California Cosmetology License Requirements
Updated
Licenses in California are issued and regulated by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. This page covers what it takes to get licensed, what renewal costs, how the board handles license transfers, and how to reach it.
Training Hours
1,000 hrs
Minimum Age
17 years old
Exam Provider
PSI
Application Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
$50
Renewal Period
2 years
CE Hours Required
None
Renewal Portal
Renew Online ↗License Lookup
How to Verify a License →The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
Phone
(800) 952-5210Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
1625 N. Market Blvd Suite 202
Sacramento, CA 95834
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8 AM–5 PM, excluding state holidays. No in-person credit card payments at the office; cash, checks, and money orders only.
Renewal Portal
Renew Online ↗Complaints
File a Complaint ↗The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC), formed in 1992 when the state's separate Board of Barber Examiners and Board of Cosmetology merged, protects consumers by licensing and regulating California's barbering and beauty industry. The board oversees more than 560,000 individual licensees and over 50,000 establishments, covering barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, electrologists, manicurists, and hairstylists, along with the salons, schools, and mobile units where they work.
The BBC is headquartered at 1625 N. Market Blvd, Suite 202, in Sacramento, with a separate mailing address (PO Box 944226, Sacramento, CA 94244-2260) for applications, renewals, and correspondence sent by mail. In-person cash, check, or money order payments are accepted at the Department of Consumer Affairs building at 1625 North Market Blvd, Suite 100 — but credit card payments must be made through the board's online licensing system, BreEZe, since the office does not accept cards in person.
Phone support is available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, excluding state holidays, at (800) 952-5210 for general licensing questions or (916) 575-7100 for the Sacramento office directly. The board also maintains dedicated email addresses for inspections, citation appeals, complaints, the apprenticeship program, and school-related questions, all reachable through the contact page at barbercosmo.ca.gov.
California recognizes six personal license disciplines — Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Electrologist, Manicurist, and Hairstylist — each requiring a set number of training hours at a board-approved school before sitting for the licensing exam. The board also issues Establishment licenses for salons, Mobile Unit licenses, and Personal Service Permits for licensees performing services outside a licensed location. All personal and establishment licenses renew on a fixed two-year cycle tied to the license's own expiration date, and California does not require continuing education for renewal.
How to Get a Cosmetology License in California
California requires 1,000 hours of cosmetology training and a written examination to obtain a cosmetologist license. The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) under the Department of Consumer Affairs issues all cosmetology licenses.
- Meet the minimum age and education requirements. You must be at least 17 years old and have completed the 10th grade.
- Enroll in a BBC-approved cosmetology school. The school must be approved by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Confirm approval at barbercosmo.ca.gov.
- Complete 1,000 hours of training. Your school submits a Proof of Training to the BBC upon completion of your program.
- Submit the cosmetologist examination application. Apply online through the BreEZe portal or by mail. The application and examination fee is $75.
- Pass the PSI written examination. After your application is approved, you receive a PSI handbook and self-schedule your written exam at a PSI testing center. A score of 75% is required to pass.
- Receive your license. Candidates who pass the written exam are issued their license on the day of the exam at the PSI location. Your license is valid for two years.
Training Requirements
California's 1,000-hour cosmetology curriculum is defined in Business and Professions Code Section 7362.5. Training must be completed at a school approved by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The curriculum covers the following subject areas:
- Hair dressing: Cutting, coloring, permanent waving, chemical straightening, and styling
- Health and safety: Infection control, disinfection procedures, chemical safety, and California sanitation regulations
- Skin care: Facials, makeup application, waxing, and skin analysis
- Nail care: Manicures, pedicures, and artificial nail application
- Laws and regulations: California Business and Professions Code, Board rules, scope of practice, and consumer protection
Students who completed training in another state can apply using the Out of State/Out of Country Application along with Form B (completed by your out-of-state school). The BBC reviews your hours and issues a deficiency letter if additional training is needed. Every three months of documented work experience as a licensee in another state equals 100 training hours.
Cosmetology Exam Requirements
California requires only a written examination — there is no practical (hands-on) exam. The exam is administered by PSI at testing centers throughout California.
Written Examination Details
The cosmetologist written exam consists of 100 scored multiple-choice questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions (110 total). You have 120 minutes to complete the exam. A minimum score of 75% is required to pass. The exam covers:
- Hair care and services
- Skin care and services
- Nail care and services
- Infection control and safety
- California laws and regulations
Language Options
The examination is available in English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. If the exam is not offered in your native language and you cannot read English at a 10th-grade level, you may request an interpreter by submitting an Interpreter Application with your exam application.
