Esthetician Schools in California

Between California's thriving beauty industry and outdoorsy population, estheticians are in high demand in the Golden State. In fact, California employs more estheticians than any other state in the country.

Browse our directory of esthetician schools in California, or skip ahead to learn about the state's esthetician licensing requirements and job outlook.

Browse All Esthetician Schools in California

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970 Broadway Suite 110
Chula Vista, CA 91911

(619) 474-6607
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology

1073 East Main Street
El Cajon, CA 92021

(619) 442-3407
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics

13266 Poway Road
Poway, CA 92064

(858) 748-1490
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology

1024 East March Lane
Stockton, CA 95210

(209) 952-5325
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology

305 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108

(415) 496-4787
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Makeup Artistry

111 West St. John Street
San Jose, CA 95113

(408) 549-1465
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Makeup Artistry

72840 Highway 111 V417
Palm Desert, CA 92260

(760) 365-8222
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering

520 San Ramon Valley Boulevard
Danville, CA 94526

(925) 855-5551
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics

2822 F Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301

(661) 437-4019
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy

731 West Shaw Avenue Suite A
Clovis, CA 93612

(559) 323-2802
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy

780 Loughborough Drive
Merced, CA 95348

(209) 205-2823
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology

75-030 Gerald Ford Drive Suite 203
Palm Desert, CA 92211

(760) 565-4988
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy

6500 South Mooney Boulevard
Visalia, CA 93277

(559) 302-5938
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy

1679 East Monte Vista Avenue Suite 200
Vacaville, CA 95688

(707) 430-4323
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology

16852 Devonshire Street
Granada Hills, CA 91344

(818) 366-3211
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Hair Design

3100 McHenry Avenue
Modesto, CA 95350

(209) 577-0644
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology

18442 Sherman Way
Reseda, CA 91335

(818) 578-6344
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barbering, Nail Technology
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1st Academy of Beauty – Accredited

