Short answer: the Texas Cosmetology Operator written exam is a PSI test with 100 scored questions (plus 10 unscored), 120 minutes and a passing score of 70%. Each attempt costs $55. In fiscal year 2025, only 49% of 21,331 written attempts passed, compared with 89% of practical attempts.
This guide is based on PSI’s candidate information bulletins for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), dated January 1, 2026, and on TDLR’s own exam statistics. It covers the Cosmetology Operator, Manicurist, Esthetician and Class A Barber exams.
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Texas written exams at a glance
| License | Scored questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology Operator | 100 (+10 unscored) | 120 min (+10) |
| Class A Barber | 85 (+8 unscored) | 90 min (+10) |
| Esthetician | 75 (+7 unscored) | 105 min (+10) |
| Manicurist | 60 (+6 unscored) | 90 min (+10) |
- Passing score: 70% correct on every written exam. For Cosmetology Operator, that is 70 of the 100 scored questions.
- Fees: $55 for the written exam and $76 for the practical exam, paid to PSI for each attempt. Fees are not refundable, and an unused fee is forfeited after one year.
- Closed book: no notes or reference materials. You may bring a bound word-to-word translation dictionary with no pictures or definitions.
- Languages: TDLR lists exam bulletins in English, Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese for Cosmetology Operator and Class A Barber; English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean for Esthetician; and English, Spanish and Vietnamese for Manicurist. PSI states that these language versions cost nothing extra. Choose your language when you schedule.
What the Cosmetology Operator written exam covers
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Hair and scalp care | 40 |
| Infection control | 28 |
| Licensing and regulation | 20 |
| Nail care | 6 |
| Skin care | 6 |
Almost half of the exam, 48 of 100 questions, is infection control and Texas rules. Hands-on salon skill helps little here, and the gap between the written (49%) and practical (89%) pass rates shows where candidates struggle.
- Hair and scalp care (40): hair physiology, cleansing and conditioning products, haircutting, hairstyling, extensions and thermal styling, haircoloring (color theory, color and lightener types, application) and chemical texture services (relaxers, permanent waves and soft curl reformation).
- Infection control (28): cleaning and disinfecting implements, equipment and the work environment, exposure incidents, patch and strand tests, and diseases and disorders of the skin, nails, hair and scalp.
- Licensing and regulation (20): health and safety and the practitioner’s responsibilities under Texas law. PSI writes these questions from Texas Administrative Code Chapter 83 and Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603, both published on TDLR’s laws and rules page.
- Nail care (6) and skin care (6): manicures, pedicures, acrylic and tip enhancements, facials, massage, hair removal and eyelash extensions.
PSI lists the books it writes questions from: Milady Standard Cosmetology (14th edition, 2023), Milady Standard Foundations (1st edition, 2020) and Pivot Point Fundamentals: Cosmetology (2nd edition, December 2023).
Free practice for each topic
- Safety and infection control: 20 questions with explanations.
- Haircoloring and hairstyling.
- Consultation and hair, skin and nail analysis, which includes scalp and nail disorders.
- Skin care and a mixed review.
- A full 110-question practice exam. That is the same length as the Texas exam with its 10 unscored questions, so try it in 130 minutes.
These questions cover general cosmetology theory. They do not test Texas law, so study the 20 licensing and regulation questions from TDLR’s rules directly.
Manicurist, esthetician and barber written exams
Manicurist: 60 questions in 90 minutes
- Nail care: 25
- Infection control: 20
- Licensing and regulation: 12
- Nail structure and analysis: 3
Practice: nail technician exam prep and free nail technician quizzes by topic.
Esthetician: 75 questions in 105 minutes
- Facial treatments: 21
- Infection control: 19
- Licensing and regulation: 15
- Skin care: 12
- Hair removal: 8
Practice: esthetician exam prep and free esthetician quizzes by topic.
Class A Barber: 85 questions in 90 minutes
- Infection control: 25
- Shaving: 15
- Licensing and regulation: 13
- Haircutting and hairstyling: 12
- Haircoloring: 6
- Chemical texture services: 6
- Hair and scalp care: 4
- Nail and skin care: 4
Practice: barber exam prep and free barber quizzes by topic, including shaving.
