Safety & Infection Control
40%of exam
Disinfection RulesEPA-Registered DisinfectantBloodborne PathogensCA BBC RegulationsSingle-Use Items
Client Consultation & Skin Analysis
19%of exam
Skin Care Treatments
17%of exam
Hair Removal
15%of exam
WaxingHair Growth CycleContraindicationsAftercare
Eyelash & Eyebrow
6%of exam
Lash LiftBrow LaminationTintingDermaplaning
Makeup Application
3%of exam
Color TheoryColor CorrectingSanitationProduct Order
Quick Facts
- Exam
- CA Esthetician (Skin Care)
- Board
- CA Board of Barbering & Cosmetology
- Administered by
- PSI
- Questions
- 75 scored + 10 pretest
- Time
- 90 minutes
- Pass score
- 75% (57/75)
- Format
- Written only, no practical
- Training hours
- 600 hours
- Blueprint
- Effective April 1, 2026
SB 803 Key Changes
No practical exam, fewer hours, lash/brow scope
Written exam only1,000 cosmetology hoursLash lamination addedDermaplaning added
Esthetician vs Cosmetology License
Esthetician
- 600 training hours
- Skin/facial focus
- Written exam only
Cosmetology
- 1,000 training hours
- Hair, nails, skin
- Written exam only
Scope narrower, hours fewer
Blood Spill Response
- Blood spill occurs→Stop service immediately
- Before cleanup→Put on gloves
- Cleaning spill→EPA disinfectant vs pathogens
- Materials contaminated→Dispose in sealed container
- After cleanup→Document the incident
CA BBC Core Rules
- BBC
- CA licensing board
- Barbering & Cosmetology Act
- CA governing law
- Title 16 Div 9
- CA sanitation regs
- License display
- Visible to public
- No CE required
- Renewal, no hours
- Reciprocity
- Endorsement if qualified
Disinfectant Level Selection
- Non-electrical implement→Full immersion disinfectant
- Electrical tool→Wipe with disinfectant spray
- Single-use item→Discard, never reuse
- Visible debris present→Clean before disinfecting
Disinfection Protocol
- EPA-registered
- Required disinfectant type
- Hospital-grade
- Bactericidal/virucidal/fungicidal claim
- Full immersion
- Non-electrical implements
- Contact time
- Per manufacturer label
- Clean then disinfect
- Debris removed first
- Covered storage
- After disinfection
Bloodborne Pathogen Response
- Stop service
- First step, blood spill
- Gloves on
- Before cleanup
- EPA disinfectant
- Effective vs HIV/HBV
- Dispose properly
- Contaminated materials, sealed bag
- Document incident
- Required record
- OSHA standard
- Federal overlay
Single-Use & Linens
- Single-use items
- One client, discard
- Wax applicators
- Never double-dip
- Fresh linens
- Every client
- Soiled storage
- Closed, separate container
- Hand washing
- Before every service
Fitzpatrick Scale Quick Read
Type I always burns, Type VI never burns
I-II: fair, burns easilyIII-IV: medium, tansV-VI: dark, rarely burnsIV-VI: higher PIH risk
Employee vs Independent Contractor
Employee
- Employer sets schedule
- Employer provides tools
- AB 5 protections apply
Contractor
- Controls own schedule
- Owns tools/supplies
- Different tax treatment
Control test decides status
Client Contraindication Check
- Client on Accutane→Avoid peels and waxing
- Client has epilepsy→Skip electrical machines
- Adverse reaction occurs→Stop and apply cool compress
- Severe reaction (anaphylaxis)→Seek emergency medical help
Intake & Consultation
- Intake form
- Health history, allergies
- Informed consent
- Signed before treatment
- Confidentiality
- Written consent to share
- Medication screen
- Accutane, retinoids, blood thinners
- Adverse reaction
- Stop, cool, document
Skin Typing & Analysis
- Fitzpatrick I-VI
- Sun-reaction scale
- Types IV-VI
- Higher PIH risk
- Skin types
- Oily/dry/combo/sensitive
- Skin conditions
- Acne/rosacea/hyperpigmentation
- ABCDE rule
- Melanoma warning signs
Skin Anatomy Basics
- Epidermis
- Outer, avascular layer
- Dermis
- Collagen, elastin, vessels
- Acid mantle
- pH 4.5-5.5 barrier
- Cell turnover
- 28 days, young adult
- Barrier function
- Blocks water loss
Facial Massage Strokes
Effleurage glides, Petrissage kneads, Tapotement taps
Effleurage: relax, distributePetrissage: circulation, kneadingTapotement: stimulate, tone
Glycolic Acid vs Lactic Acid
Glycolic acid
