Colorado Esthetician PSI Exam 2026/2027 | ACTUAL-Style
Practice Questions & Answers, Skin Care, Infection Control,
Facial Treatments, Hair Removal, and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: Which Colorado state agency is responsible for
regulating the practice of esthetics and issuing esthetician licenses?
A. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
B. Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure under DORA
C. Colorado Medical Board
D. Colorado Department of Education
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology
Licensure under DORA
Rationale: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure,
which operates under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), is
the governing body that regulates esthetician licensing and practice in
Colorado.
Question 2: How many total training hours does Colorado require
for esthetician licensure from an approved school?
A. 300 hours
B. 600 hours
C. 1,000 hours
D. 1,500 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 600 hours
Rationale: Colorado mandates that esthetician candidates complete 600
hours of training (or 20 credit hours) from an approved esthetics school
before sitting for the licensing examinations.
Question 3: Which two examinations must a candidate pass to
obtain a Colorado esthetician license?
A. Written only
B. Practical only
C. Both written (theory) and practical examinations
D. No examination is required
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Both written (theory) and practical
examinations
,Rationale: Colorado requires candidates to pass both a written (theory)
examination and a practical (hands-on) examination, both administered
through PSI Services LLC.
Question 4: What is the maximum number of training hours that
may be completed through distance education for Colorado
esthetician licensure?
A. 50 hours
B. 100 hours
C. 150 hours
D. 300 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 150 hours
Rationale: Of the required 600 training hours, up to 150 hours may be
completed through distance education, while at least 450 hours must be in-
person instruction.
Question 5: When do Colorado esthetician licenses expire?
A. December 31 of each year
B. March 31 of even-numbered years
C. June 30 of each year
D. On the licensee's birthday
CORRECT ANSWER: B. March 31 of even-numbered years
Rationale: Colorado esthetician licenses expire on March 31 of even-
numbered years and must be renewed to continue practicing legally.
Question 6: Does Colorado require continuing education hours for
esthetician license renewal?
A. Yes, 10 hours annually
B. Yes, 16 hours annually
C. Yes, 24 hours biennially
D. No, continuing education is not required
CORRECT ANSWER: D. No, continuing education is not required
Rationale: Colorado does not currently mandate continuing education for
esthetician license renewal.
,Question 7: What is the application fee for a Colorado esthetician
license paid to DORA?
A. $15
B. $28
C. $50
D. $100
CORRECT ANSWER: B. $28
Rationale: The esthetician license application fee payable to the Colorado
Division of Professions and Occupations is $28.
Question 8: Under Colorado law, what is the primary scope of
practice for an esthetician?
A. Cutting and coloring hair
B. Performing facials, makeup application, hair removal, and advanced skin
treatments
C. Performing manicures and pedicures only
D. Trimming beards and performing face shaving
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Performing facials, makeup application,
hair removal, and advanced skin treatments
Rationale: Estheticians in Colorado are licensed to perform skin care
services, advanced esthetic treatments such as microdermabrasion and
chemical peels, apply makeup, and remove superfluous hair.
Question 9: What does the term "contraindication" mean in the
context of esthetic services?
A. A condition that makes a treatment more effective
B. A condition that makes a treatment inadvisable or potentially harmful
C. A required pre-treatment service
D. A type of aftercare product
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A condition that makes a treatment
inadvisable or potentially harmful
Rationale: A contraindication is a condition or factor that serves as a reason
to withhold a certain medical or esthetic treatment because it may be
harmful to the client.
, Question 10: Which of the following is the FIRST step in the
disinfection process for reusable implements?
A. Soak in disinfectant solution
B. Scrub with soap and water to remove debris
C. Wipe with a dry paper towel
D. Spray with an aerosol disinfectant
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Scrub with soap and water to remove debris
Rationale: Proper disinfection begins with thoroughly cleaning implements
with soap and water to remove all visible debris, organic matter, and
residue before immersion in an EPA-registered disinfectant.
Question 11: What is the highest level of decontamination used for
implements in salon and spa settings?
A. Sanitization
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Deodorization
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Sterilization
Rationale: Sterilization is the highest level of decontamination, destroying
all microbial life including spores and bacteria, and is achieved through
methods such as autoclaving.
Question 12: Which of the following products is porous and
CANNOT be properly disinfected for reuse?
A. Metal tweezers
B. Glass bowls
C. Sponges
D. Stainless steel comedone extractors
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Sponges
Rationale: Porous items such as sponges cannot be adequately disinfected
because microorganisms can harbor deep within their structure; these
items must be discarded after single use.
Question 13: Which type of bacteria is responsible for causing
infectious diseases such as tetanus and strep throat?
