First, check which languages your exam is offered in
This varies by state and by exam, and it is the single most useful thing to find out before you start studying.
- Texas: the cosmetology operator and Class A barber written exams are offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Simplified Chinese.
- Illinois: since 1 October 2026, the barber, cosmetology, esthetics and nail technician exams have been offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. We cover what that changes in Illinois now tests in five languages.
- Every other state: your candidate information bulletin lists the languages your exam is offered in. Our state guides show what we have checked for each state.
If you trained or were licensed in another country
Whether training or a license from another country counts toward your state's requirements is your state board's decision, and the rules differ a lot from state to state. Ask the board before you book anything. If you are told you need to sit the written exam, it is the step where a language barrier costs the most, so check your language options as soon as you know.
How to study when the textbook is in English
- Learn the exam's vocabulary on purpose. Many wrong answers come from terms that look or sound alike, and scientific terms are the hardest of all. Make your own two-column list: the English term and what it means in your language. Our free terminology drill covers 862 terms the written exams use, filterable by exam, with no account needed.
- Study the explanations in your language, then answer in the exam's language. Understanding why an answer is right matters more than the wording of the question. Once you understand it, practise reading the question the way it will appear on your exam.
- Practise under time pressure in the language you will test in. Reading speed is part of the test. Sit at least one full-length practice test in that language, timed, before exam day.
- Judge your readiness on tests you have not seen before. Practice scores rise just from seeing the same questions again. We explain why in Getting 90s on practice tests and still failing the written exam?
How our tutor works in your language
Every NICPrep and BTYGOAT product includes an Interactive Tutor. Tap Hint or Explain on any question and it explains the question and its answer in your chosen language. It works in 19 languages: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Albanian, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Nepali, Swahili, Tibetan, Turkish and Ukrainian.
Some of our products also come in full Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian or Chinese editions, depending on the exam and the state.
Study in your language
Start with the free terminology drill, then see the prep available in your language: Español · Tiếng Việt · 한국어 · 中文 · Русский
Open the free terminology drill →Sources: PSI candidate information bulletins 703 (Texas cosmetology operator) and 701 (Texas Class A barber), via TDLR, checked September 2026 · Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, exam languages effective 1 October 2026, as covered in our Illinois post.