PrepTempo

The esthetician exam, state by state

Esthetician licensing isn't one national exam — it varies by state. Most states use the NIC national theory exam, but 21run their own state-specific test (including California, New York, Texas, Florida, and other large states), and a few require no written exam at all. Here's where each state stands, from its official board.

28

use the NIC exam

21

state-specific exam

2

no written exam

51 states shown

StateWritten examVendorHours
AlabamaState-specific examPSI1,000
AlaskaNIC national examProv350
ArizonaNIC national examPCS600
ArkansasNIC national examProv600
CaliforniaState-specific examPSI600
ColoradoState-specific examPSI600
ConnecticutNo written examNo exam600
DelawareNIC national examPrometric600
District of ColumbiaExam basis unconfirmedPCS600
FloridaNo written examNo exam220
GeorgiaState-specific examPSI1,000
HawaiiNIC national examPrometric600
IdahoNIC national examProv600
IllinoisNIC national examContinental (CTS)750
IndianaState-specific examPSI700
IowaNIC national examProv600
KansasState-specific examErgometrics/NTN1000
KentuckyState-specific examPSI750
LouisianaNIC national examState-run750
MaineNIC national examDL Roope600
MarylandState-specific examPSI600
MassachusettsState-specific examPSI300
MichiganState-specific examPSI400
MinnesotaState-specific examPSI600
MississippiNIC national examPrometric600
MissouriNIC national examProv750
MontanaNIC national examProv650
NebraskaNIC national examPSI600
NevadaState-specific examPearson VUE600
New HampshireNIC national examProv600
New JerseyState-specific examPrometric600
New MexicoNIC national examPrometric600
New YorkState-specific examState-run600
North CarolinaNIC national examDL Roope600
North DakotaNIC national examProv600
OhioState-specific examState-run600
OklahomaNIC national examProv600
OregonState-specific examState-run484
PennsylvaniaState-specific examPearson VUE300
Rhode IslandExam basis unconfirmedPSI600
South CarolinaNIC national examProv450
South DakotaNIC national examProv600
TennesseeState-specific examPSI750
TexasState-specific examPSI750
UtahNIC national examProv600
VermontNIC national examPCS500
VirginiaNIC national examPCS600
WashingtonNIC national examPrometric750
West VirginiaNIC national examDL Roope600
WisconsinNIC national examDL Roope450
WyomingNIC national examProv600

How our course fits your state

PrepTempo's Esthetician course is built on the NIC national theory core— infection control, skin sciences, skin analysis, and treatments. That core is the whole exam in NIC states and the large majority of the material in state-specific ones, so it's solid preparation almost everywhere. Where a state adds its own law-and-rules section, study that from your state board on top of the core.

Start the Esthetician course →

Requirements change and vary by license type and path (school vs. apprenticeship, base vs. master esthetician). Always confirm the current rules with your own state board before scheduling — each state page links its official sources. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state board, the NIC, or any exam vendor.