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Open free CA Cosmetologist Written Exam prep resources ↗Exam facts & prep options
California Cosmetologist Written Examination (Cosmetologist Theory Exam — General Portion)
The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology's cosmetologist licensing examination: a single computer-based written exam of 110 questions (100 scored, 10 pretest) in 120 minutes, covering ten weighted topics (Safety and Infection Control 30%, Client Consultation and Hair/Skin/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%). The practical exam was eliminated effective January 1, 2022, so candidates pass only this written exam. It is the PSI-developed national examination offered for all license types since July 1, 2022, delivered at PSI examination centers in California in English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Simplified Chinese, scored against a criterion-referenced standard; candidates who pass receive their photographic license on-site. The USD 125.00 non-refundable application fee covers examination and initial license.
Official exam siteJump to prep options ↓
Questions110 questions (100 scored, 10 pretest)
Testing time2 hours (120 minutes)
ScoringCriterion-referenced passing standard; no numeric cut score is published. Candidates who pass receive their photographic license on-site; a failure notice shows the candidate's score, a breakdown of subject content areas, and the number of correct answers necessary to pass
Exam feeUSD 125.00 non-refundable application fee covering the examination and initial license, paid to the Board with the cosmetologist application; a re-examination application (form for all license types) and fee are required for each retake
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- BBC
- Category
- Cosmetology
- Current version
- Current specification; no public version label (PSI-developed national written examination adopted for all license types effective 7/1/2022; Candidate Information Bulletin content outline dated April 2026)
- Where it applies
- California, United States
- Exam languages
- English, Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese
- Testing provider
- PSI Services LLC (contracted by the Board to conduct its examination program)
- Format
- Computer-based written exam at PSI examination centers in California; the practical exam was eliminated effective January 1, 2022 (written exam only for licensure)
- Availability
- Year-round by appointment at PSI examination centers in California, after the Board approves the examination application and sends the PSI handbook; in most California testing centers testing does not take place on major holidays
- Results
- Same-day: candidates who pass the written exam receive their photographic license on the day of their exam; a failure notice with score and subject-area breakdown is given otherwise
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
One computer-based written exam of 110 questions (100 scored, 10 pretest) in ten weighted topics: I. Safety and Infection Control 30% (30 items), II. Client Consultation and Hair, Skin, and Nail Analysis 19% (19), III. Hairstyling 2% (2), IV. Haircutting 3% (3), V. Haircoloring 10% (10), VI. Chemical Texture Services 12% (12), VII. Skin Care 4% (4), VIII. Eyelash and Eyebrow 4% (4), IX. Hair Removal 8% (8), X. Nail Care 8% (8). The practical exam is no longer administered. Reference materials: Pivot Point Fundamentals: Cosmetology (1st ed., 2nd printing, 2023) and Milady Standard Cosmetology (2023, 14th edition)
Where rules vary
California's own cosmetologist licensing examination, required for a California cosmetologist license; the BBC uses the PSI-developed national examination but administers it as California's licensure exam at PSI examination centers in California. Candidates licensed in another state may instead qualify via the Reciprocity Application.
Eligibility
Board-approved qualifying training (California approved school — 1,000 hours for cosmetologist — or completed apprentice program, or previous California license), at least 17 years old, and 10th-grade education or equivalent; a Board-approved exam application with proof of training and exam-language preference is required before scheduling
Retake policy
No limit on retakes; a re-examination application and fee are required for each attempt