Scheduling and Retakes
After your application is approved, PSI sends a handbook with scheduling instructions. You self-schedule at a PSI location of your choice. There is no limit on retakes, but each attempt requires a new Re-Examination Application and the $75 fee. You can cancel or reschedule at no charge up to 2 days before your exam date.
How to Renew Your California Cosmetology License
$50
Renewal Fee
2 years (fixed cycle)
Renewal Period
California cosmetologist licenses expire every two years. The renewal fee is $50.00. California does not require continuing education hours for license renewal.
How to Renew Online
- Log in to the BreEZe system at breeze.ca.gov.
- If you haven't already, associate your license with your BreEZe account.
- When your license is within 60 days of expiration, the renewal option appears at the top of your dashboard.
- Pay the $50 renewal fee by credit card. Renewal is processed instantly.
Do not wait for a renewal notice — you may not receive one if your address is outdated or you have outstanding fines. Check your expiration date through BreEZe and renew before it lapses.
Late Renewal and Delinquent Licenses
If your license has expired, you can renew by paying the $50 fee plus a $25 delinquency fee. You must not practice on an expired license — working without a valid license is a violation of California law and can result in a $1,000 fine. After five years of non-renewal, the license is cancelled and you must reapply and pass the exam again.
Does California Take Part in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
Not a member stateCalifornia has not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. The compact is an agreement among 12 states to recognize one another's cosmetology licenses through a single multistate license, and a state has to pass it into law before its licensees can take part.
In practical terms, that means a California license cannot be converted into a multistate license, and a multistate license issued elsewhere will not authorize you to work in California. If you are moving into or out of California, you will go through the normal reciprocity or endorsement route: applying directly to the receiving state's board, documenting your training hours, and meeting whatever additional requirements that state sets.
It is worth noting that even in the 12 states that have enacted the compact, multistate licenses are not being issued yet — the Commission is still building the system that will administer them. So at the moment, a California licensee is not at a practical disadvantage compared with one in a member state.
Other Compact member states
Licenses the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Regulates
| License | Training Hours | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cosmetologist |
1,000 hrs | $50 | $50 |
|
Barber |
1,000 hrs | $50 | $50 |
|
Esthetician |
600 hrs | $40 | $50 |
|
Electrologist |
600 hrs | $50 | $50 |
|
Hairstylist |
600 hrs | $50 | $50 |
|
Manicurist |
400 hrs | $35 | $50 |
|
Establishment License |
— | $50 | $40 |
|
Mobile Unit License |
— | $150 | $40 |
|
Personal Service Permit |
— | $25 | $10 |
Notes
Cosmetologist: Full scope: hair, skin, and nails.
Esthetician: Skin care, facials, waxing, and lash/brow services.
Electrologist: Permanent hair removal using needle or probe.
Hairstylist: Hair services only — no skin or nail work.
Establishment License: Salons and other locations offering board-regulated services.
Mobile Unit License: Includes a $50 application fee plus a $100 initial inspection and license fee.
Personal Service Permit: Required to perform services outside a licensed establishment.
Other Cosmetology License Types in California
The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology issues the following individual license types, each with its own training hour requirement and examination:
| License Type | Training Hours | Exam Questions | Exam Time | Initial Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetologist | 1,000 | 100 scored + 10 pretest | 120 min | $50 |
| Barber | 1,000 | 85 scored + 10 pretest | 120 min | $50 |
| Hairstylist | 600 | 50 scored + 10 pretest | 90 min | $50 |
| Esthetician | 600 | 75 scored + 10 pretest | 90 min | $40 |
| Electrologist | 600 | 50 scored + 10 pretest | 90 min | $50 |
| Manicurist | 400 | 60 scored + 10 pretest | 90 min | $35 |
The cosmetologist license covers the broadest scope of practice: hair, skin, and nail services. A cosmetologist can perform any service that an esthetician or manicurist is authorized to do. All license types require a 75% score on the written exam. The application and examination fee is $75 for all types, plus a $9 preapplication fee.
File a Complaint
The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology investigates complaints against barbers, cosmetologists, estheticians, electrologists, manicurists, hairstylists, and the salons and schools where they work. The board's jurisdiction centers on gross negligence or incompetence, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, unlicensed practice, and misrepresentation or false advertising of services. It does not handle disputes over pricing, general customer service complaints, or dissatisfaction with a service, and it has no authority to recover money on a consumer's behalf.
Complaints must be submitted in writing, either electronically through BreEZe or by mailing a Consumer Complaint Form to the board's PO Box in Sacramento. Complaints can be filed anonymously, but the board cautions that anonymous complaints are harder to investigate — if it cannot reach the complainant for follow-up documentation or evidence, the case may be closed for lack of information. For complaints alleging consumer harm specifically, the complainant's name is shared with the licensee so the board can investigate the allegations and get a response.
