California licenses cosmetologists through the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. You need a California cosmetology license to legally cut, color, style, or chemically treat hair, perform facials, apply makeup, remove unwanted hair, or provide nail services for compensation anywhere in the state.
California requires 1,000 hours of training at an approved cosmetology school (or 3,200 hours through an apprenticeship) and passing a written examination. There is no practical exam. The total cost for examination and initial license is $125. Most people complete the process in 7 to 12 months through a school program. Here is exactly how to do it.
California Cosmetology License Requirements at a Glance
| Official License Title | Cosmetologist |
| Governing Agency | California Department of Consumer Affairs |
| Governing Board | Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) |
| Minimum Age | 17 years old |
| Education Prerequisite | 10th grade completion or equivalent |
| Training Hours Required | 1,000 hours (school) or 3,200 hours (apprenticeship) |
| State Board Exam | Written only (100 questions, 120 minutes) – no practical exam |
| Passing Score | 70% |
| Application and Exam Fee | $75 (examination fee) |
| Initial License Fee | $50 |
| Total Initial Cost | $125 (plus school tuition) |
| License Term | 2 years (expires on your birth month) |
| Renewal Fee | $50 |
| Continuing Education | None required |
| Apply Online | BreEZe Online Services |
Step 1: Meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the California cosmetology examination, you must be at least 17 years old and have completed the 10th grade in a public school or its equivalent (such as a GED). California does not require citizenship or state residency to obtain a license, though you will need a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to complete the application. California licenses both barbers and cosmetologists through the same board. If you’re unsure which license fits your career goals, see our Barber vs Cosmetology License guide for a detailed comparison.
Step 2: Complete 1,000 Hours at a BBC-Approved Cosmetology School
You must complete 1,000 clock hours of technical instruction and practical training at a cosmetology school approved by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. The curriculum covers health and safety (100 hours), including hazardous substances, chemical safety, and preventing communicable diseases; disinfection and sanitation (100 hours); chemical hair services (200 hours), including coloring, straightening, permanent waving, and bleaching; hairstyling services (200 hours), including cutting, blow drying, thermal styling, and braiding; skin care services (150 hours), including facials, massaging, and exfoliating; hair removal and lash/brow beautification (50 hours); and manicure and pedicure (100 hours), including artificial nails.
As of January 1, 2022, SB 803 reduced the required training hours from 1,600 to 1,000 hours. Some schools still offer programs exceeding 1,000 hours, but schools must disclose that only 1,000 hours are required for licensure. Most full-time programs now take 7 to 10 months to complete. Part-time schedules may take longer. The average tuition for a cosmetology program in California is approximately $19,000 to $20,000, though community colleges and technical programs may offer more affordable options.
Hair type and texture training: California law requires instruction in chemical hair services and hairstyling to include training on all hair types and textures, including various curl or wave patterns, hair strand thicknesses, and volumes of hair.
Alternative Pathway: Apprenticeship Program
California offers an apprenticeship pathway as an alternative to school-based training. The cosmetology apprenticeship requires 3,200 hours of on-the-job training (OJT) over a two-year period, plus at least 220 hours of related training instruction (RTI) in a classroom setting. Before beginning an apprenticeship, you must complete a 39-hour pre-apprenticeship course administered by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology at barbercosmotraining.com.
Apprentices must work a minimum of 32 hours and no more than 42.5 hours per week and must be paid at least minimum wage. You will need to register with an approved apprenticeship program sponsor and obtain an apprentice license from the BBC before beginning work. The apprentice license fee is $25. Training from a school does not transfer to the apprentice program, and vice versa. Apprenticeship is available for cosmetology, barbering, and electrology only (not esthetician or manicurist).
Step 3: Apply for the Licensing Exam
Once you have completed your 1,000 hours (or 3,200 apprenticeship hours), you can apply for the state board examination. Your school will provide a Proof of Training document confirming your completion. You can apply online through BreEZe, the BBC’s online licensing system, or by mail using the Cosmetologist Examination Application.
The total fee is $125, which includes both the examination fee ($75) and initial license fee ($50). This fee is non-refundable. Online applications are processed faster than mailed applications. Typical processing time is 8 to 12 weeks. Once your application is approved, you will receive a PSI handbook with instructions for scheduling your examination.
Step 4: Pass the State Board Examination
The California cosmetology examination is a written-only test administered by PSI Services at testing centers throughout California and nationwide. California eliminated the practical (hands-on) examination as of January 1, 2022 under SB 803.
The written exam consists of 100 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions (110 total). You have 120 minutes to complete the exam. The exam covers health and safety, disinfection and sanitation, chemical hair services, hairstyling services, skin care services, hair removal and lash/brow beautification, and manicure and pedicure. You must score at least 70% to pass.
The exam is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese. If the exam is not offered in your language, you may apply for an interpreter. You will receive your score immediately after completing the exam at the testing center.
