To get a cosmetology or esthetician license in California, you finish your training hours at a Board-approved school and then pass one written exam, given by PSI for the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. There is no practical exam anymore: the Board dropped it on January 1, 2022. The cosmetology exam has 100 scored questions in 120 minutes, and the esthetics exam has 75 scored questions in 90 minutes. Most of the points come from safety, infection control, and client consultation.
What Is on the California Cosmetology Exam?
The exam has 110 questions: 100 that count toward your score and 10 unscored “pretest” questions mixed in, which still use up your time. The topics and their share of the scored questions come from the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin (March 2026):
| Topic | Share of the exam |
|---|---|
| Safety and infection control | 30% |
| Client consultation and hair, skin, and nail analysis | 19% |
| Chemical texture services | 12% |
| Haircoloring | 10% |
| Hair removal | 8% |
| Nail care | 8% |
| Skin care | 4% |
| Eyelash and eyebrow | 4% |
| Haircutting | 3% |
| Hairstyling | 2% |
Haircutting and hairstyling together are only 5% of the exam. The test checks whether you can work safely and make the right decisions for a client: how to disinfect tools, when a service is not safe to perform, and how chemicals and color behave.
What Is on the California Esthetics Exam?
The esthetician exam has 85 questions (75 scored and 10 pretest) and a 90-minute limit:
| Topic | Share of the exam |
|---|---|
| Safety and infection control | 40% |
| Client consultation and skin analysis | 19% |
| Skin care | 17% |
| Hair removal | 15% |
| Eyelash and eyebrow | 6% |
| Makeup | 3% |
Infection control is the single biggest topic on both exams, so it deserves the most study time.
How Do You Apply for the Exam?
- Finish all of your training hours. California requires 1,000 hours for cosmetology and 600 for esthetics, and you cannot take the exam before your hours are complete.
- Send the Board your application for examination and initial license, online through BreEZe or by mail. The non-refundable fee is $125 for cosmetologists and $115 for estheticians. Follow the Board’s application checklist, which includes fingerprinting through Live Scan.
- Schedule your test with PSI. About six weeks after the Board approves your application, you receive the PSI handbook and choose a test site and time.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes early with a current government-issued photo ID. The name on your ID must match your name on file with the Board letter for letter, including your middle name.
- Get your results the same day. If you pass, you receive your license at the test site.
The exam is offered in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese.
How to Prepare So You Pass the First Time
- Start with the content outline. The Candidate Information Bulletin lists every topic on the exam and the textbooks the questions are written from, including Milady Standard Cosmetology.
- Study by weight. Spend the most time on infection control and client consultation, which together make up about half of the cosmetology exam and nearly 60% of the esthetics exam.
- Practice under time pressure. You have about a minute per question, so take full timed practice tests, not just flashcards.
- Test soon after you finish. Apply as soon as your hours are complete, while the material is fresh.
- Use your school’s tests. At Cinta Aveda Institute, written exams are given throughout each unit of study, so the format feels familiar by graduation.
What If You Don’t Pass?
You can take the exam again; there is no limit on attempts. Submit the Board’s Re-Examination Application with a $75 fee each time, and you can expect the PSI handbook about three weeks after approval. Your failure notice shows your score, how you did in each topic, and how many correct answers you needed, so you know exactly what to review.
Protect your fee, too. If you need to reschedule, cancel at least two days before your exam date. Missing the appointment or arriving late means losing the fee and reapplying.
Can You Work in a Salon Before You Pass?
No. In California, you need a license to perform cosmetology or esthetics services for pay, and working without one can lead to a citation and fine. Plan your budget for the weeks between finishing school and test day.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Since January 1, 2022, candidates only need to pass the written exam.
110 questions: 100 scored and 10 unscored pretest questions, with 120 minutes to finish.
85 questions: 75 scored and 10 unscored pretest questions, with 90 minutes to finish.
The application for examination and initial license costs $125 for cosmetologists and $115 for estheticians. A re-examination application costs $75.
No. You must complete all required training hours first: 1,000 for cosmetology and 600 for esthetics.
You should receive the PSI handbook to schedule your exam about six weeks after the Board approves your application.
English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese.
Cinta Aveda Institute’s Cosmetology and Esthetics programs in San Francisco prepare students for the California licensing exam.
