Cosmetology Exam
Cosmetology Exam - What You Need to Know
If you are an aspiring cosmetologist, at some point you will want to get licensed so that you can legally work in the vocation you love. That means passing both a practical and a written cosmetology exam. The vast majority of states and U.S. territories use the same practical test, the one developed by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology. In the states that do not use this particular test, the test will still be very similar to the national standard. While you will want to check with your state cosmetology board for the exact requirements, this article will give you a broad outline of the cosmetology exam that applies to most states.
First, you will need to have completed a program of instruction at an authorized and licensed cosmetology school. This usually means between 1400 and 1800 hours of classroom teaching and hands on practice, which, depending on the school schedule, can take anywhere from nine months to a couple of years to complete. It is always imperative to check with the state cosmetology board before enrolling in any school, as not all schools are approved by the board.
Once you have graduated, you should check with the state board about the fees and testing locations in your state before registering for the cosmetology exam. On the day of the test, you will usually be expected to provide one or two unmarked mannequin heads for your examination. You will also need to bring a pair of mannequin hands for the nails portion of the test if you are seeking to be licensed in that area. Some states allow you to bring a live model (above the age of 15) in lieu of the mannequin heads and hands. If this sounds better for you, check with your state board to see if this is allowed.
You will also be expected to bring all the supplies you will need, and you will demonstrate your skills on the mannequin or model while you are being observed. You will be tested in six core areas: Set Up and Client Protection, Thermal Curling, Haircutting, Chemical Waving, Chemical Relaxing, and Hair Lightening and Hair Coloring. State boards may also require one or more options tests from the following areas: Facial, Manicure, Sculptured Nail, Roller Placement, Shaping and Pin Curl Placement, and Blow Dry Styling. These are the usual guidelines for the cosmetology exam, but again, always check with your state board for the official word. On top of this practical exam, there is also a very demanding written cosmetology exam. Failure to pass either one of them will prevent a person from becoming a cosmetologist.
Your State Cosmetology Test: Are You Ready?
No matter where you live, if you are an aspiring cosmetologist, you are going to have to pass your state cosmetologist test if you want to make a living doing what you love. In fact, you are going to have to pass not just one test, but two different exams. One is a practical test, where you will demonstrate your skills on either a live model or on mannequin heads and hands. While this practical test is difficult, most students are ready for it. After all, they have just spent from nine months to over a year studying and performing these techniques several hours a day. If you have successfully navigated your way through the rigors of cosmetology school, you are probably ready for the practical cosmetology test.
It is the other cosmetology test that tends to trip up so many aspiring cosmetologists. Many tend to think the written test will be a breeze, and they do not bother studying for it. They figure that they have spent so much time doing the hands-on work of cosmetology that passing the written test will not be any problem because the information they need to know has become second nature to them. Many of them walk into the room for the written test full of confidence and optimism, only to walk out of the room a little while later, shocked and devastated because they realize they failed the test. This happens to thousands of people every year, and if you are not prepared, it can happen to you, too.
This does not have to happen to you, though. If you have the brains and determination to graduate from a demanding cosmetology school, then you also have what it takes to pass the written cosmetology test. There is no reason at all that you should fail if you thoroughly prepare yourself for the exam. You simply have to realize that you must take the test seriously, that it will be tough, and that you need to prepare for it. The best way to do this is to get a good cosmetology test study guide several weeks or months before the test and use it to review and test yourself. You will find out which areas you are weak in and what you need to do to brush up. As a result, you will be ready to pass the written cosmetology test when you walk into the testing room.
Cosmetologist Licensing - Not As Easy As You Think
Every year tens of thousands of women and men decide to seek cosmetology licensing in order to practice their dream career of helping people look their very best. Many of these aspiring beauty artists have a real knack for it and have the potential to become outstanding cosmetologists. Unfortunately, many of them never realize their dream of working at a salon or one day opening their own because they have never been told just how difficult cosmetology licensing is. This is not meant to discourage anyone from pursuing this important vocation; on the contrary, we have provided this article to help give you the knowledge you need in order to achieve your dream of becoming a cosmetologist. If you know what is ahead, you can prepare.
One of the biggest mistakes aspiring cosmetologists make is choosing the wrong school. As you are probably aware, there are quite a few choices when it comes to cosmetology schools, and some are far better than others. The only real way to find out which ones are better is to talk to a lot of cosmetologists and get their opinions. The second mistake is choosing the wrong program. There is a wide variety of cosmetology programs, even within the same schools, and they each have a different focus. Some are little more than hair styling programs, while others include excellent courses on nails, facials, etc. Make sure you know what you are signing up for.
The third big mistake is not understanding just how physically demanding cosmetology school is. Any program leading to cosmetology licensing will be at least several months long, and many last longer than a year. Unlike many traditional colleges and vocational schools, beauty schools are often run on a schedule of five days a week, seven to eight hours a day. On top of this, you will be on your feet much of the time, which can be physically exhausting. This combination of a full time schedule that is also physically demanding leads many students to drop out before they finish cosmetology school. Finally, many of those who do have the stamina to make it through school do not make it past the final hurdle of cosmetology licensing, which is the testing portion. Every state requires both a practical and a written test in order to be licensed. Many students fail the written portion, which they easily could have passed if they had gotten a good cosmetology licensing study guide. Do not let this happen to you. Once you know the pitfalls, you can be prepared for what lies ahead.
Cosmetology Practice Test: Why You Need One
Do you need a cosmetology practice test? Before you answer that question, think about the following scenario. You have just graduated from the best cosmetology school in your area. You have spent thousands of dollars-you may even have taken out some federal student loans-to learn the skills you need to achieve your dream of helping people look their absolute best. You have gotten quite good at it; after all, you have just spent months and months of your life doing the hard work necessary to obtain these skills. It is meant a lot of hard work and dedication, and you have had to face more than your share of frustration and discouragement, but now you are so close to becoming a licensed cosmetologist that you can taste it.
You know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are going to ace the practical test. You are not even worried about the written test, because, after all, how hard could it be? Then you walk into the testing room and discover to your shock that the written test is a lot more difficult than you had thought it would be. You are devastated, because now your dream of a cosmetology career is on hold until you can take the test a second time. Think this cannot happen to you? It happens to thousands of cosmetology school graduates every year. Yet all of this could be prevented by using a cosmetology practice test.
The big problem is that the typical cosmetology student spends so much of his or her time working hands on with other students, mannequins, and customers under the watchful eyes of their instructors that pretty soon they focus solely on the practical aspects of cosmetology. They figure that if they have mastered all the techniques, they really do not have to worry about any written questions. That is a huge mistake. The written test is very thorough, and it covers questions and subjects most students have long ago forgotten about by test time. That is why a cosmetology practice test is so important. A good study guide will have some practice exams that can show you areas in which you are weak and areas you need to study more. If you spend a few hours a week preparing and taking practice tests, you will not have to worry about failing the written cosmetology exam.
A Cosmetology pracice test is a great way to prepare to pass the Cosmetology test, you may want to consider using either a Cosmetology test study guide or Cosmetology test flashcards to understand the basic concepts or what will be covered on the Cosmetology test. The important thing is to avoid procrastinating about studying for the Cosmetology test until the last minute and to use a Cosmetology practice test to prepare with.