Guides / Esthetician state board written exam: what to know
What score do you need to pass the esthetician state board exam?
Esthetician exam passing scores vary by state, with written and practical score details, time limits, and retake rules.
Updated October 18, 2026
What score do you need?
Keep your written passing score separate from your practical passing score. Check each against the esthetician bulletin you are using.
What else matters in Texas?
Texas gives 105 minutes for 75 scored questions. Another 10 minutes covers 7 questions that do not count toward your score.
In Texas, passing the written state board exam comes before taking the practical.
After a failed Texas attempt, wait 24 hours before scheduling again. A same-day retake is not allowed.
What score does Michigan require?
Michigan calls the license Esthetician. Its written state board exam requires 56 points out of 75, about 74.7%.
Michigan allows 90 minutes. Its written state board exam includes 75 scored questions and 10 unscored experimental questions.
Michigan's practical state board passing score is 37 points out of 48.
A failed Michigan written result includes an overall score and separate topic scores.
What score does Georgia require?
Georgia also requires at least 70% on the practical state board exam.
Georgia gives 90 minutes for the written state board exam. There are 75 scored questions and 10 unscored experimental questions.
What score does California require?
California calls the license Esthetician. Its written state board exam uses criterion-referenced scoring; the passing number is not printed.
California's failure notice shows the correct-answer count needed to pass. It also gives your score and a subject-area breakdown.
California allows 90 minutes for its esthetician written state board exam. It has 85 questions: 75 scored and 10 pretest.
Use your subject breakdown to choose practice questions on weaker topics. Practice explaining safety choices, skin analysis, and service precautions in plain words.
The numbers on this page are read from each state's own candidate bulletin and were checked on 2026-10-18.
Common questions
- How soon can you retake the esthetician exam in Texas?
- After a failed Texas attempt, wait 24 hours before scheduling again. A same-day retake is not allowed.
- How much time is allowed for Michigan's written esthetician exam?
- Michigan allows 90 minutes. Its written state board exam includes 75 scored questions and 10 unscored experimental questions.
- What does California's esthetician exam failure notice show?
- California's failure notice shows the correct-answer count needed to pass. It also gives your score and a subject-area breakdown.