- Smallest molecule
- Deepest penetration
- More potent
Lactic acid
- Larger molecule
- Gentler action
- Adds hydration
Potency vs gentleness
Facial Treatment Steps
- Effleurage
- Light gliding stroke
- Petrissage
- Kneading, circulation stroke
- Tapotement
- Tapping, stimulating stroke
- Extraction
- Gloved, gentle, 10-15 min
- Steamer
- Softens, opens follicles
LED Light Color Guide
Red repairs, Blue bacteria, Green pigment, Yellow heals
Red: collagen, anti-agingBlue: kills acne bacteriaGreen: pigmentation, calmingYellow: wound healing
Desincrustation vs Iontophoresis
Desincrustation
- Negative pole
- Softens sebum
- Pre-extraction step
Iontophoresis
- Positive pole
- Drives product in
- Post-treatment step
Softens vs delivers
Facial Machines
- Galvanic
- Direct current, ion delivery
- Desincrustation
- Negative pole, softens sebum
- Iontophoresis
- Positive pole, product penetration
- High-frequency
- Ozone, germicidal, circulation
- Microdermabrasion
- Mechanical exfoliation, crystals/diamond
- LED red
- Anti-aging, collagen
- LED blue
- Anti-acne, bacteria
Mineral vs Chemical Sunscreen
Mineral
- Zinc oxide/titanium
- Reflects UV
- Sits on skin
Chemical
- Organic filters
- Absorbs UV
- Converts to heat
Reflect vs absorb
Chemical Exfoliation & Peels
- AHA
- Water-soluble, surface exfoliant
- BHA
- Oil-soluble, salicylic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Smallest AHA, deepest penetration
- Lactic acid
- Gentler AHA, humectant
- Enzyme peel
- Gentlest, protein-digesting
- Peel contraindication
- Active isotretinoin use
Product Chemistry Actives
- Hyaluronic acid
- Humectant, holds water
- Vitamin C
- Antioxidant, brightening
- Retinol
- Vit-A, cell turnover
- Niacinamide
- Barrier support, oil control
- Zinc oxide
- Mineral sunscreen, reflects UV
- Avobenzone
- Chemical sunscreen, absorbs UV
Hard Wax vs Soft Wax
Hard wax
- No strips
- Adheres to hair
- Sensitive areas
Soft wax
- Needs strips
- Adheres to skin too
- Large areas
Strips vs stripless
Wax Type Selection
- Sensitive area→Hard wax(No strips needed)
- Large body area→Soft wax(Strip removal)
- Active isotretinoin→No wax(Skin too fragile)
- First-time client→Patch test(Check sensitivity)
Waxing Fundamentals
- Hard wax
- No strips, sensitive areas
- Soft wax
- Strip removal, large areas
- Anagen phase
- Active growth, best removal
- Wax direction
- Apply with, remove against
- Patch test
- New client, sensitivity check
Hair Removal Contraindications
- Isotretinoin
- 6-12 month wait
- Topical retinoids
- 2-4 week wait
- Sunburned skin
- No waxing
- Varicose veins
- Avoid direct waxing
- Aftercare
- No sun/heat 24-48h
Lash & Brow Services
- Brow lamination
- SB 803 expanded scope
- Lash lift
- Perm rod, curl set
- Tinting
- Patch test 24-48h
- Dermaplaning
- SB 803 expanded scope
Makeup Application
- Color theory
- Complementary, correct tone
- Color correcting
- Green=redness, peach=dark circles
- Sanitation
- No double-dip, disposable applicators
- Product order
- Primer, base, powder, finish
Common Traps
Esthetician license ≠ cosmetology license
600 hours, skin only ≠ 1,000 hours, hair+nails+skin
Hard wax ≠ soft wax
No strips, hair only ≠ Strips, hair and skin
Desincrustation ≠ iontophoresis
Negative pole, softens sebum ≠ Positive pole, delivers product
CE required ≠ true in CA
No CE for renewal ≠ Just pay renewal fee
Reciprocity ≠ automatic
Held 3 of 5 years ≠ Else equivalency exam
Mineral sunscreen ≠ chemical sunscreen
Reflects, sits on skin ≠ Absorbs, converts to heat
Single-use ≠ reusable
Discard after one client ≠ Never sanitize and reuse
Last Minute
- 1.Safety and Infection Control is 40%
- 2.75 scored, 10 pretest questions
- 3.90 minutes, need 75% to pass
- 4.Written exam only, no practical
- 5.600 hours training required
- 6.No continuing education needed
- 7.EPA-registered disinfectant, full immersion
- 8.Isotretinoin blocks peels and waxing
- 9.Fitzpatrick IV-VI risk hyperpigmentation
- 10.Hard wax needs no strips
- 11.Display license where clients see
- 12.Blood spill: stop, glove, disinfect
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