Guides / Esthetician state board written exam: what to know
Esthetician written exam and practical exam: what is the difference?
Esthetician written and practical exams have state-specific times, fees, and passing scores to check before your state board exam.
Updated October 18, 2026
Does California have a practical?
California’s esthetician written state board exam allows 90 minutes. It includes 75 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.
What does Texas require?
For Texas estheticians, the written state board fee is $55. The practical fee is $76.
The Texas esthetician practical state board exam lasts 1 hour and 41 minutes.
What about Georgia?
Georgia’s esthetician practical state board exam takes approximately 85 minutes.
Georgia allows 90 minutes for the esthetician written state board exam. It has 75 scored questions and 10 experimental questions without scores.
Georgia’s esthetician written state board passing score is 70%. Its practical passing score is also 70%.
What about Michigan?
Michigan’s Esthetician license includes written and practical state board exams. Each costs $93 separately; the combined fee is $167.
Michigan’s esthetician practical state board exam takes approximately 85 minutes. Passing requires 37 points from 48 possible points.
Michigan allows 90 minutes for its esthetician written state board exam. It includes 75 scored questions and 10 experimental questions without scores.
Michigan’s esthetician written state board passing score is 56 points from 75 possible points.
How should you practice written questions?
Practice answering skin analysis, infection control, and facial service questions on screen. For missed answers, explain why your choice was wrong before trying again.
The numbers on this page are read from each state's own candidate bulletin and were checked on 2026-10-18.
Common questions
- How much do esthetician exams cost in Texas?
- For Texas estheticians, the written state board fee is $55. The practical fee is $76.
- What score do I need to pass the esthetician exams in Georgia?
- Georgia’s esthetician written state board passing score is 70%. Its practical passing score is also 70%.
- How long is the esthetician practical exam in Michigan?
- Michigan’s esthetician practical state board exam takes approximately 85 minutes. Passing requires 37 points from 48 possible points.