CALIFORNIA / PSI / APRIL 2026
California Esthetician written exam
The California written exam for this license is delivered through PSI. The Board lists English, Spanish, and Vietnamese among its available exam languages. These figures come from the Board’s examination information and April 2026 content outline.
Published written exam format
Topics in the Board outline
The Board can change exam content, languages, and rules. Confirm the current candidate information before your exam. The topic percentages guide study time; they do not guarantee the questions you will see.
Use the outline to plan your study
Safety and infection control has the largest share (40%). Consultation and skin analysis (19%), skin care (17%), and hair removal (15%) bring these four areas to 91% of the outline. Work from hygiene and affected-skin rules toward analysis and service choices, then explicitly review makeup and eyelash/eyebrow topics as well.
These are study priorities based on the published topic weights, not a prediction of your exam questions. Read the full outline and current Board rules.
California beauty exam study resources ↗Three ways to start
Turn the published objectives into decisions you can explain. These are study suggestions, not official exam questions.
Use consultation to choose a service
Practice reading an intake, analyzing skin condition, and spotting contraindications or reactions. Explain when to change or decline a service and when to recommend a medical opinion.
April 2026 exam outlines ↗Compare safe facial choices
Review product selection, facial massage, chemical versus mechanical exfoliation, tools, and hot towels as separate objectives. For each, ask what skin condition and safety concern would change the plan.
April 2026 exam outlines ↗Include removal and eye services
Work through waxing, sugaring, tweezing, and threading alongside cross-contamination and contraindications. Then review lash adhesive and remover, brow and lash tinting products, and hygienic makeup application.
April 2026 exam outlines ↗
Study safety and infection control as a core part of this exam, then use the remaining topic weights to plan practice. Always check current California rules for service procedures.
April 2026 exam outlines ↗ · Board examination information ↗