Once a complaint is accepted, it is assigned to an analyst who reviews the licensee's prior history, may request an inspection, and may contact both the complainant and the licensee for more information. Investigations take a minimum of three months. Outcomes range from no action to a citation and fine, probation, or license suspension or revocation, and complainants who provided contact information are notified by mail or email once the case closes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of training are required for a California cosmetology license? +
California requires 1,000 hours of training at a BBC-approved cosmetology school. Full-time students typically complete the program in 6 to 8 months.
Is there a practical exam for the California cosmetology license? +
No. California requires only a written examination — 100 scored questions, 120 minutes, 75% passing score. There is no practical exam.
Can I transfer an out-of-state cosmetology license to California? +
Yes. California offers reciprocity for out-of-state licensees with a current license in good standing. You receive your California license at a PSI location without retaking the exam.
What languages is the California cosmetology exam available in? +
English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. Interpreters may be approved for other languages.
Does California require continuing education for cosmetology renewal? +
No. California does not require CE credits. Pay the $50 renewal fee every two years through BreEZe.
How much does it cost to get a cosmetology license in California? +
Total initial cost is $134: $9 preapplication, $75 application/exam fee, and $50 initial license fee. Renewal is $50 every two years.
I mailed my California renewal check before my license expired, but it was never cashed and I got a delinquent notice. What should I do? +
Contact the BBC directly at (800) 952-5210 or barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov and ask them to search for an unprocessed mail-in renewal under your name — mailed payments can be delayed or lost before they're matched to your file. Place a stop payment on the original check with your bank so it can't be cashed later, and ask the BBC in writing to waive the $25 delinquency fee since your payment was postmarked before the expiration date. Don't wait on a resolution to renew — pay again through BreEZe or by mail so your license doesn't lapse further while the original payment is being tracked down.
Is California part of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact? +
No. California has not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. 12 states have enacted it so far.
Can I get a multistate cosmetology license right now? +
Not yet. 12 states have passed the compact into law, but the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission has not started issuing multistate licenses. Until it does, transferring a license between states still goes through each state board's reciprocity or endorsement process.
How do I transfer a cosmetology license to California today? +
Through the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology's reciprocity or endorsement process, not the compact. You will typically need proof of licensure in good standing from your current state, documentation of your training hours, and the application fee set by California. Requirements differ by state, so check the board's current instructions before applying.
How much does it cost to renew a California cosmetology or barber license? +
A timely personal license renewal (barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, electrologist, manicurist, or hairstylist) costs $50. Renewing after expiration adds a $25 delinquency fee, bringing the total to $75. California does not require continuing education hours to renew.
When does my California cosmetology or barbering license expire? +
Personal licenses renew on a fixed two-year cycle based on the license's own prior expiration date — not the licensee's birthday. Renewing simply extends the same expiration date by two more years, regardless of when the renewal is submitted.
How long does a California license renewal take to process? +
Renewals submitted online through BreEZe with no outstanding fines are processed instantly, and the physical license generally arrives within about two weeks. Mailed renewals take roughly 2 to 4 weeks with the renewal form, or 6 to 8 weeks without it.
What license types does the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology regulate? +
The board licenses six personal disciplines — Barber, Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Electrologist, Manicurist, and Hairstylist — plus Establishment licenses for salons, Mobile Unit licenses, and Personal Service Permits.
How do I contact the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology? +
Call (800) 952-5210, or (916) 575-7100 for the Sacramento office directly, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, excluding state holidays. The board's headquarters is at 1625 N. Market Blvd, Suite 202, Sacramento, CA 95834.
How do I file a complaint against a California salon or licensee? +
Complaints must be submitted in writing, either electronically through BreEZe or by mailing a Consumer Complaint Form to the board's PO Box in Sacramento. Complaints can be filed anonymously, though anonymous complaints are harder for the board to investigate without follow-up evidence.
Helpful Resources
California Esthetician License Requirements
Training hours, exam providers, fees, and renewal periods for an California Esthetician license.
Learn more →California Nail Technician License Requirements
Training hours, exam providers, fees, and renewal periods for a California Nail Technician license.
Learn more →California Barber License Requirements
Training hours, exam providers, fees, and renewal periods for a California Barber license.
Learn more →License Reciprocity
Already licensed elsewhere? See how endorsement and reciprocity work for California.
Learn more →California Cosmetology License Lookup
How to verify a California license: what you can search by, and what each status means.
Learn more →Continuing Education
See how many CE hours the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology requires before you can renew.
Learn more →License Renewal
Renewal fees, deadlines, and CE requirements for California and every other state.
Learn more →Compare Other States
Licensing rules change at the state line. These states either border California or line up with it on training hours or the exam you would sit — useful whether you are planning a move or weighing where to train.