1.3 Registration, Fees & Test Day

Registration, Fees & Test Day

Quick Answer: Your school submits your exam application to PSI electronically. PSI sends an eligibility email with a registration link. Schedule through the Tennessee PSI portal or call 855-340-3710. Current initial cost is $194 — $67 theory, $67 practical, and a $60 initial license. Testing fees are valid for one year, and PSI requires confirmed cancellation at least 48 hours before an appointment to avoid forfeiture.

The Registration Pipeline

Tennessee's registration process is school-driven, not candidate-driven. When you complete (or near completion of) your required hours, your school submits your application to PSI electronically. You do not mail a paper application yourself in the standard school path. This electronic submission confirms to PSI that your training is on record and that you are eligible to test.

PSI sends an eligibility-to-test email after the education provider submits the record. Use the embedded link to create the PSI account. If PSI has no eligibility record, contact the education provider rather than submitting an unsupported duplicate application.

Once approved, you schedule through two channels:

• Online: test-takers.psiexams.com/tncosmetology
• Phone: 855-340-3710

The current guide requires candidates to pass theory before scheduling practical. Both exams must be passed within three years after the initial theory pass.

Fees: The Current $194 Initial Total

Each exam fee is paid to PSI when that portion is scheduled. The $60 initial-license fee is paid to the Board after both portions are passed. Always confirm the live fee pages before paying because vendor fees can change.

Two Different Validity Windows

PSI testing fees are valid for one year from payment. Separately, after passing both portions, the candidate has six months to pay for and obtain the original license. Do not confuse the testing-fee window with the post-pass licensing deadline.

The Rescheduling Rule

PSI permits cancellation or rescheduling without forfeiting the fee only when it receives confirmed notice at least 48 hours before the appointment. A voicemail does not count. A late cancellation, missed appointment, late arrival, or missing identification forfeits the testing fee.

Test Day: What to Bring and Expect

Identification

You must present a government-issued photo ID — a driver's license, state ID, or passport — and the name on that ID must match your registration name exactly. This trips up more candidates than you would expect: a recently married candidate who registered under a maiden name but brings an ID with a married name can be turned away with no refund. If your name changes between registration and test day, fix the registration before the appointment, not after.

At the PSI Test Center

Expect airport-style check-in procedures: ID verification, securing all personal belongings (phone, watch, notes, bags) in a locker, and testing at an individual computer station under camera and staff observation. The exam is closed-book, so nothing goes to the station with you. Arrive early — late arrivals can forfeit the appointment and the fee. Computer test-center results appear immediately on screen. PSI emails online score reports within 24 hours.

Remote Online Proctoring

If you choose remote proctoring for the theory exam, the rules mirror the test center but in your home. A live proctor verifies your ID, scans your room through your webcam, and watches you for the entire session. Tennessee's remote option requires a second camera angle — typically a smartphone positioned to show your workspace from the side — so the proctor can see your hands, desk, and screen area. Your room must be private, your desk clear, and no one may enter during the exam. Test your equipment and internet connection before exam day; a failed tech check can cost you the appointment.

If You Do Not Pass: The Retake Policy

Failing an exam is not the end of the licensing path — but it is also not free. The retake process is simple: reschedule the exam and repay the exam fee. There is no special discounted retake rate; a failed portion requires another current $67 fee and a new appointment. This is worth taking seriously when you budget: passing on the first attempt is the cheapest study strategy there is.

After You Pass: Getting the Actual License

Passing both exams does not itself make you a licensee — you still must obtain the license. Tennessee issues professional licenses through the CORE portal at core.tn.gov, the state's online licensing system, where you submit the initial-license application and $60 fee within six months after passing. Only after the license is issued are you legally allowed to practice cosmetology for compensation in Tennessee.

One final professional habit: Tennessee maintains a public license-verification tool at verify.tn.gov. Before you begin practicing — and before an employer hires you — the license status can be confirmed there. Checking your own status at verify.tn.gov before your first day of work protects you from the serious violation of practicing on an unissued or lapsed license.

Current Administrative Facts to Verify

Administrative facts are externally controlled, so verify them in the live portal. As currently published, remember $67/$67/$60, one-year testing-fee validity, the 48-hour cancellation rule, the three-year window to pass both portions, and the six-month post-pass licensing deadline.