All four Colorado beauty licenses in one place. Colorado uses PSI's own National exams, not NIC, with a notable twist: 70% to pass the written exam, 75% to pass the practical. Training hours can be clock hours or credit hours. No apprenticeship for any license type. CE-free. Cosmetology Licensure Compact member since June 2024.
Colorado uses PSI's own National exams, not NIC. Verified from the PSI bulletins: Cosmetology 100 scored + 10, 120 min — Safety and Infection Control 30%, Client Consultation and Analysis 19%, Chemical Texture 12%, Haircoloring 10%, Hair Removal 8%, Nail Care 8%, Skin Care 4%, Eyelash and Eyebrow 4%, Haircutting 3%, Hairstyling 2%. Esthetics 75 + 10, 90 min. Nails 60 + 5, 90 min. Barber 85 + 10 on the shared national form — Safety 31%, Shaving 22%, Consultation 15%, Haircutting 8%, Haircoloring 7%, Chemical Texture 7%, Skin Care 5%, Hairstyling 5%. Pass mark 70%.
⚠️ Colorado runs the practical BEFORE the theory. The practical must be passed before theory can be scheduled — the reverse of every other state in this research, and the thing most likely to catch a candidate out.
Our practice tests are built to the NIC blueprint, which is not this one: NIC cosmetology is four domains in 90 minutes, the PSI National form is ten domains in 120, and not a single domain label is shared. They cover the underlying science; this exam's weighting differs. Worth knowing before you buy.
Verify: Colorado DPO Barber and Cosmetology at dpo.colorado.gov/BarberCosmetology, or PSI at psiexams.com.
Colorado's written examination is administered in English. A word-for-word dictionary is permitted; an interpreter is not. If you are studying in Spanish, you will still sit the paper in English — plan for that.
Prep for this state
Practice Test + Flashcards
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Practice Test + Flashcards
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
No bank — here is what we know
Colorado barbers sit the shared national barber form — 85 items plus 10 pretest, weighted Safety 31%, Shaving 22%, Consultation 15%, Haircutting 8%, Haircoloring 7%.
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10 questions from the NIC cosmetology bank and 10 terminology cards from the decks — the same items, the same rationales, the same study modes you get after checkout. Colorado tests on the PSI National exam. These questions cover the underlying science it draws on; the blueprint differs. No email, no signup.
Colorado · Cosmetologist
Colorado's broadest beauty license: 1,800 clock hours (or 60 credit hours) at a state-approved school. PSI National exams — 70% on the written, 75% on the practical. School training only. If no background screening issues: receive license immediately at the PSI testing site. Renewal: April 30 biennially.
Colorado uses PSI National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI Services. NICPrep’s PSI National bank is built to this form — the one California, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland and Michigan share character-for-character in cosmetology, esthetics and nails. Note the split passing thresholds: 70% for the written exam, 75% for the practical exam. Both must be passed.
Colorado requires at least 70% to pass the written (theory) examination and at least 75% to pass the practical examination. These are different thresholds than most states, which use a single score for both components. A 30-day waiting period is required between retake attempts on any failed component.
Colorado's Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure, administers all beauty licensing. Apply for initial licensure through PSI's system. Endorsement, reinstatement, and renewals go through DORA Online Services (apps2.colorado.gov/dora/licensing). No paper applications accepted for endorsement or reinstatement.
Hair services (cutting, styling, chemical texture, color), skin care services (facials, makeup, waxing, lash services), and manicuring services (manicures, pedicures, artificial nails). Advanced services require additional certification: microdermabrasion (14 additional clock hours) and chemical peels/resurfacing exfoliation (24 additional clock hours) — available only to licensed cosmetologists or estheticians.
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Verify school approval at dpo.colorado.gov. Programs typically run 12–18 months. Colorado's credit-hour alternative may allow faster completion at some institutions.
Go to psiexams.com and apply for your Colorado cosmetology license by examination. Out-of-state training: submit completion records and transcript confirming hours meet or exceed Colorado's requirements.
Schedule at PSI centers statewide. Attend practical with your own mannequin and supplies per the PSI Colorado CIB. 30-day wait between failed retake attempts. Unlimited retakes. Exam fee valid 1 year.
