least 120 hours of classroom instruction and 200 hours of practical experiencefloridahealth.gov. Home‑study or correspondence courses are not acceptedfloridahealth.gov.
When applying, candidates must submit:
- Proof of identity (a driver’s license, birth certificate or passport)floridahealth.gov.
- Proof of high‑school education, such as a diploma, GED or transcript; if in another language a translation must be providedfloridahealth.gov. Applicants educated outside the United States must submit an evaluation from a credential‑evaluation service floridahealth.gov.
- Official transcripts from the electrolysis training program. Approved schools may email password‑protected electronic transcripts directly to the councilfloridahealth.gov.
After completing training, prospective electrologists must sit for the International Board of Electrologist Certification (IBEC) examination for Electrology, Laser and IPL (intense pulsed light). The American Electrology Association provides a study guide for the examfloridahealth.gov. Registration is handled through Prometric; applicants select the IBEC Electrology, Laser and IPL Exam‑FL, pay the exam fee directly to Prometric and choose their preferred test date and locationfloridahealth.gov. The exam is offered only in English, but candidates may seek approval to use a word‑to‑word translation guidefloridahealth.gov.
Fees and Application Process
The licensure by examination application requires payment of a $100 application fee, a $100 initial license fee and a $5 unlicensed‑activity fee for a total of $205floridahealth.gov. Applicants send the application and fees (via check or money order—no cash) to the Electrolysis Council’s P.O. Box in Tallahasseefloridahealth.gov. The examination fee is separate and is paid directly to Prometricfloridahealth.gov. Temporary permits are available for candidates who wish to practice before taking the exam; however, the permit is revoked if the applicant fails the exam or is denied licensurefloridahealth.gov.
Licensure by Mobile Endorsement
Florida also offers a licensure by mobile endorsement option for electrologists who are already licensed in another U.S. state or territory. To qualify, applicants must hold an active, unencumbered license in a profession with a similar scope of practice and provide evidence that their education and examination requirements are substantially similar to Florida’sfloridahealth.gov. They must also have actively practiced the profession for at least three of the last four yearsfloridahealth.gov, have no reports in the National Practitioner Data Bankfloridahealth.gov, and have not been the subject of disciplinary action in the past five yearsfloridahealth.gov.
Applicants must request license verification from the state(s) where they are licensed, submit the online application and fees, and upload any required documentationfloridahealth.gov. After the Florida Electrolysis Council reviews the materials, licenses are typically issued within seven days for qualified applicantsfloridahealth.gov. The fees for licensure by mobile endorsement are the same as those for licensure by examination—$205floridahealth.gov.
Licensing Requirements for Electrology Facilities
In addition to individual licenses, Florida requires facilities that provide electrolysis services to be licensed. Licensure is mandatory for new electrology facilities or when ownership changesfloridahealth.gov. Facility licenses cannot be transferred; new owners must apply for a new license, and no electrolysis services may be performed after a sale until the new license is issuedfloridahealth.gov. A facility license is not required only when the electrologist works as an employee of a doctor licensed by the Florida Board of Medicine or Board of Osteopathic Medicinefloridahealth.gov.
“Facilities must meet equipment, safety and sanitation standards outlined in Florida Administrative Code”
Facilities must meet equipment, safety and sanitation standards outlined in Florida Administrative Code Rule 64B8‑51.006floridahealth.gov. Operating an unlicensed facility is subject to fines ranging from $250 to $5 000 and other disciplinary penaltiesfloridahealth.gov. Before licensure, a Department of Health inspector will visit the facility and complete an inspection form; a copy must be displayed publiclyfloridahealth.gov. The facility license is issued once the department determines compliancefloridahealth.gov. If the applicant fails to meet the requirements, the agency will deny the license but allows re‑applicationfloridahealth.gov.
Fees for New Facilities and Transfers
A new electrology facility must pay a $100 application fee, a $100 initial license fee, a $100 inspection fee and a $5 unlicensed‑activity fee, for a total of $305floridahealth.gov. Fees for transferring a facility to a new location total $200 (a $100 application fee and a $100 inspection fee)floridahealth.gov. These fees are paid by check or money order; application fees are non‑refundablefloridahealth.gov.
When a facility moves, the current license must be surrendered and the facility may operate in the new location for up to 60 days while awaiting inspectionfloridahealth.gov. If the facility is not inspected within that period, the council office should be notifiedfloridahealth.gov. A new license is issued when the department confirms that the transferred facility meets regulatory requirementsfloridahealth.gov.
Importance of Compliance
The Florida Department of Health’s electrology licensing rules protect consumers by ensuring that practitioners have appropriate education, have passed a standardized examination and operate in safe facilities. Completing a state‑approved training program, passing the IBEC exam and adhering to facility requirements help electrologists provide safe permanent hair‑removal services. For more information or to apply, prospective electrologists should consult the Electrolysis Council and review the full regulations and statutes referenced above.
