State board exam guides · Checked November 1, 2026
Cosmetology & esthetics state board exams by state
Many states use NIC's national written exam, but the test company, fees, school hours and even the number of questions differ. Each guide below is checked against the state board's and the test company's own pages.
- North CarolinaNIC exams through Prov · 110 questions · 75% to pass
- VirginiaNIC exams through Prov · 120 questions · 75% to pass
- South CarolinaNIC exams through Prov · 110 questions · 75% to pass
- MissouriNIC exams through Prov · 110 questions · 75% to pass
- OklahomaNIC exams through Prov · 110 questions · 75% to pass
- ArizonaNIC exams through PCS · 110 questions · 75% to pass
States with a different written exam
California, Florida, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas give their own written exams, and Georgia has used PSI's own national exams since August 1, 2025 (PSI's Georgia guide). Slay the Board follows NIC's outlines: it covers much of the same science and services, but not those states' laws or exact topic mix.
Don't see your state? Your board's website or candidate bulletin names your written exam and the company that gives it.
Taking the esthetics exam?
NIC's esthetics outline changed in 2025. See what's on it now, and what's new since the 2020 outline.
The 2025 NIC esthetics exam