Short answer

• Cosmetology programs in Illinois are 1,500 clock hours and cover hair, chemical services, nails, esthetics (skin), makeup and salon operations. (law.Cornell.edu)
• Esthetics (esthetician) programs are 750 clock hours and focus on skin care: facials, skin analysis, waxing/hair removal, lash/ brow services, makeup and related science and sanitation. (law.Cornell.edu)

Detailed comparison (practical points)

• Required hours and length

  • Cosmetology: minimum 1,500 clock hours (mix of classroom and hands‑on). (law.Cornell.edu)
  • Esthetics: minimum 750 clock hours (mix of classroom and hands‑on). (law.Cornell.edu)

• Subject matter / scope

  • Cosmetology: broad curriculum — hair cutting/styling, coloring/chemical services, scalp/hair theory, nails, basic esthetics, salon business, sanitation and more. Good if you want to do hair plus other services or manage a full‑service salon. (law.Cornell.edu)
  • Esthetics: specializes in skin care — anatomy/physiology of skin, facials (with and without machines), waxing and other hair removal, lash/brow services, makeup, professional skin treatments and retailing skin care. (law.Cornell.edu)

• Licensing and career outcomes

  • Both programs lead to state licensure pathways administered under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Cosmetology license lets you practice a wider range of services (including hair and nails); esthetician license limits you to skin/esthetic services. Schools prepare students to sit for the state exam after completing required hours. (apps.illinoisworknet.com)

• Time & cost

  • Because cosmetology requires about twice the hours, it usually takes longer and costs more than esthetics. Esthetics programs are shorter, so you can enter the workforce sooner but with a narrower service set. (Compare specific school tuition for exact numbers.) (law.Cornell.edu)

• Flexibility / further training

  • Many cosmetology programs include esthetics units (basic skin care). If you start with esthetics and later want cosmetology privileges, you’ll typically need to complete additional hours/training and meet IDFPR requirements. Some bills and rule changes have discussed online/internship hour limits — check IDFPR or the school for current allowances. (law.Cornell.edu)

If you want, I can:

• Look up current approved schools near your Illinois city and compare tuition/schedules, or
• Pull the exact IDFPR rule text for any specific curriculum subject or exam requirement.

Which (cosmetology vs esthetics) were you considering?