This free California cosmetology state board exam simulator was built by Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Every question is aligned to the official PSI content outline that took effect April 1, 2026 — the most significant update to the California cosmetology exam in several years.
The exam is administered by PSI on behalf of the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC). It consists of 100 scored questions and 10 unscored pretest items, with a 120-minute time limit. You need a 70% or higher to pass.
Disclaimer: This is a free educational practice tool created by Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy. Questions are modeled on the publicly available California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology / PSI content outline effective April 1, 2026, and are written by our team — they are not actual exam questions and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sourced from PSI, the BBC, or the State of California. This tool is provided "as is" for study purposes only. We do not guarantee that use of this tool will result in passing the state board exam. Your exam result depends on many factors, including study habits, hours of training, and individual performance on test day. By using this tool, you acknowledge it is one of many study resources and that the official exam, content, and licensing requirements are determined solely by the State of California.
Q: How many questions are on the California cosmetology state board exam?
A: The exam has 110 total questions — 100 scored and 10 unscored "pretest" items that don't affect your score. You have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete it. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass.
Q: What are the topics on the 2026 California cosmetology exam?
A: As of April 1, 2026, the exam covers 10 topic areas: Safety & Infection Control (30%), Client Consultation & Hair/Skin/Nail Analysis (19%), Chemical Texture Services (12%), Haircoloring (10%), Hair Removal (8%), Nail Care (8%), Haircutting (3%), Eyelash & Eyebrow (4%), Skin Care (4%), and Hairstyling (2%).
Q: What changed on the California cosmetology exam in April 2026?
A: The biggest changes from the previous (2020) exam: Safety & Infection Control increased from 25% to 30%, Haircoloring became its own standalone category at 10% (it was previously bundled into Chemical Services), Eyelash & Eyebrow was added as a new 4% category, Hair Removal jumped from 4% to 8%, and Haircutting dropped significantly from 12% to 3%.
Q: Does California still require a practical exam for cosmetology?
A: No. As of January 1, 2022, California eliminated the practical exam. You only need to pass the written exam to receive your cosmetology license.
Q: How much does it cost to take the California cosmetology exam?
A: The exam fee is $125. If you fail, you must submit a re-examination application and pay the re-exam fee.
Q: Is this practice test the same as the real PSI exam?
A: This is an independent study tool, not an official PSI product. Questions are original, written by the team at Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy to reflect the topics and concepts in the official content outline. Actual exam questions are not publicly released.
