How to Schedule the Cosmetology Written Exam: Board Approval, Vendors, and Fees

The usual order: school, board approval, vendor, booking

No two states use exactly the same paperwork, but almost every bulletin checked for this guide follows the same order. NIC itself does not register candidates. Its exams are given by testing vendors and state boards, and the board decides who is eligible.

1. Finish, or nearly finish, your hours. Some states let you test early. Pennsylvania, for example, lets cosmetology candidates take the exam after 900 hours.
2. Apply to your state board. This is usually where the board's application fee is paid and your school confirms your training. In Georgia, since February 3, 2026, the school or educator uploads your eligibility before you apply online with PSI. In Michigan, you apply with the state first and then use PSI's online application. In Pennsylvania, you apply through the state's PALS system.
3. Wait for the eligibility notice. The board approves you, and the vendor emails instructions. In California, a PSI handbook is sent once the Board approves your exam application. In Texas, an email arrives after the state agency approves your eligibility. In Pennsylvania, Pearson VUE sends an approval to test.
4. Book and pay with the vendor. Most vendors take bookings online, and some by phone. You choose a test site, date, and time, or a remote session where one is offered.
5. Keep the confirmation. Wisconsin's vendor, for instance, emails a confirmation with your admission letter when you schedule, and you must bring the letter printed.

Paper applications are fading out. PSI stopped processing Georgia applications by mail, fax, or email from January 16, 2026, and Michigan moved to a new online application on January 30, 2026. Your board's page tells you which vendor to use. If you are not sure which exam that vendor gives in your state, the state-by-state guide shows how to check.

Cosmetology written exam fees by state, as checked on October 28, 2026

Each fee below is the one printed in that state's current document. They are not added together into a "typical" cost, because boards also charge application and license fees that differ widely. None of these documents announced a fee change for 2027, but recheck the amount when you book.

Most of these bulletins say exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Treat the fee as spent once you book.

How long a cosmetology exam fee or eligibility stays valid

Booking late can cost money even if you never miss an appointment. The windows below come from the same documents.

The retake guide explains what these windows mean if you need a second attempt.

Fee windows and study windows go together. Before you pay, decide how long you need to prepare, and compare the 30-, 90-, and 180-day access periods planned for full cosmetology prep against the time between booking and your exam date. Checkout for that prep is not open yet.

Reschedule and cancellation deadlines

Missing a deadline usually means losing the fee, and sometimes reapplying to the board as well. In California, missing your appointment or arriving late means a new re-examination application and fee to the Board.

A worked example shows how the rules play out. Say a fictional candidate is booked for Friday, March 5, 2027. Under the 2-day rules in California, Rhode Island, and Texas, the last day to change it is Wednesday, March 3. Under Maine's 3-day rule for a theory exam, it is Tuesday, March 2. Several PSI bulletins add that a voicemail does not count as a cancellation, so use the website or speak to a representative. If you keep the date, Cram, planned for full cosmetology prep, lays out the last few days before your exam.

Can you take the cosmetology written exam online?

It depends on the state and vendor:

• Texas: PSI offers the written exam at a test center or with a remote proctor. Breaks are not allowed during remotely proctored exams, and not starting within 15 minutes of your booked time forfeits the fee.
• Maine: Written exams may be taken remotely or at a Prov testing center, and practical exams are taken remotely. Tablets and iPads are not supported. Not having the proper equipment means rescheduling and paying again.
• Michigan: PSI's guide describes scheduling at a testing site or with an online proctor.
• California: The Board says candidates schedule the written exam at a PSI location of their choice.
• Pennsylvania: The exam is given at Pearson VUE computer-based testing centers.
• Georgia: PSI's guide lists test centers for the theory exam.

If remote testing is offered, run the vendor's system check well before the day.

Three checks before you pay for the exam

1. Your name matches your ID exactly. California's PSI bulletin requires the ID name to match the Board's record "IDENTICALLY letter for letter," middle name included. Texas asks that your PSI account name match your government ID exactly.
2. You booked the right exam and language. Some vendors list the theory and practical exams, or several languages, side by side.
3. Any accommodation request is filed through the bulletin's process. PSI's Texas and Michigan bulletins each point to a request form. Michigan's guide also lists options such as time and one-half or an English reader for the theory exam, each with a $50 fee.

The exam day guide covers what to bring and what ends a session early. If your state is California, the California exam guide covers its rules in more detail. And if you want a full rehearsal before you pay the fee, see what full cosmetology prep will include at launch, from domain practice to a timed mock exam.