Retaking the exam: If you do not pass, you may retake the exam after submitting a re-examination application and paying the exam fee again. There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the exam, but each attempt requires a new fee payment.
Step 5: Receive Your License and Start Working
After passing the exam, you will need to visit a PSI location in California to have your photo taken and receive your official license. PSI will process and issue your license, typically within 2 to 4 weeks of passing the exam. You cannot work legally until you have received your license.
Your California cosmetology license authorizes you to perform all cosmetology services for compensation in any licensed establishment in the state, including salons, day spas, resort spas, and medical spas (within your scope of practice).
License Renewal
California cosmetology licenses must be renewed every two years. Your license expires at midnight on the last day of your birth month. The BBC will send you a renewal notice approximately 60 days before your expiration date.
The renewal fee is $50. You can renew online through BreEZe.
No continuing education required: California does not require continuing education credits to renew a cosmetology license. You may choose to take continuing education courses voluntarily to stay current with industry trends and techniques, but it is not mandatory for renewal.
Late renewal: If you fail to renew by the deadline, your license becomes delinquent. The late renewal fee is 50% of the standard renewal fee. You have up to 4 years to renew an expired license before you would be required to retake the state board examination. You cannot legally practice while your license is expired.
Transferring an Out-of-State Cosmetology License to California (Reciprocity)
California offers licensure by reciprocity for cosmetologists who hold a current license in another state. SB 803 (effective January 1, 2022) streamlined this process.
To qualify for reciprocity: You must hold a current, active cosmetology license in another U.S. state (the license does not need to be current for reciprocity, but you must have held one). You must have the licensing state send a certification of your license directly to the California Board. The certification must include your name, license type, license number, whether the examination was taken or the license was issued through reciprocity, and the issue and expiration dates.
How to apply: Request that your original state board send a license certification directly to barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov or by mail to the BBC. Submit a Reciprocity Application through BreEZe (processed up to 3 weeks faster than mail applications) or by mail. The reciprocity fee is $50. Once approved, visit a PSI location in California to have your photo taken and receive your license.
What does NOT qualify for reciprocity: Apprentice licenses from other states, licenses from Puerto Rico or Guam, Florida Full Specialist, Facial Specialist, and Nail Specialist licenses, and out-of-country licenses. California also does not have a waxing-only or eyelash extension-only license, so those license types from other states cannot transfer.
Out-of-state training without a license: If you completed cosmetology training in another state but did not receive a license, you may still apply for the California exam. Submit the Initial Exam Application along with the Out of State Applicant School Training Form B (completed by your school). The BBC will review your training to determine if you meet California’s 1,000-hour requirement or if additional training is needed.
Out-of-state practice experience: If you practiced cosmetology outside of California for an equivalent period of time, each three months of practice is deemed equivalent to 100 hours of training for qualification purposes.
Military Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses
California has enacted several provisions to assist military families with professional licensing.
Expedited processing for honorably discharged veterans: The BBC is required to expedite the licensure process for applicants who served as active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces (including National Guard and Space Force) and were honorably discharged. Submit your DD-214 or other documentation of honorable discharge with your application.
Expedited processing for military spouses: The BBC is required to expedite the reciprocity licensure process for spouses and domestic partners of active-duty service members who hold a license in another state. You must provide evidence of your relationship (such as a marriage certificate) and your spouse’s military orders showing assignment to a duty station in California.
Fee waiver for military spouses (effective July 1, 2022): The initial application and license fee may be waived for military spouses. Not all fees are waived; contact the BBC for specific information about which fees may be waived.
Military training credit: Applicants who completed comparable military training may qualify for the cosmetology examination by submitting Verification of Military Experience and Training (V-MET) records documenting that the training is substantially similar to California’s requirements.
SkillBridge program (effective July 1, 2024): The BBC expedites the initial licensure process for active-duty service members enrolled in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge program. Attach documentation of enrollment to your application.
Refugees and asylum seekers: Applicants who were admitted to the United States as refugees, granted asylum, or hold Special Immigrant Visa status may qualify for expedited processing.
Recent Legislation: SB 803
Senate Bill 803, signed into law on October 7, 2021 and effective January 1, 2022, made significant changes to California’s cosmetology licensing requirements. Key changes include:
Reduced training hours: Cosmetology program hours reduced from 1,600 to 1,000 hours. Barbering program hours reduced from 1,500 to 1,000 hours.
Practical examination eliminated: The hands-on practical examination was removed. Candidates now only need to pass the written exam to become licensed.
New Hairstylist license created: A new 600-hour Hairstylist license was established for professionals who want to offer cutting and styling services only, without chemical services like coloring or permanent waving.
Expanded esthetician scope of practice: Licensed estheticians (and cosmetologists) can now perform lash and brow tinting, lash perms (lash lifts), brow lamination, and facial dermaplaning.
Streamlined out-of-state license transfers: The endorsement process for out-of-state license holders was simplified.