8823 Garvey Avenue Unit B1
Rosemead, CA 91770

AAA Beauty College – Accredited

4774 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92117

ABA Beauty School – Accredited

8428 Van Nuys Boulevard
Panorama City, CA 91402

Academy for Salon Professionals – Accredited

19520 Nordhoff Street Unit 9
Northridge, CA 91324

Academy of Beauty – Accredited

3834 Main Street
Culver City, CA 90232

Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology – Accredited

1116 San Fernando Road
San Fernando, CA 91340

Adrian's Beauty College – Accredited

3000 West Grantline Road
Tracy, CA 95304

Adrian's Beauty College of Turlock – Accredited

1340 West Main Street
Turlock, CA 95380

Advance Beauty College - Garden Grove – Accredited

10121 Westminster Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92843

Advance Beauty College - Laguna Hills – Accredited

25322 McIntyre Street
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Advance Beauty Techs Academy – Accredited

2191 Sampson Avenue Suite 105
Corona, CA 92879

American Beauty Academy – Accredited

558 Main Street
Brawley, CA 92227

American Beauty Institute - San Diego – Accredited

4625 Convoy Street Suites A & B
San Diego, CA 92111

Amy Beauty School – Accredited

290 Corporate Terrace Circle 104
Corona, CA 92879

Asel Beauty College - Garden Grove – Accredited

9240 Garden Grove Boulevard Suite 10
Garden Grove, CA 92844

Asian-American International Beauty College – Accredited

7871 Westminster Boulevard
Westminster, CA 92683

Bamboo Advance Beauty College – Accredited

14624 East 14th Street
San Leandro, CA 94578

Barstow Community College – Accredited

2700 Barstow Road
Barstow, CA 92311

Bellflower Beauty College of Lakewood – Accredited

5438 Woodruff Avenue Suite B
Lakewood, CA 90713

Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy – Accredited

13640 Imperial Highway Suites 6, 7 & 8
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

California Advanced Esthetics

7851 Mission Center Court Suite 262
San Diego, CA 92108

California Beauty School – Accredited

1115 15th Street
Modesto, CA 95354

California Cosmetology Academy – Accredited

1760 Fremont Boulevard Suite F2
Seaside, CA 93955

California Hair Design Academy – Accredited

8011 University Avenue Suite A-2
La Mesa, CA 91942

Career Academy of Beauty – Accredited

12471 Valley View
Garden Grove, CA 92845

Cen Beauty Academy – Accredited

7900 Limonite Avenue Suite D
Riverside, CA 92509

Cerritos College – Accredited

11110 Alondra Boulevard
Norwalk, CA 90650

Citrus College – Accredited

1000 West Foothill Boulevard
Glendora, CA 91741

Citrus Heights Beauty College – Accredited

7518 Baird Way
Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Coachella Valley Beauty College - Hemet – Accredited

3643 West Florida Avenue
Hemet, CA 92545

Coachella Valley Beauty College - La Quinta – Accredited

79450 Highway 111
La Quinta, CA 92253

Coba Academy – Accredited

663 North Euclid Street
Anaheim, CA 92801

Cosmo Beauty Academy - Sacramento – Accredited

3500 Fulton Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95821

Cosmotek College – Accredited

2188-B Del Franco Street
San Jose, CA 95131

D'Lacreme School of Cosmetology and Barbering – Accredited

1787 North Texas Street
Fairfield, CA 94533

Design's School of Cosmetology – Accredited

2727 Buena Vista Drive Suite 105
Paso Robles, CA 93446

Diamond Beauty College – Accredited

10301 Garvey Avenue Suites 200-204-302
South El Monte, CA 91733

Extensions R Us Academy

2137 West Manchester Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90047

Federico Beauty Institute – Accredited

1515 Sports Drive
Sacramento, CA 95834

Federico College – Accredited

3117 West Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711

Flair Beauty College – Accredited

23754 Valencia Boulevard
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Fredrick and Charles Beauty College – Accredited

831 F Street
Eureka, CA 95501

Fremont Beauty College – Accredited

4164 Technology Drive
Fremont, CA 94538

Georgiykot Academy USA – Accredited

20855 Ventura Boulevard Suite 7
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Get Faded Barber College – Accredited

2500 New Stine Road Suites 201 & 203
Bakersfield, CA 93309

Golden West College – Accredited

15744 Golden West Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Hacienda La Puente Adult Education – Accredited

14101 East Nelson Avenue
La Puente, CA 91746

Hoss Lee Academy – Accredited

200 Whyte Avenue
Roseville, CA 95661

Inspire Academy of Barbering and Cosmetology – Accredited

445 West Weber Avenue Suite 223
Stockton, CA 95203

Institute of Beauty Culture – Accredited

325 East Betteravia Suite B1
Santa Maria, CA 93454

International Academy of Cosmetology & Barbering – Accredited

4085 Tweedy Boulevard
South Gate, CA 90280

International Beauty College

1224 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94577

International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences – Accredited

