An esthetician school in Sacramento can give you the skin care training needed for California's licensing exam. Compare local campuses, published tuition and class schedules below, including options in Citrus Heights, Roseville and nearby Vacaville.
Required skin care training600 hours at a Board-approved school
Licensing testWritten examination through PSI
Exam eligibilityAt least 17; completed 10th grade or equivalent
Next published startPaul Mitchell: November 9, 2026, part time
Esthetics programs around Sacramento
Compare skin care programs at Sacramento-area campuses, with Vacaville included at the edge of the search area. The check line under each school links to its entry on the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology approved-school list.
Published starts: January 5, 2027 AM and January 26, 2027 PM. Evening classes meet 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Saturday is 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Ask admissions about available seats.
The 2026 catalog says programs start approximately monthly; contact admissions for the next exact date. Use its esthetics schedule, since the program webpage also contains unrelated cosmetology text.
Published starts: November 9, 2026 part time and November 16, 2026 Esthetics. The cost section references 660 scheduled hours while the completion requirement is 600 hours; ask about attendance and extra charges.
January 26, 2027 A-schedule registration is open. B includes Saturday, 8:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Six remote independent-study hours are required during the freshman phase. Catalog and webpage give different month counts; confirm your completion date.
Next listed start: November 17, 2026. The page gives 5-6 months in its cost section and 4.5-5.5 months under starts; request a written completion date.
Vacaville is a longer commute from Sacramento. The 2026 campus catalog lists November 23 and November 25 starts by schedule; confirm the selected class and seats.
Vacaville lists current enrollment and November 23 and November 25, 2026 starts by schedule. The catalog gives 36- and 45-week attendance plans; ask which plan applies to your class.
California requires you to be at least 17 and have completed 10th grade or its equivalent. Individual schools may set additional admissions requirements. See the Board's qualifications.
2
Match the approved campus
Find the school's name and street address on the Board's approved list. The Board says hours from unapproved courses do not qualify you for its exam.
3
Finish the required training
Complete the 600-hour skin care course and the campus graduation requirements. Ask how clinic attendance and any hybrid theory hours are recorded. The Board's training FAQ explains the minimum.
4
Submit your license application
Follow the Board's applicant instructions and provide the required training documents. Once the Board approves your examination application, you can arrange the PSI written test.
5
Pass and receive your license
Prepare using the Board's examination information. You must pass the written exam and receive your license before performing covered services for a fee, according to the Board FAQ.
Sacramento skin care employment and wages
BLS reported 550 skincare specialist jobs and a median annual wage of $38,180 in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area in May 2025. These are the latest figures in the BLS OEWS area table, occupation 39-5094. They describe the wider metro area rather than Sacramento city alone.
The OEWS survey excludes self-employed workers, so these figures do not describe income from your own treatment room or spa. When you review an opening, ask about paid hours, commission, tips and benefits. Use the median as a comparison point, rather than an expected starting salary.
Esthetician tuition and ways to pay
Published tuition includes $8,700 at Citrus Heights Beauty College in its 2025-2026 catalog and $9,360 on Paul Mitchell's course page. Their listed totals are $11,487.57 and $11,360, respectively. Ask for the full charge sheet, including books, kits and any attendance-related fees.
For eligible students and programs, Federico lists Pell grants and other aid and asks you to complete the FAFSA. Its veterans page explains using GI Bill benefits; verify coverage for your exact course. You can also meet with a Sacramento Works Job Center coach about WIOA training eligibility and the Eligible Training Provider List before committing to a school. Request a written aid decision before counting funding toward tuition.
How long does esthetician school take around Sacramento?
California's training minimum is 600 hours, but the weekly schedule changes the calendar length. Federico publishes five months full time and 7.5 months part time. Citrus Heights lists 6.25 months on its program page. Ask each campus for a completion date tied to your class schedule, including clinic days and makeup work. Federico esthetics and Citrus Heights esthetics publish those schedules.
Can I complete esthetics training online?
Local hybrid courses combine remote theory with campus practice. MIXED's 2026 catalog assigns 210 of its 600 hours to distance education. Citrus Heights also requires campus attendance and some independent study. Before choosing a hybrid class, get the required campus days and technology needs in writing. These listings cover programs with local practical training, so you should plan for travel to the school.
Does an advanced course let me offer medical treatments?
An advanced course title does not expand the services allowed by your esthetician license. The Board's esthetician scope flyer identifies permitted and prohibited services. Check it before paying for training in a particular device or treatment. Ask the school which procedures you may legally provide after graduation and which require a different professional license.
Is a school diploma the same as an esthetician license?
No. A school can document that you finished its course, but the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology issues the license. You must meet its qualifications, submit the required application and pass the written examination. The Board's applicant page explains that PSI scheduling follows application approval. Check your license status before you start charging for skin care services.