Exam Information

Exam Eligibility

Upon TDLR approval of eligibility, PSI will send you an email confirmation with instructions for scheduling an appointment to take the written and practical examinations. If an email address was not provided to TDLR at the time of application, you will receive a postcard from PSI with scheduling information.

You may also check your eligibility status online.

Locations

Written examinations are offered in Abilene, Amarillo, Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Lubbock, McAllen, Midland, San Antonio, Tyler and Waco.

Practical examinations are offered in Austin, San Antonio, the DFW Metroplex, the Greater Houston area, McAllen, El Paso, Midland and Amarillo.

Scheduling an Exam

If you are eligible for examination, then you can visit the PSI website at or contact PSI by phone at (800) 733-9267 to schedule your exam date.

Please see the Candidate Information Bulletin for detailed information on scheduling your exam.

Requests for Special Accommodations

Every reasonable accommodation will be made in meeting a candidate’s needs. Applicants with disabilities or those who would otherwise have difficulty taking the exam should make a request for alternative arrangements with PSI. Details for requesting special accommodations can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin.

Candidate Information Bulletin

Please read the candidate information bulletin completely and thoroughly before you attempt to take the exam.

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If you will be taking the exam after August 31, 2019, please see the updated candidate information bulletins listed below.

English	En español	Tieng Viet
Operator	Operador	CHUYÊN VIÊN NGHÀNH THẨM MỸ
Esthetician	Esteticista	CHUYÊN GIA CHĂM SÓC DA MẶT
Manicurist	Manicurista	CHUYÊN VIÊN VỀ MÓNG
Esthetician/Manicurist	Esteticista/Manicurista	Chuyên Gia Chăm Sóc Trị Liệu Da Mặt / Chuyên Viên Về Móng
Hair Weaving	Tejador de Pelo	Chuyên Viên Đan/Dệt Tóc
Wig	Peluca	Chuyên Viên Tóc Giả
Eyelash Extension	Extensión de Pestaña	Kết Nối Lông Mi
Instructor (all types)	Instructor	GIÁO VIÊN NGHÀNH THẨM MỸ
Lesson Plan Form	Forma de Plan de estudio	Mẫu Kế Hoạch Bài Học

If you have any questions about the exam, or if there are any parts of the Candidate Information Bulletin that you don’t understand, please contact PSI at (800) 733-9267.

Updated Practical Exam, Effective September 1, 2019

Effective September 1, 2019, Texas cosmetology practical exams will be revised as part of our ongoing improvement to the examination process. Please see the updated Candidate Information Bulletins provided below for more information:

Fee Schedule

The examination cost can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin for your specific exam type.

Exam Requirements

Depending on the type of exam you are taking, you may be required to bring certain supplies and equipment, a live model, mannequin, or other materials. Please consult the Candidate Information Bulletin for complete details on what you will need to bring.

If you will be taking a practical examination, you must wear closed-toe shoes. If you do not appear in the appropriate attire, you will not be admitted to the examination site and you will forfeit your examination fee.

Models used in an examination are required to be at least 16 years of age. The department may require parental approval for models under 18 years of age.

Requirements for Identification

You must provide a valid government-issued ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport), which includes your signature, photograph, and date of birth.

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Your identification must match EXACTLY with the information TDLR has on file.
If your name or address has changed, you must notify TDLR in writing. We will not allow anyone other than the person listed in our database to test with PSI.

A list of acceptable forms of identification can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin. A public high school ID is a government ID and will be accepted if the ID bears your signature, photograph, and date of birth.

Study Materials

The Candidate Information Bulletin will include the number of questions on your specific exam, the time allotted to complete the exam, and a list of reference materials.

Temporary Licenses

Cosmetology students who pass the practical examination may now receive a temporary license at the PSI testing site. To obtain your temporary license you must follow these steps:

Apply for Your Temporary License
You must apply for a temporary license and pay all fees AFTER you are eligible to sit for the written examination, but BEFORE you take the exam
Meet the Requirements for Licensure
You must meet all the requirements to obtain a license BEFORE TDLR sends your practical examination eligibility record to PSI
Pass the Practical Exam
After passing the exam, you may immediately begin work that day. The temporary license is good for 21 days while TDLR sends the two-year license in the mail.

Cancellations, Late Arrivals, and Missed Exams

Details regarding PSI’s cancellation policy can be found in the Candidate Information Bulletin.

If you miss your exam date, or if you arrive late, you will not be able to take the scheduled examination and your examination fee will be forfeited.

Test Results

Your grade will be handed to you at the test center by the PSI proctor after you have completed the test. PSI generates a score report which provides a diagnostic of the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.

A score of 70% or better is required to pass the exam. You may retake each exam as many times as needed until you successfully pass the examination, however you may be responsible for paying additional examination fees with each attempt.