5225 San Fernando Road West
Los Angeles, CA 90039

International College of Cosmetology – Accredited

3701 International Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94601

International School of Beauty - Palm Desert – Accredited

72261 Highway 111 Suite 121 B
Palm Desert, CA 92260

Jade Beauty and Barber College – Accredited

1045 East Capitol Expressway
San Jose, CA 95121

Jama's Beauty & Barber College – Accredited

8300 Valley Circle Boulevard Unit A
West Hills, CA 91304

Jasmine Beauty School – Accredited

5911 University Avenue Suites 318 & 319
San Diego, CA 92115

JLC Beauty School – Accredited

16025 Gale Avenue Unit A14
City of Industry, CA 91745

Katie Skills Center – Accredited

415 East 12th Street
Oakland, CA 94606

KC Beauty Academy – Accredited

706 East First Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Lancaster Beauty School – Accredited

44646 North 10Th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93534

Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology - Selma – Accredited

2048 Grant Street
Selma, CA 93662

Letty's Barbering and Cosmetology College – Accredited

4926 Whittier Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90022

Los Angeles College of Aesthetics – Accredited

1517 South Western Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90006

Lu Ross Academy – Accredited

470 East Thompson Boulevard
Ventura, CA 93001

Lyle's College of Beauty - Bakersfield – Accredited

2935 F Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301

Lyle's College of Beauty - Fresno – Accredited

6735 North First Street Suite 112
Fresno, CA 93710

Lytles Redwood Empire Beauty College – Accredited

186 Wikiup Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Marmel Beauty Academy – Accredited

6444 Bellingham Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91606

My Le's Beauty College - Sacramento – Accredited

4516 Florin Road
Sacramento, CA 95823

National Cosmetology Beauty School – Accredited

315 11th Street 1st Floor
Oakland, CA 94607

Neihule Academy of Beauty – Accredited

305 East 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014

North Adrian's College of Beauty – Accredited

124 Floyd Avenue
Modesto, CA 95350

Nouveau Contour USA - Santa Monica

1427 Lincoln Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Palomar Institute of Cosmetology – Accredited

355 Via Vera Cruz Suite 3
San Marcos, CA 92078

Paris Beauty College – Accredited

1655 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94520

Paul Mitchell the School Costa Mesa – Accredited

3309 Hyland Avenue Suite J
Yes, CA 92626

Paul Mitchell The School East Bay – Accredited

100 Crescent Drive Suite D
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Paul Mitchell The School Pasadena – Accredited

825 East Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101

Paul Mitchell The School Sacramento – Accredited

2100 Arden Way Suite 265
Sacramento, CA 95825

Paul Mitchell The School San Diego – Accredited

410 A Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Paul Mitchell The School Sherman Oaks – Accredited

15301 Ventura Boulevard Unit P2
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Paul Mitchell The School Temecula – Accredited

27536 Ynez Road Suite E-1
Temecula, CA 92591

Paul Mitchell – Accredited

3309 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Princess Institute of Beauty – Accredited

1605 East Manning Avenue
Reedley, CA 93654

Professional Schools of Beauty, Fashion and Arts – Accredited

18573 Sherman Way Boulevard
Reseda, CA 91335

Redondo Beach Beauty College – Accredited

23800 Hawthorne Boulevard Suite 200
Torrance, CA 90505

Rosemead Beauty School – Accredited

8531 East Valley Boulevard
Rosemead, CA 91770

RTC College – Accredited

10427 San Sevaine Way
Jurupa Valley, CA 91752

SABA Beauty School – Accredited

23635 El Toro Road Suites J-2 and K
Lake Forest, CA 92630

Salon Success Academy - Corona – Accredited

2097 Compton Avenue Suite 201
Corona, CA 92881

Salon Success Academy - Redlands – Accredited

1915 West Redlands Boulevard Suite 111 & 105
Redlands, CA 92373

Salon Success Academy - Upland – Accredited

1385 East Foothill Boulevard
Upland, CA 91786

Salon Success Academy - West Covina – Accredited

112 Plaza Drive Suite 166
West Covina, CA 91790

San Bernardino Beauty College – Accredited

600 North Sierra Way
San Bernardino, CA 92410

San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology – Accredited

1067 Folsom Street Second Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

San Jose City College – Accredited

2100 Moorpark Avenue
San Jose, CA 95128

Santa Ana Beauty Academy – Accredited

2231 North Tustin Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 93401

Santa Ana Beauty College – Accredited

1926 West 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706

Santa Clara Beauty College – Accredited

2630 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95051

Selective Esthetics

22600 Ventura Boulevard Stacks
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

Shasta School of Cosmetology – Accredited

678 North Market Street
Redding, CA 96003

Sierra College of Beauty – Accredited

1340 West 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340

Simi Valley Cosmetology School – Accredited

3340 East Los Angeles Avenue
Simi Valley, CA 93063

Skyline College – Accredited

3300 College Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066

Southern California College of Barber and Beauty – Accredited

641 North Broadway
Escondido, CA 92025

Thanh Le College School of Cosmetology – Accredited

12875 West Chapman Avenue
Garden Grove, CA 92840

The Brothers & Sisters BarberCosmo Academy – Accredited

3322 International Boulevard Suite B
Oakland, CA 94601

The Salon Professional Academy - San Jose – Accredited

1600 Saratoga Avenue Suite 103
San Jose, CA 95129

Victory Career College – Accredited

19401 South Vermont Avenue Suite G100, L101 & L103
Torrance, CA 90502

Wayne's College of Beauty – Accredited

1271 North Main Street
Salinas, CA 93906

West Valley Occupational Center – Accredited

6200 Winnetka Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

ZMS The Academy – Accredited

2228 East Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Accredited School

You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.

