California Barber State Board Exam Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The California Barber written exam is the licensing examination for the California barber license. It is issued under the authority of the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) and administered by PSI Services LLC. The written exam has 85 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions and a 120-minute time allowance (BBC and PSI bulletin). The BBC no longer requires a practical exam, so passing the written exam is the examination step. This portal's practice mock has 85 questions.

A California barber license is required by state law to practice barbering for pay, and the BBC states that applicants only need to pass the written exam. Passing the exam is a required step before the BBC issues the license.

Barber students and graduates preparing for the California written exam and candidates retaking it. Education and application requirements are set by the BBC; check them before you apply.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

The BBC and PSI set the retake rules and fees; check the PSI candidate handbook and the BBC for the current rules before you reschedule.

Passing standard: No official passing standard is quoted here; published exam results data mention 70%, but confirm the current standard with the exam provider. The written exam has 85 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions and a 120-minute time allowance (BBC and PSI bulletin). The BBC no longer requires a practical exam, so passing the written exam is the examination step. This portal's practice mock has 85 questions. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

The written exam has 85 scored questions plus 10 unscored pretest questions and a 120-minute time allowance (BBC and PSI bulletin). The BBC no longer requires a practical exam, so passing the written exam is the examination step. This portal's practice mock has 85 questions. Format: 85 scored questions + 10 pretest questions · 120 minutes · written exam only (practical no longer required). Passing standard: No official passing standard is quoted here; published exam results data mention 70%, but confirm the current standard with the exam provider.

• Safety and Infection Control31%
• Client Consultation and Hair and Skin Analysis15%
• Hairstyling5%
• Haircutting8%
• Haircoloring7%
• Chemical Texture Services7%
• Skin Care5%
• Shaving22%

The content outline spreads questions across 8 areas: Safety and Infection Control (31.0%); Client Consultation and Hair and Skin Analysis (15.0%); Hairstyling (5.0%); Haircutting (8.0%); Haircoloring (7.0%); Chemical Texture Services (7.0%); Skin Care (5.0%); Shaving (22.0%).

The BBC sets the education, application and fee requirements for a barber licence and approves you to schedule the exam with PSI; confirm the current requirements with the BBC before you apply.

The exam fee is not quoted here; confirm the current amount with the exam provider before you register. Application, school and licence fees are set by the BBC.

After you are licensed, the BBC sets renewal and any continuing requirements; check the BBC for the current rules.

Start with the heaviest areas of the content outline: Safety and Infection Control (31.0%); Shaving (22.0%); Client Consultation and Hair and Skin Analysis (15.0%). Then work through the remaining areas, practise jurisdiction-specific rules separately from the general content, and finish with timed full-length practice runs of 85 questions in 120 minutes.

Content outlines, fees and passing standards change; this guide follows the materials listed under Verification as of October 2026. Check the licensing authority and test administrator before you register.