Are you a fresh graduate from cosmetology school? Planning to appear in the cosmetology exam in Florida? That’s great! You’re nearly ready to receive your cosmetology license.
But first, you’ll need to pass your Cosmetology Exams in Florida? And here, these exams are set by the Department of Business and Professional Services (DBPS).
Does this sound a little overwhelming? Well, don’t worry. On this page, you’ll find everything you need to know about scheduling, preparing, answers to all the most common questions, and a free practice test to check you’re prepared!
Congratulations: you’ve made it through cosmetology school (all 1200 hours!). This means that you’re SO close to your dream career in cosmetology!
The final step is to get your Florida cosmetology license. And that means passing your cosmetology exams.
If you’re like a lot of people we talk to, the process of scheduling and taking your exams is daunting, confusing, and worrying. Don’t worry: we’ll walk you through the process step by step. Starting with…
To be eligible to take the exams set by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, you must have:
If you meet these requirements, you can move on to the next step.
Before you can book your exams, you will need authorization from the Florida DBPR. An authorization notice is a document issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) that allows an applicant to schedule their cosmetology exams. It is a crucial step in the process of obtaining a cosmetology license in Florida.
Once you have completed your cosmetology education and submitted your license application, the DBPR will review it within 90 days. If your application is approved, you will receive an authorization notice that contains important information:
Once you receive your authorization notice, it’s time to schedule your exams. In Florida, you’ll need to take two separate exams, each costing $15.75, at Pearson VUE centers.
To find your nearest Pearson VUE location, click here. If you already know the best day for your exams, book early. You can schedule as far in advance as you like, but remember that availability can fill up quickly. It’s recommended to schedule at least 5 days ahead, as seats are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
To schedule your exams, either head to http://www.PearsonVUE.com to book online, or if you prefer, you can call to book by phone at 1-888-204-6289. But, whether you schedule your exams online or by phone, you will need a few things with you.
Firstly, you’ll need to show the center manager your authorization notice. Then, you will need to provide:
Once you have booked your exam, note the time and date so you don’t miss your slot!
To succeed in the Florida cosmetology exam, it’s essential to approach your preparation systematically and strategically. Here are some key tips to help you pass this important licensing exam:
Remember: The exam tests your theoretical knowledge, not your practical skills. Concentrate on understanding concepts rather than memorizing procedures.
Arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes before your exam. If you’re late, the test center manager will decide if you can still take the test. If not, you won’t be admitted, and you’ll lose your registration fee. You’ll need to pay again to reschedule.
In case of an emergency (like a car accident), you might keep your fee, but you’ll need proof. When you arrive, sign in with two valid IDs, one of which must be government-issued:
The following forms of ID are not accepted:
Lockers are available for storing personal belongings. After ID check and sign-in, a center manager will take your photo and escort you to your seat.
All exams are computer-based, and you will have 15 minutes for a tutorial on how the system works. Use this time to get comfortable with the setup. If you need help, the center manager will assist you. Then, you can start your exams!
The Florida State cosmetology exam has two parts:
| Type of Exam | Description |
| Written Theory Test | The theory test is a 2-hour examination consisting of 65 multiple-choice questions. All questions are weighted equally, and a list of the topics covered can be found here. |
| Written Clinical Test | The clinical test also lasts for 2 hours and consists of 65 multiple-choice questions. The topics covered can be found here. |
These tests cover topics on hair, skin, nails, and salon operations. To pass the cosmetology exam in Florida, candidates have a minimum score of 75% on both the written theory and clinical exams. Each exam consists of multiple-choice questions, and the passing score is consistent across both tests.
Many people choose to complete both exams on the same day, but it is possible to sit both exams separately if you prefer.
However, even if you choose to sit your exams on different days, you must complete them both within two years of each other. If you fail to complete both tests within 2 years, you will have to take both exams again.
After finishing your first exam, you’ll get an official report with your final score, showing if you passed or failed.
You have two years to pass both parts of the exam. If you fail, you can retake either part without additional signatures from your cosmetology school.