Texas pass rates: the written exam is the hard part
| License | Written | Practical |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology Operator | 49.05% | 89.10% |
| Class A Barber | 37.25% | 89.80% |
| Esthetician | 65.75% | 98.17% |
| Manicurist | 68.07% | 82.46% |
For every license, far more attempts fail the written exam than the practical exam. Barber candidates pass the written exam least often: a little over one attempt in three. See the three-year trend and California’s numbers in our state board exam pass rates report.
The practical exam
PSI requires you to pass the written exam before you take the practical exam. Cosmetology Operator and Class A Barber candidates also need all 1,000 training hours. Every practical exam needs 70% of the points to pass.
- Cosmetology Operator: 3 hours 31 minutes; 84 of 119 points to pass. Sections: setup and disinfection, monomer and polymer over a tip, blood exposure incident, facial, simulated soft wax on one eyebrow, haircut with razor and shears, permanent wave, blow drying and thermal curling, foil highlights, hydroxide virgin relaxer, relaxer retouch, and final disinfection.
- Class A Barber: 3 hours 29 minutes; 115 of 163 points.
- Esthetician: 1 hour 41 minutes; 54 of 76 points.
- Manicurist: 1 hour 21 minutes; 36 of 51 points.
Eligibility, scheduling and retakes
- When you can test: Cosmetology Operator and Class A Barber students can take the written exam after 900 of their 1,000 required hours; the school notifies TDLR. Manicurist training is 600 hours and Esthetician training is 750 hours.
- Scheduling: after TDLR confirms your eligibility, PSI emails you instructions. PSI’s bulletins describe both test-center and remote online-proctored appointments. Remote exams allow no breaks.
- Retakes: eligibility lasts 5 years, with unlimited attempts and a new fee each time. After a failed attempt, wait 24 hours before you schedule again.
- Use your score report: if you fail, PSI’s emailed score report includes diagnostic information. Study the weak topics before you book the next attempt.
- Apply early: you can apply for your license any time after TDLR confirms your written-exam eligibility. Manicurist and Esthetician applicants who apply before the written exam can get a temporary license printed once they pass both exams.
For training hours, age, application fees and continuing education, see the Texas cosmetology license requirements. Spanish speakers can read our guides to the Texas cosmetology license and the Texas manicurist license in Spanish.
A four-week plan for the written exam
- Week 1, Texas rules: read the sanitation and practice sections of TDLR’s rules. The rules drive 20 Operator questions, plus 12 to 15 on the other exams.
- Week 2, infection control: disinfection steps, exposure incidents, and the skin, nail and scalp disorders that decide whether a service is safe. Repeat the infection control quiz until you score 85% or higher.
- Week 3, hair and chemical services: haircolor and chemical texture questions are usually the most technical part of the 40 hair questions. Read every explanation, including those for questions you got right.
- Week 4, timed practice: take the 110-question practice exam in 130 minutes, review every miss, then repeat with a fresh set.
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Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Texas cosmetology state board exam?
The written Cosmetology Operator exam has 110 questions: 100 scored and 10 unscored. You get 130 minutes in total.
What score do you need to pass the Texas cosmetology exam?
70%, which means 70 of the 100 scored questions on the written exam and 84 of 119 points on the practical exam.
Can I take the Texas cosmetology exam in Spanish?
Yes. The Cosmetology Operator exam is also offered in Spanish, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese at no extra cost. Choose the language when you schedule.
How many times can I retake the Texas cosmetology written exam?
As many times as you need during your 5-year eligibility. Each attempt costs $55, and you must wait 24 hours after a failed attempt before you schedule again.
Is the Texas cosmetology exam the same as the national NIC exam?
No. Texas candidates take PSI exams written for TDLR, with their own content outlines, and 20% of the Operator exam covers Texas law.
Sources
- PSI candidate information bulletins for TDLR, January 1, 2026: Cosmetology Operator, Manicurist, Esthetician and Barber.
- TDLR: Exam information for barbers and cosmetologists and Apply for a Cosmetology Operator license.
- TDLR exam statistics, fiscal year 2025 (linked above).
Checked October 30, 2026. PSI updates its bulletins; confirm the details in your own bulletin before you test.