Esthetician Schools Near Me

How to Become a Esthetician in California

California Esthetician Careers At a Glance
  • 600 education hours are required to become licensed.
  • You must renew your license every 2 years.
  • 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
  • The average salary for estheticians in California is $51,340 ($24.68/hour).
  • There is a predicted 47% job increase between 2020–2030 for estheticians. This is much higher than the expected national growth of 17%.

Estheticians—also known as skincare specialists or full specialists—are highly-trained beauty professionals who perform a wide range of treatments on their clients, from facials and exfoliation to massage, hair removal, and more. To become an esthetician in California, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 17 years old.
  • Finished 10th grade or the equivalent.
  • Undergone an approved 600-hour training program or meet reciprocity mandates if coming from another state.
  • Pass a written exam.
  • Are not in violation of certain restrictions*, including (but not limited to):
    • Criminal convictions relevant to job duties within the past seven years
    • Serious felony convictions
    • False information on your application

*Some violations may be overridden with proper documentation.

Esthetician Salary in California and Projected Job Growth

$51,340

Average yearly salary for esthetics in California

In California, licensed estheticians earn a mean salary of $51,340 per year, or $24.68 per hour. However, the amount you can earn varies across the state and depends on several factors, such as where you're based, your experience level, and the services you offer.

Estheticians at the lower end of the scale earn around $29,280, whereas those at the top can make $99,840 or more.

The highest-paying metro areas for estheticians in California are:

Metro Area 2022 Median Salary
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA $51,080
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $42,940
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA $42,350
Napa, CA $42,350
Santa Rosa, CA $40,900

Table information from O*Net (2023)

The job growth for Californian estheticians is also looking good, with an expected increase of 47% between 2020-2030. That translates to around 1,380 new positions opening yearly—much higher than the 17% increase expected nationally.

California Esthetician License Requirements

600 Education Hours

Required to earn a esthetics license

To become an esthetician in California, you must undergo 600 clock hours of training. Schools are expected to break these hours down as follows:

  • Facials: 350 hours
  • Health and Safety: 200 hours
  • Hair Removal and Makeup: 50 hours

Schools are given substantial flexibility in meeting these criteria. For instance, regarding facials, schools need to provide a minimum of 70 hours in manual, electrical, and chemical facials and 15 hours in preparation skills.

This leaves them 265 hours to divide up how they see fit.

A unique requirement for the health and safety coursework is instruction in physical and sexual abuse awareness. California beauty professionals are mandatory reporters, meaning they must report suspected abuse to authorities.

This is because California recognizes that beauty professionals work closely with clients and have a unique opportunity to spot signs of abuse, such as bruising.

In addition to training hours, you'll need to perform specific types of treatments a minimum number of times:

  • Manual, Electrical, and Chemical Facials: 140 operations
  • Eyebrow Beautification: 50 operations
  • Makeup: 40 operations

In addition to ensuring your school provides training that follows those rules, you need to verify your school is approved by the state board. A school can have its license revoked if the following occurs:

  • Unprofessional conduct
  • Repeated non-compliance with health and safety rules
  • Repeated non-compliance with board rules
  • Practice by someone who knows they have an infectious or contagious illness
  • Frequent intoxication or use of controlled substances
  • Faking their qualifications
  • Disallowing or interfering with inspections
  • Any other issues deemed problematic by the board

Can I Apprentice as an Esthetician in California?

No, you may not apprentice as an esthetician in California.