Practice Questions & Answers, Skin Care, Infection Control,
Facial Treatments, Hair Removal, and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: Which Colorado state agency is responsible for
regulating the practice of esthetics and issuing esthetician licenses?
A. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
B. Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure under DORA
C. Colorado Medical Board
D. Colorado Department of Education
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology
Licensure under DORA
Rationale: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure,
which operates under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), is
the governing body that regulates esthetician licensing and practice in
Colorado.
Question 2: How many total training hours does Colorado require
for esthetician licensure from an approved school?
A. 300 hours
B. 600 hours
C. 1,000 hours
D. 1,500 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 600 hours
Rationale: Colorado mandates that esthetician candidates complete 600
hours of training (or 20 credit hours) from an approved esthetics school
before sitting for the licensing examinations.
Question 3: Which two examinations must a candidate pass to
obtain a Colorado esthetician license?
A. Written only
B. Practical only
C. Both written (theory) and practical examinations
D. No examination is required
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Both written (theory) and practical
examinations
,Rationale: Colorado requires candidates to pass both a written (theory)
examination and a practical (hands-on) examination, both administered
through PSI Services LLC.
Question 4: What is the maximum number of training hours that
may be completed through distance education for Colorado
esthetician licensure?
A. 50 hours
B. 100 hours
C. 150 hours
D. 300 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 150 hours
Rationale: Of the required 600 training hours, up to 150 hours may be
completed through distance education, while at least 450 hours must be in-
person instruction.
Question 5: When do Colorado esthetician licenses expire?
A. December 31 of each year
B. March 31 of even-numbered years
C. June 30 of each year
D. On the licensee's birthday
CORRECT ANSWER: B. March 31 of even-numbered years
Rationale: Colorado esthetician licenses expire on March 31 of even-
numbered years and must be renewed to continue practicing legally.
Question 6: Does Colorado require continuing education hours for
esthetician license renewal?
A. Yes, 10 hours annually
B. Yes, 16 hours annually
C. Yes, 24 hours biennially
D. No, continuing education is not required
CORRECT ANSWER: D. No, continuing education is not required
Rationale: Colorado does not currently mandate continuing education for
esthetician license renewal.
,Question 7: What is the application fee for a Colorado esthetician
license paid to DORA?
A. $15
B. $28
C. $50
D. $100
CORRECT ANSWER: B. $28
Rationale: The esthetician license application fee payable to the Colorado
Division of Professions and Occupations is $28.
Question 8: Under Colorado law, what is the primary scope of
practice for an esthetician?
A. Cutting and coloring hair
B. Performing facials, makeup application, hair removal, and advanced skin
treatments
C. Performing manicures and pedicures only
D. Trimming beards and performing face shaving
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Performing facials, makeup application,
hair removal, and advanced skin treatments
Rationale: Estheticians in Colorado are licensed to perform skin care
services, advanced esthetic treatments such as microdermabrasion and
chemical peels, apply makeup, and remove superfluous hair.
Question 9: What does the term "contraindication" mean in the
context of esthetic services?
A. A condition that makes a treatment more effective
B. A condition that makes a treatment inadvisable or potentially harmful
C. A required pre-treatment service
D. A type of aftercare product
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A condition that makes a treatment
inadvisable or potentially harmful
Rationale: A contraindication is a condition or factor that serves as a reason
to withhold a certain medical or esthetic treatment because it may be
harmful to the client.
, Question 10: Which of the following is the FIRST step in the
disinfection process for reusable implements?
A. Soak in disinfectant solution
B. Scrub with soap and water to remove debris
C. Wipe with a dry paper towel
D. Spray with an aerosol disinfectant
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Scrub with soap and water to remove debris
Rationale: Proper disinfection begins with thoroughly cleaning implements
with soap and water to remove all visible debris, organic matter, and
residue before immersion in an EPA-registered disinfectant.
Question 11: What is the highest level of decontamination used for
implements in salon and spa settings?
A. Sanitization
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Deodorization
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Sterilization
Rationale: Sterilization is the highest level of decontamination, destroying
all microbial life including spores and bacteria, and is achieved through
methods such as autoclaving.
Question 12: Which of the following products is porous and
CANNOT be properly disinfected for reuse?
A. Metal tweezers
B. Glass bowls
C. Sponges
D. Stainless steel comedone extractors
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Sponges
Rationale: Porous items such as sponges cannot be adequately disinfected
because microorganisms can harbor deep within their structure; these
items must be discarded after single use.
Question 13: Which type of bacteria is responsible for causing
infectious diseases such as tetanus and strep throat?