If no background screening issues and no prior Colorado cosmetology work: receive license and photo ID card immediately at PSI site after passing. Otherwise, DORA reviews and mails. Renewal April 30 biennially through DORA Online Services.
Colorado joined the Cosmetology Licensure Compact on June 4, 2024 (HB24-1111) — Colorado's enactment triggered the compact's activation. Once fully operational, Colorado cosmetologists with multistate licenses can practice in all compact member states (currently AL, AZ, CO, KS, KY, MD, OH, TN, VA, WA) without additional licensure.
Cosmetologist licenses expire April 30 biennially (issuance-date based) · $40 renewal · CE-free · 60-day grace period after expiration · $55 reinstatement fee after grace period · Renew through DORA Online Services.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.
Colorado · Esthetics
600 clock hours (or 20 credit hours) at a state-approved school. PSI National exams — 70% written, 75% practical. School training only. Advanced certifications available for microdermabrasion (14 hrs additional) and chemical peels (24 hrs additional). Renewal: March 31 of even-numbered years.
Colorado uses the PSI National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI. NICPrep’s PSI National bank is built to this form — the same one seven states share character-for-character in cosmetology, esthetics and nails. Written: 70% passing. Practical: 75% passing.
Colorado requires additional training for certain advanced services — available only to licensed estheticians or cosmetologists:
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
Verify school approval at dpo.colorado.gov. Programs typically run 5–8 months full-time.
Apply at psiexams.com for Colorado esthetics by examination.
30-day waiting period between failed retake attempts. Unlimited retakes. Exam fee valid 1 year.
Immediately at PSI if no screening issues; otherwise DORA mails it. Renewal March 31 even years. CE-free.
Colorado · Hairstylist & Barber
Colorado offers a dedicated Hairstylist license at 1,500 clock hours (50 credit hours) — focused on hair services only, without the full esthetics and nail scope of a cosmetologist license. Barber licensing is also available through the same DORA office. PSI National exams — 70% written, 75% practical. School training only.
Colorado uses PSI's own National examinations, not NIC, for hairstylist and barber licensing. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — a different blueprint, so it covers the underlying science; this exam's outline differs. Written: 70%. Practical: 75%.
A Hairstylist license (1,500 hrs / 50 cr) covers hair cutting, styling, chemical texture, and color services — not esthetics or nail services. A full Cosmetologist license (1,800 hrs / 60 cr) adds skin care and nail services. A licensed cosmetologist may also hold a hairstylist license. A hairstylist wanting to add esthetics or nail services needs the additional appropriate license.
Barbers are also licensed through DORA's Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure. The same PSI National exam structure and 70%/75% thresholds apply. Confirm current barber training hour requirements and specific program requirements at dpo.colorado.gov before enrolling.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
Verify school approval at dpo.colorado.gov. Programs typically run 10–14 months full-time.
Apply at psiexams.com for Colorado hairstylist by examination.
30-day wait between retakes. Unlimited retakes. Exam fee valid 1 year.
Immediately at PSI or by mail from DORA. Renewal March 31 even years. CE-free.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish.
Colorado · Nail Technician
PSI National exams — 70% written, 75% practical. School training only. School only. Confirm current training hour requirements at dpo.colorado.gov before enrolling — DORA periodically updates requirements. Renewal: March 31 of even-numbered years. CE-free.
Colorado uses the PSI National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI. NICPrep’s PSI National bank is built to this form — the same one seven states share character-for-character in cosmetology, esthetics and nails. Written: 70% passing. Practical: 75% passing.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
Clock hours or credit hours accepted. Verify school approval through DORA before enrolling.
Apply at psiexams.com. Pay exam fees. Both written and practical required.
30-day wait between failed retake attempts. Unlimited retakes. Exam fee valid 1 year.
Immediately at PSI or by DORA mail. Renewal March 31 even years. $40 renewal fee. CE-free.
🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.
Colorado uses PSI's own National exams, not NIC. 70% written, 75% practical. NICPrep's PSI National bank is built to this exam's own ten-domain outline.
2026 CIB changes, domain study tips, and new-modality launches — a few emails a month, no spam.