California Esthetician Licensing Requirements

As of January 1, 2022, estheticians in California no longer need to complete a practical exam. Instead, you only need to pass a written test. You may sit for your exam after you've completed all of your training. However, you may also apply to take the exam when you've completed 75% of your training hours, allowing you to take the test sooner.

The $115 fee, which you must pay before taking your test, covers your exam and your license. The test is administrated by PSI Exams, which has many testing sites around the state. You can find a full list of locations on PSI's exam bulletin.

Bring your photo ID and stow away any electronic devices or notes when you arrive at your testing location.

The test can be taken in English, Korean, Spanish, or Vietnamese. If you don't speak, read, and write English at a minimum of a 10th-grade level, you can request an interpreter present during your test.

If you have a diagnosed disability requiring accommodations, you may request that accommodation during your test. Your application needs to include information about the professional who diagnosed you, documentation of your disability, why it allows for accommodations, and which accommodation(s) you need.

Accommodations options include the following:

  • American Sign Language interpreter (provided by the board)
  • Extended time (written exam only)
  • Physical accessibility (e.g., wheelchair access or special seating or equipment)
  • Private testing space
  • Reader (provided by the board)

The California esthetician exam consists of 85 questions (75 scored and ten pre-test) covering scientific concepts, skincare, and other services. You have one and a half hours to finish. You must achieve a grade of at least 57 (75%) to pass.

California Esthetician Licensure Reciprocity

If you move to California and were trained or licensed as an esthetician in your former state, you may be eligible to gain your California license via reciprocity.

Those who trained as an esthetician elsewhere but didn't receive a license need to complete the following steps:

If you're approved to move forward but don't have 600 hours of school training, you can enroll in a California training program to make up the difference. Apprenticeships don't transfer. You'll receive your license on the day you pass your tests.

If you're a trained esthetician in another state and have been issued a license, you must submit a reciprocity application and pay any required fees. If you do this online through their BreEZe program, it takes an average of three fewer weeks to process than if you send your application via the mail.

Apprentice licenses, Puerto Rico and Guam licenses, and Florida's full, facial, and nail specialist licenses don't qualify for reciprocity in California.

Active-Duty Military and Spouses

If you're a spouse or domestic partner of an active-duty military member stationed in California, submit your marriage license or domestic partnership certificate, proof of your significant other's current service, and the items above to expedite your application.

Esthetician Specialties in California

With additional training, you can offer your clients a wider variety of specialized services, particularly in the medical esthetics field, a big business in California.

There is no separate license for medical estheticians in California—you can become one with your standard license, though advanced training is recommended. However, because medical esthetics are so popular in the state, they are strictly regulated.

Licensed estheticians must not:

Microdermabrasion procedures are allowed if the treatments don't go deeper than the epidermis. Only licensed tattoo artists can perform microblading in the state, so this is off-limits to all estheticians.

California Esthetician License Renewal

2 Years

License renewal period

0 Hours

Continuing education required

You need to renew your California esthetician license every two years. If your renewal application is postmarked on or before the expiration date, renewal is $50; if it's postmarked later, it's $75. Renewing online is also an option.

Active-duty military or California National Guard members may have their renewal fees waived.

There are no continuing education requirements for esthetician license renewal, though it's always a good idea to keep learning.

If you don't renew your license within five years of its expiration, it will be canceled by the state and can't be renewed simply by paying the fee. So, if you're in this situation, you must reapply for a license and sit for your tests again.

Contact the California State Board of Esthetics

California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Resources for Estheticians in California

California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
This is the official state resource for all licensure and legal aspects of California's beauty industry.

Professional Beauty Federation of California
This membership organization strives to improve the California beauty industry's image and professionalism.

California Estheticians • Esthetician Advocacy Group
This group aims to keep licensed California estheticians up to speed with current events and rulings, State Board inspection advice, and professional experiences.

California Estheticians Group
This is a private space for California estheticians to discuss ideas and questions with other professionals in the field.

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Esthetics/Skin Care
California

How to Become a Esthetician in Your State