COLORADO ESTHETICIAN PSI EXAM 2026/2027 | 100 ACTUAL-
STYLE QUESTIONS & DETAILED RATIONALES
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
Rationale: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure,
operating under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), is the
governing body that regulates esthetician licensing and practice in
Colorado.
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
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.
,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
Rationale: Colorado requires candidates to pass both a written (theory)
examination and a practical (hands-on) examination administered by PSI
Services LLC.
4. What is the primary purpose of infection control in an esthetics
practice?
A. To treat diseases at the source
B. To eliminate or reduce pathogens to prevent the spread of disease
C. To improve the appearance of the skin
D. To increase client satisfaction
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Infection control focuses on eliminating or reducing
pathogenic microorganisms to prevent the transmission of infectious
diseases in the salon environment.
5. Which governmental agency registers all types of disinfectants sold
and used in the United States?
A. OSHA
B. FDA
C. EPA
D. CDC
,CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for
registering and regulating all types of disinfectants sold and used in the
United States.
6. Which of the following is the correct order of the decontamination
process?
A. Disinfection, cleaning, sterilization
B. Cleaning, disinfection, sterilization
C. Sterilization, cleaning, disinfection
D. Cleaning, sterilization, disinfection
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The correct order is cleaning first (removing visible debris),
followed by disinfection (killing most pathogens), and finally sterilization
(destroying all microbial life).
7. Which type of bacteria are generally harmless and do not cause
disease?
A. Pathogenic bacteria
B. Nonpathogenic bacteria
C. Viruses
D. Fungi
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Nonpathogenic bacteria are generally harmless and do not
cause disease in humans.
8. What is the name of the bacteria that causes strep throat and
impetigo?
A. Staphylococcus
B. Streptococcus
, C. Pseudomonas
D. Mycobacterium
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Streptococcus bacteria are responsible for causing infections
such as strep throat and impetigo.
9. Which bloodborne virus attacks the liver and can cause long-term
damage?
A. HIV
B. Hepatitis B
C. Herpes simplex
D. Human papillomavirus
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne virus that attacks the liver and
can cause chronic liver disease.
10. What is the highest level of decontamination used for implements
in salons?
A. Sanitation
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Cleaning
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Sterilization is the highest level of decontamination,
destroying all microbial life including bacterial spores.
11. Which of the following is an example of a bloodborne pathogen?
A. Tinea pedis
B. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
STYLE QUESTIONS & DETAILED RATIONALES
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
Rationale: The Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure,
operating under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), is the
governing body that regulates esthetician licensing and practice in
Colorado.
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
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.
,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
Rationale: Colorado requires candidates to pass both a written (theory)
examination and a practical (hands-on) examination administered by PSI
Services LLC.
4. What is the primary purpose of infection control in an esthetics
practice?
A. To treat diseases at the source
B. To eliminate or reduce pathogens to prevent the spread of disease
C. To improve the appearance of the skin
D. To increase client satisfaction
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Infection control focuses on eliminating or reducing
pathogenic microorganisms to prevent the transmission of infectious
diseases in the salon environment.
5. Which governmental agency registers all types of disinfectants sold
and used in the United States?
A. OSHA
B. FDA
C. EPA
D. CDC
,CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for
registering and regulating all types of disinfectants sold and used in the
United States.
6. Which of the following is the correct order of the decontamination
process?
A. Disinfection, cleaning, sterilization
B. Cleaning, disinfection, sterilization
C. Sterilization, cleaning, disinfection
D. Cleaning, sterilization, disinfection
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The correct order is cleaning first (removing visible debris),
followed by disinfection (killing most pathogens), and finally sterilization
(destroying all microbial life).
7. Which type of bacteria are generally harmless and do not cause
disease?
A. Pathogenic bacteria
B. Nonpathogenic bacteria
C. Viruses
D. Fungi
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Nonpathogenic bacteria are generally harmless and do not
cause disease in humans.
8. What is the name of the bacteria that causes strep throat and
impetigo?
A. Staphylococcus
B. Streptococcus
, C. Pseudomonas
D. Mycobacterium
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Streptococcus bacteria are responsible for causing infections
such as strep throat and impetigo.
9. Which bloodborne virus attacks the liver and can cause long-term
damage?
A. HIV
B. Hepatitis B
C. Herpes simplex
D. Human papillomavirus
CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Hepatitis B is a bloodborne virus that attacks the liver and
can cause chronic liver disease.
10. What is the highest level of decontamination used for implements
in salons?
A. Sanitation
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Cleaning
CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Sterilization is the highest level of decontamination,
destroying all microbial life including bacterial spores.
11. Which of the following is an example of a bloodborne pathogen?
A. Tinea pedis
B. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
