The California esthetician written exam is administered by PSI on behalf of the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. It consists of 75 scored questions and must be completed in 90 minutes — with a passing score of 75% required. As of January 1, 2022, the practical exam was eliminated; only the written exam is required for licensure. This free practice tool is built on the updated content outline that took effect April 1, 2026, which significantly increased the weight of Safety and Infection Control to 40% of the exam.
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 esthetician exam?
A: The exam has 85 total questions — 75 scored and 10 unscored pretest items that do not affect your score. You have 90 minutes to complete it. A score of 75% or higher (57 correct out of 75 scored questions) is required to pass.
Q: What topics are on the 2026 California esthetician exam?
A: As of April 1, 2026, the exam covers six topics: Safety and Infection Control (40%), Client Consultation and Skin Analysis (19%), Skin Care (17%), Hair Removal (15%), Eyelash and Eyebrow (6%), and Makeup (3%). Safety and Infection Control is by far the largest topic and should be your primary study focus.
Q: What changed on the California esthetician exam in April 2026?
The April 2026 PSI Validation Study update made significant changes. Safety and Infection Control increased from 34% to 40%. Skin Care decreased from 27% to 17%. Hair Removal increased from 13% to 15%. Eyelash and Eyebrow was added as a new standalone category at 6%. Makeup decreased from 4% to 3%.
Q: Is the California esthetics practical exam still required?
A: No. California eliminated the practical exam for all license types effective January 1, 2022 under SB 803. Only the written exam is required to receive your esthetician license.
Q: How many hours do I need to take the California esthetician exam?
A: You must complete 600 hours of training at a BBC-approved esthetics school before applying for the exam.
Q: What new services can California estheticians perform under SB 803?
A: SB 803 (effective January 1, 2022) added lash and brow lamination and perming, and dermaplaning to the California esthetician scope of practice, provided the esthetician has proper training in these services.
Q: Is this practice exam the same as the official PSI exam?
A: No. This is an independent study tool provided free by Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy. All questions are original and written to reflect the topics in the official April 2026 PSI/BBC content outline. PSI does not release actual exam questions publicly.
