All four Massachusetts beauty licenses in one place. Massachusetts eliminated its practical exam in October 2023 — only the written PSI National theory exam is required — PSI’s own programme, not NIC. One of the most accessible licensing processes in the country: cosmetology in 1,000 hours, manicurist in just 100 hours. CE-free. Official term: "aesthetician" (not esthetician).
Prep for this state
Your written exam is the PSI National paper, the same one ten states use. Massachusetts sits the theory alone — there is no practical here. The outline, the pass marks and how the ten differ →
Practice Test + Flashcards
Massachusetts sits PSI’s National cosmetology theory form, the one our bank is built to: 100 scored + 10 pretest questions in 120 minutes, 70% to pass, with the national outline’s ten domains and weights (MA bulletin 10510, eff. 3 Aug 2026). Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
Massachusetts sits PSI’s National esthetics theory form, the one our bank is built to. Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
Massachusetts barbers sit PSI’s barber theory form — bulletin 10519 carries the same eight domains and weights as California’s, the form our CA Barber bank is built to. Practice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
Massachusetts manicurists (Type 3) sit PSI’s National nail technology theory form, the one our bank is built to. 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.
Included with every product · every question · 19 languages
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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. Massachusetts tests on the PSI National exam, so this is the paper you’ll see. No email, no signup.
Massachusetts · Cosmetology
1,000 hours at a Board-approved school. PSI National written theory exam — 70% passing. Practical exam was eliminated October 2, 2023. Total cost ~$223. Biennial renewal. CE-free. All services must be performed in a licensed establishment.
Massachusetts uses the PSI National Cosmetology Theory Examination administered by PSI Services — the form California, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland and Michigan share. NICPrep's PSI National bank is built to it, and the Massachusetts bulletin (10510, eff. 3 Aug 2026) carries the national outline unchanged: Safety and Infection Control 30, Client Consultation and Hair, Skin and Nail Analysis 19, Chemical Texture 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. Written exam only (practical eliminated October 2, 2023). Passing score: 70%. Exam languages: English, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese.
Massachusetts eliminated the hands-on practical portion of the cosmetology licensing exam effective October 2, 2023. Applicants now only need to pass the written PSI National theory examination. This significantly reduces both cost and scheduling time. Just the written exam: no mannequin, kit or practical site.
The Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (a merged board under the Division of Occupational Licensure) governs all beauty and barber licenses. Apply through ePLACE at mass.gov. CORI (criminal background) check required. SSN required and forwarded to the Department of Revenue per MGL c 62C §47A.
Verify school approval at mass.gov. 10th grade education required. Programs typically 7–10 months full-time.
Apply online. Submit supporting documents. CORI check required. Receive approval notice to schedule PSI exam.
Schedule at psiexams.com. Written exam only. 70% passing. Exam available in English, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese.
Biennial renewal from issue date. CE-free. Renew through ePLACE.
Massachusetts · Aesthetician
Massachusetts spells this "aesthetician" in its statutes. Only 300 hours of training required. PSI National written theory exam — 70% passing, written only. Two license tiers: Type 7 (Operator, <2 yrs experience) and Type 6 (Manager, 2+ yrs as licensed Type 7). Biennial renewal. CE-free.
Massachusetts uses the PSI National Esthetics Theory Examination administered by PSI. NICPrep's PSI National esthetics bank is built to this form. Written exam only (practical eliminated October 2, 2023). PSI MA bulletin 10517 (v1.4, effective 3 Aug 2026): 75 scored plus 10 unscored questions in 90 minutes, 70% to pass — Safety and Infection Control 40%, Client Consultation and Skin Analysis 19%, Skin Care 17%, Hair Removal 15%, Eyelash and Eyebrow 6%, Makeup 3%. That is the national esthetics form, unchanged.
Verify school approval at mass.gov. Programs typically run 2–4 months full-time.
CORI check required. Receive approval to schedule PSI exam.
Written exam only. No practical. Available in multiple languages.
Biennial renewal from issue date. CE-free. Upgrade to Type 6 after 2 years of licensed practice.
Massachusetts · Barber
1,000 hours at a Board-approved barbering school. PSI written theory exam — 70% passing, no practical (practical eliminated October 2023). Licensed cosmetologists may complete additional barber-specific training to also obtain a barber license. Biennial renewal. CE-free.
Massachusetts barbers sit a written theory examination administered by PSI. PSI MA bulletin 10519 (v1.4, effective 3 Aug 2026): 70% to pass — Safety and Infection Control 31%, Shaving 22%, Client Consultation and Hair and Skin Analysis 15%, Haircutting 8%, Haircoloring 7%, Chemical Texture Services 7%, Hairstyling 5%, Skin Care 5%. Those are the California barber form's eight domains and weights, the form our CA Barber bank is built to. Written exam only.
Verify school approval at mass.gov.
CORI check required.
Written only.
Biennial renewal from issue date. CE-free.
Massachusetts · Manicurist
Massachusetts calls nail technicians "manicurists" (Type 3 license). Only 100 hours of training — one of the absolute lowest nail technician requirements in the country. PSI National written theory exam — 70% passing, written only. Biennial renewal. CE-free.
Massachusetts uses the PSI National Nail Technology Theory Examination administered by PSI. NICPrep's PSI National nail technology bank is built to this form. Written exam only. PSI MA bulletin 10515 (v1.4, effective 3 Aug 2026): 60 scored plus 5 unscored questions in 90 minutes, 70% to pass — Safety and Infection Control 50%, Nail Care 22%, Client Consultation and Nail Analysis 18%, Skin Care 10%. That is the national nail technology form, unchanged.
Verify school approval at mass.gov. Very short program — typically 2–4 weeks full-time.
CORI check required. Receive approval to schedule PSI exam.
Written only. Available in multiple languages.
Biennial renewal from issue date. CE-free.
Our PSI National bank is built to that form, and the Massachusetts bulletin carries the national outline unchanged — the same ten domains and weights as California, Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan and Tennessee. 100 scored plus 10 pretest questions in 120 minutes, 70% to pass.
2026 CIB changes, domain study tips, and new-modality launches — a few emails a month, no spam.