Pre-apprenticeship training required: Apprentices must complete a 39-hour pre-apprenticeship course from the BBC before beginning on-the-job training.
Increased extern hours: The hours allowed for extern programs (hands-on experience in licensed salons while still in school) were expanded.
What Can You Do with a California Cosmetology License?
Under Business and Professions Code Section 7316, a California cosmetology license authorizes you to perform hair services including arranging, dressing, curling, waving, permanent waving, cleansing, cutting, shampooing, relaxing, singeing, bleaching, tinting, coloring, straightening, and dyeing; scalp, face, neck, arms, and upper body massage and treatments using hands, devices, or cosmetic preparations; beautifying the face, neck, arms, or upper body using cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, tonics, lotions, or creams; hair removal using depilatories, tweezers, chemicals, waxing, or sugaring (not including lasers, light-based devices, or electrolysis); and nail services including manicures, pedicures, and artificial nail application.
Services NOT included in cosmetology scope (out of scope): Laser or light-based hair removal (IPL), electrolysis (requires separate electrologist license), permanent makeup, microblading, or cosmetic tattooing (regulated by local health departments, not the BBC), any service that pierces or removes skin below the epidermis, injectable treatments (Botox, fillers), and electrical muscle stimulation devices that visibly contract the muscle.
Services that do NOT require a license: Natural hair braiding (twisting, wrapping, weaving, extending, locking, or braiding without cutting or chemical application), threading (hair removal by twisting thread), and sale, fitting, or styling of wigs or hairpieces.
California Cosmetologist Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), the national median hourly wage for hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists was $16.95 per hour (approximately $35,250 annually). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $11.82 per hour, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $33.76 per hour. Employment is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
California has one of the highest employment levels for cosmetologists in the nation. The San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City metropolitan area is among the top-paying metro areas for cosmetologists nationally. Note that BLS data does not capture income from tips, commissions on product sales, or self-employment earnings, all of which are common in the cosmetology industry and can significantly increase total compensation. Industry research suggests that full-time professionals, when tips and commissions are included, often earn substantially more than BLS median figures indicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a licensed cosmetologist in California?
Most people complete the process in 7 to 12 months. A full-time 1,000-hour school program typically takes 7 to 10 months. After graduating, the application and exam scheduling process adds another 2 to 4 weeks. The apprenticeship pathway takes approximately 2 years (3,200 hours plus 220 classroom hours).
Does California require a practical (hands-on) exam for cosmetologists?
No. As of January 1, 2022, California eliminated the practical exam under SB 803. You only need to pass the written exam (100 questions, 120 minutes, 70% passing score) to become licensed.
Can I transfer my out-of-state cosmetology license to California without taking an exam?
Yes. If you hold a current cosmetology license from another U.S. state, you can apply for reciprocity. Have your original state board send a license certification directly to the California BBC, then submit a reciprocity application. You will receive your California license without taking the California exam. Apprentice licenses, Puerto Rico/Guam licenses, and certain Florida specialist licenses do not qualify for reciprocity.
Does California require continuing education for cosmetology license renewal?
No. California does not require continuing education credits to renew a cosmetology license. You simply pay the $50 renewal fee every two years.
What is the difference between a cosmetologist and a hairstylist license in California?
A cosmetologist is trained in hair, skin, and nails and can perform all services (1,000 hours of training). A hairstylist is trained in non-chemical hair services only and cannot perform coloring, permanent waving, chemical straightening, skin care, or nail services (600 hours of training). The hairstylist license was created by SB 803 in 2022 for professionals who only want to offer cutting and styling.
Can I work as a cosmetologist in California while waiting for my license?
No. You need to pass the written examination and receive your license before you can perform cosmetology services for compensation in California. Working without a license is a misdemeanor and can result in fines.
What services can estheticians now perform under SB 803?
As of January 1, 2022, licensed estheticians (and cosmetologists) in California can perform lash and brow tinting, lash perms (lash lifts), brow lamination, and facial dermaplaning. These services were previously unclear or restricted under state law.
For a comparison of cosmetology licensing requirements across all states, including training hours, exam formats, fees, and reciprocity rules, see our complete cosmetology license guide.
Official Resources
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
Department of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 944226, Sacramento, CA 94244-2260
Phone: (800) 952-5210
Email: barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov
Website: www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
Apply for a Cosmetology License:
BreEZe Online Services
License Requirements:
BBC License Requirements
Examination Information:
BBC Applicant Information
Schedule Your Exam (PSI):
PSI Exams
Phone: (800) 211-2754
License Verification:
DCA License Search
Reciprocity Application:
Reciprocity Application (PDF)
Apprenticeship Information:
BBC Apprenticeship Program
Pre-Apprenticeship Training:
barbercosmotraining.com
Military Services:
DCA Military Expedited Licensure
Business and Professions Code Chapter 10 (Barbering and Cosmetology Act):
California Legislative Information
SB 803 (2021):
Senate Bill 803