Your exam report will include your details and photo. Double-check everything before leaving, as mistakes can’t be corrected later. The process is the same for your second exam.
Once you’ve passed both the theory and clinical exams, it’s time to apply for your license through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
The licensing fee is $63.50. You can apply online by creating a DBPR account if you don’t have one. After submitting your application and documents, you’ll receive your license within 48 hours.
The most common reason for not getting your license is failing your written exams. The pass rate in Florida is only 78% for the theory exam and 66% for the clinical exam! However, students who use our Cosmetology Exam Preparation Package have a pass rate of 98.5%!
Passing the Florida cosmetology exam is the most important step for any person who wants to become a cosmetics specialist in Florida. This is why candidates must prepare as early as they can.
They need to center their attention on the content areas of the exam, among them being safety and sanitation, client services, hair coloring, hair care techniques as well as styling among others. The use of study materials, practice tests, and an understanding of the examination format can improve candidates’ likelihood of success.
Adequate preparations and having clear insight about what is required of them before taking the last move towards successful professional dreams in cosmetology will make them feel more confident while sitting for it.
To take the Florida cosmetology exams, you need to apply for authorization from the DBPS. You can apply online for authorization here, or download the application forms here.
Once you have received your authorization notice and candidate number, you will need to head to http://www.PearsonVUE.com. You will then be able to book your exams online. If you prefer, you can call Pearson VUE to arrange your examinations on 1-888-204-6289
If you need to reschedule your exam, you must give at least 2 days’ notice, or you may lose your exam fees. If the cancellation is due to illness, a family emergency, a traffic accident, court duty, or military duty, you won’t be charged, but you must provide proof within four days of your missed appointment.
Unlike many states, Florida does not use the National-Interstate Council of Board of Cosmetology (NIC) exam. Instead, Florida has its own cosmetology exam and its own registration process.
The cost to take the Florida cosmetology exams is $15.75 for the Written Theory Test and $15.75 for the Written Clinical Test.
The Florida cosmetology exams take place in Pearson Vue test centers.
Cosmetologists in Florida need to have completed 1,200 hours of practical hours in order to gain their license.
No, the state of Florida does not currently recognize apprenticeships.
No, you’ll need to complete the required hours first.
When you arrive at your exam center, you will have 15 minutes to complete a tutorial explaining how to sit your exam. You will then have 2 hours to complete each test. Many people take both tests on the same day, but you have two years from the date of your first examination to pass both.
The written examinations are computer-based, multiple-choice tests. There are 65 questions for each exam, and all questions are weighted equally. A breakdown of what each test includes can be found here. If you want to familiarize yourself with the testing format, try out our practice tests [here].
No, the state of Florida does not require that you sit a practical examination.
In order to receive a pass mark, you must answer 75% of the questions correctly. This is the same across both tests.
The pass rate for Florida’s cosmetology exams are:
This is better than the national average, which is only around 50%.
Yes, in Florida you are able to apply to resit an examination if you fail. However, once you have passed your first exam, you will only have 2 years in which to successfully complete the second. If you don’t pass your second exam within 2 years, you will be required to take both tests again.
In Florida, it can take as little as 9 months to complete the required hours of cosmetology school training. For part-time students, it can take up to 2 years.
You can transfer your cosmetology license to Florida through an endorsement application, without retaking any exams, if you meet the following requirements:
To apply, create an account with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and complete the online application. Your application will be reviewed, and you’ll be notified of the outcome within 21 days
To get your cosmetology license in Florida, you will need to graduate from cosmetology school having
Once you’ve met all of these requirements, you will be issued with a license.
In Florida, you must renew your cosmetology license by the 31st of October, every other year.
But, in order to renew your license, you must complete 16 hours of training. These short courses are known as ‘continuing education’ and are provided by many schools and organizations.
Once you have completed your mandatory training, you can apply to renew your license via the DBPS portal. The cost of renewing your license is currently $55.
Use our Cosmetology Exam Preparation Package to learn everything you need to pass the written exam.
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