What is the cheapest way to prepare for the California Cosmetology State Board exam?

Start with what costs nothing: 484 practice questions on PrepPass, with explanations and no signup. If you want it taught in one file you keep, the full study guide is $14.99 once; the printable cram sheet for the last days is $9.99. No subscription on any of them.

Who administers the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, California Department of Consumer Affairs — exam delivered by PSI Services LLC. PSI's own bulletin states that the Board has contracted with PSI Services LLC to conduct its examination programme.

How many questions are on the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?

110 questions (100 scored, 10 unscored pretest). Cosmetologist only. The Board publishes a different length for each license on the same page, and PSI's bulletin prints the same figures as totals: Barber 95 (85 scored + 10 pretest); Esthetician 85 (75 + 10); Manicurist 65 (60 + 5); Electrologist 55 (50 + 5); Hairstylist 50 scored + 10 pretest. PSI notes that the unscored pretest items still count against examination time.

How long is the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?

120 minutes. Cosmetologist and Barber are allowed two hours; Esthetician, Manicurist, Electrologist and Hairstylist are allowed 90 minutes.

What is the passing score for the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?

Not published by California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 16 CCR § 932(b) states only that the Board sets the passing score using a criterion-referenced method, and PSI's bulletin gives the same method with no number. Neither publishes a percentage. Any “75% to pass” claim for this exam is unsourced.

How much does the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination cost?

$75 — Application and examination fee (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, one-time); $50 — Initial license fee (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, one-time); $50 — Licence renewal (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, every two years). The Board's own combined application form charges the application/examination and initial license fees together as one non-refundable payment. PSI publishes no separate dollar examination fee anywhere in its bulletin, so none is stated here.

What languages is the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination offered in?

English · Korean · Spanish · Vietnamese · Simplified Chinese. PSI states that you verify your preferred language when you call to schedule the written examination.

Does the California Cosmetology State Board cram sheet come as a PDF?

Yes — California Cosmetology State Board — Cram Sheet (2026) downloads as PDF, 37 pages. The download link is emailed the moment payment clears and does not expire.

How much does the California Cosmetology State Board cram sheet cost?

$9.99, once. There is no subscription and no account to create; the PDF file is yours to keep.

What is the difference between the California Cosmetology State Board study guide and the cram sheet?

The study guide ($14.99) teaches the material chapter by chapter and is meant to be read over weeks. The cram sheet ($9.99, 37 pages) drops the teaching and keeps the figures: every number on the exam grouped by value so the confusable ones sit together, each reference page paired with a recall page that blanks the answers, and four routes by days left — 14, 7, 3, or tonight. They are separate purchases; neither replaces the other.

Is this the official California Cosmetology State Board cram sheet?

No. This is an independent cram sheet and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the exam's awarding body. It is written from NIC content outline / EPA / OSHA. Always confirm current requirements with the body that issues your licence.

California Cosmetology State Board · 2026 Edition

California Cosmetology State Board — Cram Sheet (2026)

Every figure the California Cosmetology State Board exam turns on, pooled by value on reference sheets with a recall twin — and four routes through them: 14 days, 7, 3, or tonight.

37-page printable cram packet: the figures without the teaching, each reference page paired with a recall page you fill in from memory
Cross-referenced against NIC content outline / EPA / OSHA
484 free practice questions for this exam stay free on PrepPass

PDF · English · 37 pages · $9.99 one-time

This cram sheet is written in English.

Instant download after payment — no account needed, no subscription.

14-day money-back guarantee: not satisfied for any reason? Email support@preppass.org within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. Refund policy

Look inside the book

Three real pages, rendered straight from the PDF you download — a reference page, a teaching page, and a worked question, always in that order. Nothing here was redrawn to look better.

How it's taught
PDF page 2
An explanation page: the material taught in prose, in the order the exam tests it.
How it's taught
PDF page 19
An explanation page: the material taught in prose, in the order the exam tests it.
How it's taught
PDF page 20
An explanation page: the material taught in prose, in the order the exam tests it.

About the exam itself

California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination — Exam facts
Administering body	Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, California Department of Consumer Affairs — exam delivered by PSI Services LLC Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology — Information Regarding the Examination
Questions	110 questions (100 scored, 10 unscored pretest) Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology — Information Regarding the Examination
Time limit	120 minutes Source: PSI — California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Candidate Information Bulletin (April 2026)
Passing score	Not published by California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology What we read and found nothing in: 2026 Barbering and Cosmetology Act and Regulations (PDF) — 16 CCR § 932 (passing grades) and § 998 (schedule of fees)
Fees	$75 — Application and examination fee (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, one-time) $50 — Initial license fee (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, one-time) $50 — Licence renewal (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, every two years) Source: 2026 Barbering and Cosmetology Act and Regulations (PDF) — 16 CCR § 932 (passing grades) and § 998 (schedule of fees)
Languages offered	English · Korean · Spanish · Vietnamese · Simplified Chinese Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology — Information Regarding the Examination

