All Alabama beauty licenses in one place. Alabama uses PSI's own National exams, not NIC — 70% passing on both written and practical. Updated exams launched May 1, 2026. Barber (Class 2) is licensed separately at 1,000 hours; a cosmetology license also covers barber services. Biennial renewal during your birth month in odd-numbered years. CE-free. SB183 deregulates natural hair styling effective October 1, 2026.
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Your written exam is the PSI National paper, the same one ten states use. The outline, the pass marks and how the ten differ →
Practice Test + Flashcards
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
PSI National Barber Theory · Practice Test + Flashcards
Alabama’s Master Barber theory exam is listed in PSI’s Alabama programme as the National Barber form, 85 + 10 items in 120 minutes; the Alabama barber guide itself has not been published, so the form is presumed from PSI’s table. Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Every question comes with a full rationale. When that isn’t enough — the concept is new, the wording is dense, you got it right by luck — tap Explain and the tutor talks you through it: why your answer was wrong, and what the right idea actually is. Ask it anything back, as many times as you need.
If English isn’t the language you learned this in, it teaches in yours, switched whenever you like. The questions stay in English, because that is how you will see them on exam day. Where enough candidates ask we translate the prep itself — so far Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Simplified Chinese, on the products that have it.
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10 questions from the PSI National cosmetology bank and 10 terminology cards from the decks — the same items, the same rationales, the same study modes you get after checkout. Alabama tests on the PSI National exam, so this is the exam you’ll sit. No email, no signup.
Alabama · Cosmetology
1,500 hours at an ABOCB-approved school (or 3,000-hour apprenticeship). PSI National exam — 70% passing both written and practical. Cosmetology license covers full barber scope in Alabama; a separate Barber (Class 2) license also exists. 6-month pending exam permit available. Biennial renewal in birth month of odd years.
Alabama uses PSI National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by PSI Services. The PSI Alabama cosmetology bulletin (v1.0, effective 1 May 2026) prints the same outline as California’s April 2026 form, domain for domain: Safety and Infection Control 30%, Client Consultation and Hair, Skin and Nail Analysis 19%, Chemical Texture Services 12%, Haircoloring 10%, Hair Removal 8%, Nail Care 8%, Skin Care 4%, Eyelash and Eyebrow 4%, Haircutting 3%, Hairstyling 2% — 100 scored plus 10 pretest questions in 120 minutes. NICPrep’s PSI National bank is built to that form. Passing score: 70% on both written and practical. Alabama's updated exams launched May 1, 2026 — if you're testing now, you're taking the new version. Schedule through PSI at test-takers.psiexams.com/alcos after ABOCB approval.
The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (ABOCB) confirmed that updated PSI National examinations launched on May 1, 2026. A special testing event was held April 29 for candidates who wanted to test under the previous version. All candidates testing on or after May 1, 2026 take the updated exam. Confirm the current CIB at PSI's candidate portal (test-takers.psiexams.com/alcos) before your exam date.
The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (ABOCB) governs all beauty license categories including cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology. A cosmetology license in Alabama covers the full scope of barber services; ABOCB also licenses a Barber (Class 2) under §34-7B-17. Phone: 800-815-7453 · aboc.alabama.gov.
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School cannot be combined with apprenticeship hours. Your teacher or sponsor helps complete the written exam application upon graduation.
Include: proof of 10th grade completion, government-issued photo ID, copy of Social Security card, 2×2 photo, and $75 written exam fee. Official transcript of hours required. ABOCB approves application and notifies PSI.
Schedule at test-takers.psiexams.com/alcos or call (800) 211-2754. You have 2 years and up to 3 attempts per exam to pass. Written exam: 100 scored + 10 pretest questions, 120 minutes, $75. Practical: $130.
Biennial renewal in birth month of odd years. $80 on-time renewal. CE-free for practitioners. Expired 3+ years: retake practical exam.
Alabama offers reciprocity. If licensed 5+ years in another state with board-approved written AND practical exams: no additional testing required. Licensed fewer than 5 years: may need to take the practical exam. Current state board must send certification to ABOCB. Reciprocity fee: $100.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.
Alabama · Esthetics
1,000 hours at an ABOCB-approved school (or 2,000-hour apprenticeship). PSI National exam — 70% passing both written and practical. Same ATT process, same 2-year/3-attempt window. Biennial renewal in birth month of odd years at ~$80. CE-free. Scope includes dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, and nano-needling with appropriate training.
Alabama uses the PSI National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations via PSI (bulletin v1.0, effective 1 May 2026): 75 scored plus 10 pretest questions in 90 minutes. NICPrep’s PSI National bank is built to this form — the same one seven states share in cosmetology, esthetics and nails. 70% passing on both. Updated exams launched May 1, 2026 — confirm current CIB at PSI's candidate portal.
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School submits transcript and assists with exam application upon graduation.
Same document checklist as cosmetology. ABOCB approves and notifies PSI.
Written: $75 · Practical: $130 · 2-year window · 3 attempts max per exam. Retest every 30+ days.
Biennial renewal in birth month of odd years. CE-free.
Alabama · Barber
Alabama licenses a Barber (Class 2): 1,000 hours at an ABOCB-approved school or a 2,000-hour apprenticeship, then written and practical examinations (Ala. Code §34-7B-17). A cosmetology license also covers barber-scope services — hair cutting, shaving, beard trimming — so either credential lets you work as a barber in Alabama.
The Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (ABOCB) licenses barbers under §34-7B-17: 1,000 school hours or 2,000 apprenticeship hours, written and practical exams. The PSI Alabama bulletins published for 1 May 2026 cover cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology and instructor; a barber bulletin has not been read, so the barber exam’s form and outline are unconfirmed. Contact ABOCB at 800-815-7453 or check PSI’s Alabama portal before enrolling. The cosmetology licence (1,500 hours, PSI National, 70%) remains a full-scope alternative that covers barber services.
The Barber (Class 2) licence covers barbering: hair cutting, shaving, beard trimming and grooming. A cosmetology licence authorizes all of that plus styling, coloring and chemical services, nail care, basic skin care and makeup — which is why many Alabama barbers hold the broader credential.
Then the written and practical barber examinations (§34-7B-17). Confirm the exam form with ABOCB or PSI — it is not in the bulletins read so far.
PSI National written and practical at 70%; the licence covers barber-scope services.
Alabama · Nail Technology
750 hours at an ABOCB-approved school (or 1,200-hour apprenticeship). PSI National exam — 70% passing both written and practical. Same ATT process and 2-year/3-attempt window as cosmetology. Biennial renewal in birth month of odd years at ~$80. CE-free.
Alabama uses the PSI National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations via PSI (bulletin v1.0, effective 1 May 2026): 60 scored plus 5 pretest questions in 90 minutes. NICPrep’s PSI National bank is built to this form — the same one seven states share in cosmetology, esthetics and nails. 70% passing on both. Practical: 2 hours.
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School submits transcript and helps complete exam application. Programs typically run 10–16 weeks full-time.
Same document checklist as cosmetology. ABOCB approves; PSI sends ATT notification by email.
Written: $75, 60 + 5 questions, 90 minutes. Practical: $130, 2 hours. 2-year window, 3 attempts max per exam.
Biennial renewal in birth month of odd years. CE-free. Expired 3+ years: retake practical.
🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.
Alabama uses PSI's own National exams, not NIC — 70% passing. Updated exams launched May 1, 2026. 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.