[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-319582-105":59,"doc-detail-319582-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","psi-exam-update-notification-of-update-to-examinations","PSI Exam Update - Notification of Update to Examinations","","Notification from the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to approved school owners and administrators describing an update to national theory examinations for Cosmetology, Esthetician, Nail Technician/Manicurist, and Electrologist effective April 1, 2026. The update is based on PSI’s completed Validation Study and includes revised content outlines, new items, and a comparison versus the 2020 outlines. Schools are encouraged to adjust training plans accordingly and review enclosed information.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/psi-exam-update-notification-of-update-to-examinations/319582/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/psi-exam-update-notification-of-update-to-examinations/319582.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Aria Callaghan","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-06","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",21,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"When do the updated national examinations take effect?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"The updated examinations implemented on April 1, 2026.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"Which examinations are included in the update notice?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Cosmetology, Esthetician, Nail Technician/Manicurist, and Electrologist examinations are covered, along with national Barber/Cosmetology theory content outlines.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What is the basis for updating the examination content outlines?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"PSI completed a new Validation Study, and its results were used to update content outlines, develop new items, review the entire item bank, and set new standards.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},319582,1790475915,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":46,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":31,"preview_page_count":4},962084926284,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0","BUSINESS, CONSUMER SERVICES, AND HOUSING AGENCY ● GAVIN NEWSOM, GOVERNOR  \nDEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ● BOARD OF BARBERING AND COSMETOLOGY  \nP.O. Box 944226, Sacramento, CA 94244-2260  \nPhone: (800) 952-5210 Email: [barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov](barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov)  \n[Website:](Website: www.barbercosmo.ca.gov)[ ](Website: www.barbercosmo.ca.gov)[www.barbercosmo.ca.gov](Website: www.barbercosmo.ca.gov)  \n| DATE | November 21, 2025 |\n| --- | --- |\n| TO | Board Approved School Owners and Administrators |\n| FROM | The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology |\n| SUBJECT | Notification of Update to Examinations |\n\nExaminations Update  \nThe Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Board) is reaching out to inform you of an update to the national examinations for Cosmetology, Esthetician, Nail Technician/Manicurist, and Electrologist examinations that will be implemented on April 1, 2026. It is crucial that you, your staff, and instructors review the below and enclosed information.  \nThe Board’s examination vendor, PSI, has completed a new Validation Study, the results of this study served as a basis for updating the content outlines, developing new items, reviewing the entire item bank, and establishing new standards to ensure relevance to the Barber and Cosmetology examinations nationwide.  \nIn accordance with the memo, below you will find the updated outlines along with a comparison to the 2020 outlines. Schools are encouraged to review these outlines and make any necessary adjustments to your training plans.  \nAgain, these changes to the exam will not go into effect until April 1, 2026.  \nPlease contact Board’s School’s Desk with [any questions at](any questions at BBCSchools@dca.ca.gov)[ ](any questions at BBCSchools@dca.ca.gov)[BBCSchools@dca.ca.gov](any questions at BBCSchools@dca.ca.gov).  \nNational Barber/Cosmetology Theory Content Outline Comparisons  \n\n| National Barber Theory Examination | % Comparison |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Topic Area | 2020 | 2025 |\n| Safety and Infection Control | 29% | 31% |\n| Client Consultation and Hair and Skin Analysis\u003Cbr>(Hair, Scalp, and Skin Analysis) * | 13% | 15% |\n| Hairstyling | 5% | 5% |\n| Haircutting | 9% | 8% |\n| Haircoloring (previously included in Chemical Services) | 0% | 7% |\n| Chemical Texture Services (Chemical Services) * | 18% | 7% |\n| Skin Care | 2% | 5% |\n| Shaving | 24% | 22% |\n\n*Current topic area name is shown in parentheses if changed in the new examination.  \n\n| National Cosmetologist Theory Examination | % Comparison |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Topic Area | 2020 | 2025 |\n| Safety and Infection Control | 25% | 30% |\n| Client Consultation and Hair, Skin, and Nail Analysis\u003Cbr>(Hair, Scalp, Skin, and Nail Analysis) * | 17% | 19% |\n| Hairstyling | 6% | 2% |\n| Haircutting | 12% | 3% |\n| Haircoloring (previously included in Chemical Services) | 0% | 10% |\n| Chemical Texture Services (Chemical Services) * | 15% | 12% |\n| Skin Care | 6% | 4% |\n| Eyelash and Eyebrow | 0% | 4% |\n| Hair Removal | 4% | 8% |\n| Nail Care (Nails) * | 13% | 8% |\n\n*Current topic area name is shown in parentheses if changed in the new examination.  \n\n| National Esthetician Theory Examination | % Comparison |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Topic Area | 2020 | 2025 |\n| Safety and Infection Control | 34% | 40% |\n| Client Consultation and Skin Analysis | 17% | 19% |\n| Skin Care | 27% | 17% |\n| Makeup | 4% | 3% |\n| Eyelash and Eyebrow | 0% | 6% |\n| Hair Removal | 13% | 15% |\n\n*Current topic area name is shown in parentheses if changed in the new examination.  \n\n| National Nail Technician/Manicurist Theory Examination | % Comparison |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Topic Area | 2020 | 2025 |\n| Safety and Infection Control | 38% | 50% |\n| Client Consultation and Nail Analysis | 13% | 18% |\n| Skin Care | 0% | 10% |\n| Nail Care (Nails) * | 49% | 22% |\n\n*Current topic area name is shown in parentheses if changed in the new examination.  \n\n| National Electrologist Theory Examination | % Comparison |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Topic Area ","cbCaioSJKkPg2UbT","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaioSJKkPg2UbT","pdf",416869,"English","# Examinations Update\n## Effective date and scope of updated national theory examinations\n## Basis for the update (PSI Validation Study)\n## Updated outlines and comparison to 2020\n## National theory content outline comparisons\n## Appendix A: 2025 content outlines (Barber/Cosmetology theory)\n## General portion structure (questions and time)","[{\"question\":\"When do the updated national examinations take effect?\",\"answer\":\"The updated examinations implemented on April 1, 2026.\"},{\"question\":\"Which examinations are included in the update notice?\",\"answer\":\"Cosmetology, Esthetician, Nail Technician/Manicurist, and Electrologist examinations are covered, along with national Barber/Cosmetology theory content outlines.\"},{\"question\":\"What is the basis for updating the examination content outlines?\",\"answer\":\"PSI completed a new Validation Study, and its results were used to update content outlines, develop new items, review the entire item bank, and set new standards.\"}]","PSI Exam Update - Notification of Update to Examinations | PDF",1789945422]