Exam facts, with a source for every line

Questions buyers ask

What is the cheapest way to prepare for the California Cosmetology State Board exam?: Start with what costs nothing: 484 practice questions on PrepPass, with explanations and no signup. If you want it taught in one file you keep, the full study guide is $14.99 once; the printable cram sheet for the last days is $9.99. No subscription on any of them.
Who administers the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, California Department of Consumer Affairs — exam delivered by PSI Services LLC. PSI's own bulletin states that the Board has contracted with PSI Services LLC to conduct its examination programme.
How many questions are on the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?: 110 questions (100 scored, 10 unscored pretest). Cosmetologist only. The Board publishes a different length for each license on the same page, and PSI's bulletin prints the same figures as totals: Barber 95 (85 scored + 10 pretest); Esthetician 85 (75 + 10); Manicurist 65 (60 + 5); Electrologist 55 (50 + 5); Hairstylist 50 scored + 10 pretest. PSI notes that the unscored pretest items still count against examination time.
How long is the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?: 120 minutes. Cosmetologist and Barber are allowed two hours; Esthetician, Manicurist, Electrologist and Hairstylist are allowed 90 minutes.
What is the passing score for the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination?: Not published by California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. 16 CCR § 932(b) states only that the Board sets the passing score using a criterion-referenced method, and PSI's bulletin gives the same method with no number. Neither publishes a percentage. Any “75% to pass” claim for this exam is unsourced.
How much does the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination cost?: $75 — Application and examination fee (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, one-time); $50 — Initial license fee (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, one-time); $50 — Licence renewal (Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, every two years). The Board's own combined application form charges the application/examination and initial license fees together as one non-refundable payment. PSI publishes no separate dollar examination fee anywhere in its bulletin, so none is stated here.
What languages is the California Cosmetologist Written (Theory) Examination offered in?: English · Korean · Spanish · Vietnamese · Simplified Chinese. PSI states that you verify your preferred language when you call to schedule the written examination.
Does the California Cosmetology State Board cram sheet come as a PDF?: Yes — California Cosmetology State Board — Cram Sheet (2026) downloads as PDF, 37 pages. The download link is emailed the moment payment clears and does not expire.
How much does the California Cosmetology State Board cram sheet cost?: $9.99, once. There is no subscription and no account to create; the PDF file is yours to keep.
Are there free California Cosmetology State Board practice questions?: Yes — 484 of them, free to use with no signup and an explanation on every one. They are separate from this cram sheet, which is what you are buying here.
What is the difference between the California Cosmetology State Board study guide and the cram sheet?: The study guide ($14.99) teaches the material chapter by chapter and is meant to be read over weeks. The cram sheet ($9.99, 37 pages) drops the teaching and keeps the figures: every number on the exam grouped by value so the confusable ones sit together, each reference page paired with a recall page that blanks the answers, and four routes by days left — 14, 7, 3, or tonight. They are separate purchases; neither replaces the other.
Is this the official California Cosmetology State Board cram sheet?: No. This is an independent cram sheet and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the exam's awarding body. It is written from NIC content outline / EPA / OSHA. Always confirm current requirements with the body that issues your licence.

Free California Cosmetology State Board practice questions and study chapters →

What's included — and what isn't

Included

Every figure pooled by value — the exam's own confusable sets side by side, each inside the clause that makes it right
A RECALL twin of every REFERENCE sheet: same rules, same positions, figures blanked — print double-sided, cover, write, flip
A concept self-test for the rules with no figure to blank
Four routes through the same pages: 14 days, 7 days, 3 days, tonight
Every rule id links to the free chapter that teaches it

Not included

No printed copy is shipped — this is a file you download and can print yourself
No video course, instructor or tutoring comes with the book — the free videos on the site are separate
Not your exam registration or the testing centre's fee, which you still pay to the official body

Before you buy

How do I get it?: Pay, and the download appears on this page straight away. The links are also emailed to you. No account is required.
What if it isn't for me?: Email us within 14 days for a full refund, no questions asked.
Is the free practice going away?: No. Every practice question, the timed mock and the free chapters on this site stay free. This packet is the exam's figures arranged for recall, not a gate around the free half.
Can I read it on my phone?: Yes — it is a PDF, which opens on phones, tablets and computers and prints cleanly. There is no EPUB edition of this one.

Full refund policy

The details

Every figure the California Cosmetology State Board exam turns on, pooled by value on reference sheets with a recall twin — and four routes through them: 14 days, 7, 3, or tonight.

PrepPass team · Verified against NIC content outline / EPA / OSHA · How we review

Format: PDF download · 37 pages
484 free practice questions for this exam on PrepPass, included at no cost
$9.99 one-time — no subscription
14-day money-back guarantee · refund policy
Cross-referenced against: NIC content outline / EPA / OSHA
Last updated: September 2026

Verified from the official source(NIC content outline / EPA / OSHA)
484 free practice questions
Instant download, yours for life

What the cram packet is for

The practice questions and timed mock stay free. This $9.99 packet is not a shorter study guide: it drops the teaching and keeps the exam's figures, set out for the last days before the exam.

Reference pages of the exam's figures, each paired with a recall page that blanks them — print double-sided, cover, write, flip
Four routes through the same pages, by days left: 14, 7, 3, or tonight
Print-ready PDF — made to be printed and written on
Yours for life — one-time $9.99, instant download, no subscription

And it's risk-free: 14-day money-back guarantee — not satisfied? Email us for a full refund, no questions asked. See the refund policy.

Get the PDF — $9.99 ↑

14-day money-back guarantee · full refund, no questions asked.

One-time purchase, lifetime access to the download. The download is a single PDF. Educational summary, not professional or legal advice — always confirm the current rules with the official source. Last updated: September 2026.