Colorado · Cosmetology

Study Cosmetology in Colorado From Day One

Don't wait until two weeks before boards to panic. Shear Genius Society is built to work alongside your 1,800-hour cosmetology program from week one — chapter-indexed practice tests, games, flashcards, and video lessons tuned to the PSI exam.

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Colorado Cosmetology at a glance

Everything the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure requires — before you even open a textbook.

Program Hours

1,800

Minimum Age

Exam Provider

PSI

Exam Type

written + practical

Renewal

Every 1 year

Reciprocity

Yes

Official Board

Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure →

What's actually on the Colorado exam

SGS content is weighted the same way the exam is — so you study the heaviest topics the most.

Scientific Concepts (Infection Control, Safety, Chemistry)	35%
Hair Care and Services (Cutting, Styling, Chemical)	40%
Skin Care	15%
Nail Care and Services	10%

Your study arc, week by week

SGS isn't a two-week cram kit. It's the study companion that rides shotgun through all 1,800 program hours.

Weeks 1 – 14

Foundations

Your first 14 weeks cover anatomy, chemistry, infection control, and cosmetology basics. Use SGS flashcards and Knowledge Chair chapter by chapter to make the vocabulary stick while it's fresh.

Weeks 15 – 29

Hands-On + Theory

You're in practicals now. Pair every kit check with a quick SGS Shear Squares round on that chapter — the repetition glues clinical skills to the theory behind them.

Weeks 30 – 41

Mid-Program Check

Take a Cosmetology practice test for Colorado every week. Your score trend tells you which chapters to loop through TheBoard before you forget material you learned in month 2.

Final 4 weeks

Exam Polish

The Colorado exam is PSI's written test. Run full-length Practice Tests in exam conditions, review state-law questions daily, and use ShearForce for quick recall drills between clinic shifts.

Try Colorado-specific questions

Three real state-law questions from the SGS bank. Click an answer to reveal the correct one.

CO · Cosmetology · Sample 1

How many training hours does Colorado require for a cosmetology license?

CO · Cosmetology · Sample 2

What is the minimum age to obtain a cosmetology license in Colorado?

CO · Cosmetology · Sample 3

Which exam provider administers the cosmetology licensing exam in Colorado?

Unlock the full question bank

Get your free Colorado Cosmetology cheat sheet

Email yourself the one-page summary — Colorado's requirements, the exam topic weighting, your week-by-week study arc, and the top 10 Colorado-specific state-law questions students miss most.

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Questions beauty students actually ask

How many hours does Colorado require for a cosmetology license?

Colorado requires 1,800 hours of cosmetology training before you can sit for the state board exam.

Who administers the Colorado cosmetology exam?

PSI administers the Colorado cosmetology exam. It's a written + practical.

What's the minimum age to get licensed in Colorado?

Colorado requires candidates to be at least 16 years old to apply for a cosmetology license.

When should I start studying for my cosmetology boards?

Day one of school. SGS is built to work alongside your curriculum from the first chapter — flashcards, games, and practice tests per chapter mean you're reinforcing material while it's still fresh, not cramming two weeks out. Students who study every week from day one walk into boards confident, not panicked.

Does Colorado have license reciprocity?

Yes — Colorado offers reciprocity for cosmetology licenses from other states, though specific requirements vary. Check with the Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure for the current reciprocity rules.

How often do I renew my Colorado cosmetology license?

Licenses in Colorado renew every 1 year.

Can I use SGS if I'm only in week 3?

Yes — that's exactly what SGS was built for. The platform is chapter-indexed so you can jump to only the chapters you've covered in school. Don't save it for the end; the students who pass first-try use SGS from week 1.