Esthetician License Requirements in California
- Training hours
- 600 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $115
- Exam
- Esthetician Written Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 17 years old, Completed the 10th grade or its equivalent, pass a criminal background check. California residents must complete Live Scan electronic fingerprinting, which is transmitted to the California Department of Justice and FBI. A criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant, but any conviction must be disclosed on a 'Disclosure Statement Regarding Criminal Pleas/Convictions' form for individual review under Business and Professions Code §480. There is no California citizenship or residency requirement to apply. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 600 hours of practical and technical instruction in a Board-approved school (Health & Safety 100 hrs, Disinfection & Sanitation 100 hrs, Skin Care Services 350 hrs, Hair Removal & Lash/Brow Beautification 50 hrs), OR an approved apprenticeship program in skin care, OR equivalent out-of-state practice (each 3 months of practice counts as 100 hours). [1]
- 3
Esthetician Written Examination
Pass the Esthetician Written Examination. Computer-based; 75 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions (85 total); 90 minutes; minimum passing score 75%; available in English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. As of January 1, 2022, California eliminated the practical exam for all license types — only the written exam is required. The $75 application/examination fee is billed together with the $40 initial license fee as a single $115.00 non-refundable payment on the current Esthetician Application form (F-34555-B-BOC, Rev. 8/2025). Business and Professions Code §7423 caps the examination-fee component at 'the actual cost to the board' rather than a fixed statutory number; $75 is the amount the Board currently charges. Fee recorded as null here to avoid double-counting the same charge twice in this record's upfront-cost total: the $75 is a combined application/examination fee and is already counted under the application fee. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs) with the $75 application fee. Typical processing time: Up to 4 weeks to process a reciprocity application; most first-time (exam-track) candidates complete the full process in about 4-8 months, driven mainly by training-program length. [4]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs) issues your Esthetician License for California.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $75 |
| License fee [2] | $40 |
| Renewal fee [2] | $50 |
| Esthetician Written Examination [2] | None specified |
| Renewal delinquency fee (50% of the renewal fee in effect) [2] | $25 |
The application/exam fee ($75) and initial license fee ($40) are collected together as a single $115.00 non-refundable payment. Fee caps are set in Business and Professions Code §7423: initial license 'not more than $40', renewal 'not more than $50', delinquency fee '50 percent of the renewal fee in effect on the date of renewal'.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Licenses expire 2 years from the date of issuance (at midnight on the last day of the issuance month) and renew on a 2-year cycle. The Board does not require continuing education to maintain an active Esthetician license, though licensees may voluntarily pursue additional coursework. A license unrenewed for 5 years from its expiration date is canceled and cannot be restored (Bus. & Prof. Code §7418).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Under Business and Professions Code §7331, the Board must grant a California license to an applicant who submits a completed application, required fees, and proof of a current out-of-state license that is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted and is in good standing (certification letter sent directly from the other state). No re-exam is required. Applicants must still disclose any criminal convictions or prior disciplinary actions for individual review. Applications may be submitted online via BreEZe; processing takes up to 4 weeks. California is not listed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty.
75 state-approved training providers in California — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $75
- $40
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does California require for an Esthetician license?
600 hours in a Board-approved school (or an approved apprenticeship, or equivalent out-of-state practice credited at 100 hours per 3 months).
Does California still require a practical exam for estheticians?
No. As of January 1, 2022, California eliminated the practical portion of the licensing exam for all license types — only the written exam (administered by PSI) is required.
Is continuing education required to renew a California Esthetician license?
No. The Board does not require continuing education to renew a personal Esthetician license, which is on a 2-year cycle.
Does California require a background check for an Esthetician license?
California residents must complete Live Scan fingerprinting, and any criminal conviction must be disclosed for individual review — but a conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant.
Can I transfer an out-of-state esthetician license to California?
Yes, through reciprocity under Business and Professions Code §7331, if your current out-of-state license is unrestricted and in good standing. No re-examination is required.
Sources
- [1] barbercosmo.ca.gov/applicants/license_requirements.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/forms/esthetician_app.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/publications/faqs.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/forms/reciprocity_instr.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11