Guides / Esthetician state board written exam: what to know

How long is the esthetician written exam?

Esthetician exam length varies by state, with details on question counts, early arrival, and time spent on computer tutorials.

Updated October 18, 2026

How long is the esthetician written exam?

For California’s Esthetician license, the written state board exam lasts 90 minutes. You receive 85 questions, including 75 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.

For Texas’s Esthetician license, the written state board exam allows 115 minutes. That includes 105 minutes for scored questions and 10 minutes for unscored questions. There are 82 questions: 75 scored and 7 unscored.

For Georgia’s Esthetician license, the written state board exam gives you 90 minutes. Its questions include 75 that count toward your score and 10 unscored experimental questions.

For Michigan’s Esthetician license, you have 90 minutes for the written state board exam. The guide lists 75 scored questions plus 10 experimental questions without scores.

Do unscored questions use time?

California’s experimental questions do not affect your score. However, answering them uses exam time.

Practice answering skin analysis, facial treatment, and infection control questions with a timer. Work through unfamiliar questions rather than trying to identify unscored items.

When should you arrive?

California requires arrival at least 30 minutes before your appointment. This gives you time for check-in and ID verification.

Georgia recommends arriving at least 30 minutes before testing starts. You need 2 forms of ID at check-in.

Michigan recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early. That time allows sign-in, ID verification, and seating.

Does the tutorial use exam time?

California provides a computer tutorial lasting up to 15 minutes. Those minutes are separate from your exam time.

Georgia’s tutorial also takes up to 15 minutes. Watching it does not reduce your testing time.

Practice selecting answers and returning to questions on a computer. Use esthetician topics so you rehearse content and screen skills together.

The numbers on this page are read from each state's own candidate bulletin and were checked on 2026-10-18.

Common questions

How many questions are on the esthetician exam in Texas?
For Texas’s Esthetician license, the written state board exam allows 115 minutes. That includes 105 minutes for scored questions and 10 minutes for unscored questions. There are 82 questions: 75 scored and 7 unscored.
When should I arrive for my esthetician exam in California?
California requires arrival at least 30 minutes before your appointment. This gives you time for check-in and ID verification.
How long is the computer tutorial before the esthetician exam?
California provides a computer tutorial lasting up to 15 minutes. Those minutes are separate from your exam time. Georgia’s tutorial also takes up to 15 minutes. Watching it does not reduce your testing time.