Georgia esthetician exam
State-specific examWhat it takes to get licensed as an esthetician in Georgia, from the state's official board and exam vendor.
- License
- Esthetician
- Training hours
- 1,000 school hours over minimum 9 months (or 2,000-hour apprenticeship over minimum 18 months)
- Written exam
- State-specific exam
- Exam vendor
- PSI
Exam details & notes
Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (Secretary of State) contracts PSI for both written and practical exams. Important recent change: Georgia transitioned from NIC examinations to the PSI National Barber/Cosmetology Testing Program effective August 11, 2025 (register via test-takers.psiexams.com/gacos) — many guides still describe the NIC exam. Passing score 70% on each exam. NIC-era format was ~100 scored questions/90 minutes written (theory ~$45-64 fees) and a 135-minute practical requiring a live model; post-transition PSI format details may differ and the board FAQ page blocked automated verification (403), hence medium confidence on format. No separately administered Georgia law exam reported.
Some details for Georgia were ambiguous on the official board site when we researched this (July 2026) — double-check the specifics with the board before you rely on them.
Preparing for the Georgia exam
PrepTempo's Esthetician course covers the NIC national theory core — infection control, skin sciences, skin analysis, and treatments. Georgia runs its own written exam, but it covers largely the same core science and safety material, so the course is strong preparation. Study your Georgia law-and-rules section from the board on top of the core.
Start the Esthetician course →Official sources
Educational information only, researched July 2026 — not legal or licensing advice. Requirements change; confirm with the Georgia board. PrepTempo is not affiliated with any state board, the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC), or any exam vendor, and they do not endorse this product.