Pass Cosmetology

NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination (written theory component only) study guide

NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination (written theory component only), administered by National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC), is mapped here as 4 topic areas; the heaviest are Hair Care & Services (45%), Scientific Concepts (35%) and Skin Care & Services (10%).

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NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination (written theory component only) at a glance

Questions
110
Time allowed
90 minutes
Passing standard
State-set cut score
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice (single best answer)
Standard / edition
CIB effective July 1, 2022
Administered by
National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC)

Source: CIB effective July 1, 2022, National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.

Topic areas and weights

Topic areaWeightConceptsGuide
Hair Care & Services45%14Topic page
Scientific Concepts35%9Topic page
Skin Care & Services10%0Section below
Nail Care & Services10%3Section below

Topic guides at a glance

Hair Care & Services

45% of the course blueprint, 14 concepts. Emphasized: The cuticle must be opened for chemical services to work., The disulfide bond links two cysteine amino acids; breaking it forms cystine/cysteine. and A guide is the first cut section every other section is measured against..

Scientific Concepts

35% of the course blueprint, 9 concepts. Emphasized: Pathogenic bacteria come in three shapes: cocci, bacilli, spirilla., Salon tools are DISINFECTED, not sterilized; you must CLEAN before you disinfect. and Disinfectants used in salons must be EPA-registered, hospital-grade, and bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal..

Study plan in this course

  1. Hair Structure and Care — 12 cards · free
  2. Hair Cutting and Styling — 11 cards · free
  3. Chemical Texture and Color — 17 cards · full course
  4. Infection Control and Safety — 16 cards · full course
  5. Anatomy and Physiology — 7 cards · full course
  6. Chemistry and Safety — 5 cards · full course
  7. Skin Care and Services — 8 cards · full course
  8. Nail Care and Services — 9 cards · full course

Skin Care & Services

Skin Care & Services carries 10% of the NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination (written theory component only) blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 4 weighted areas. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Skin Care & Services.

Official references for Skin Care & Services

  • [S4] Milady Standard Cosmetology
  • [S11] Hair thermal-styling damage + decontamination-level corroboration

In the app this area comes with 8 memory cards and 8 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Nail Care & Services

Nail Care & Services carries 10% of the NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination (written theory component only) blueprint used in this course, the 4th-largest of its 4 weighted areas. It spans 3 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Nail Care & Services.

What Nail Care & Services covers

  • Know the surrounding skin terms: cuticle, eponychium, hyponychium, and the nail folds/sidewalls. — [S4] Milady Standard Cosmetology
  • Single-use nail items are discarded after one client; metal implements are disinfected. — [S5] EPA Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants / List N program
  • Never cut living tissue or service broken/infected skin; cutting it can cause infection. — [S4] Milady Standard Cosmetology + [S6] OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens 29 CFR 1910.1030

How Nail Care & Services connects to other areas

Official references for Nail Care & Services

In the app this area comes with 9 memory cards and 9 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Details that change — checked against official sources

Official references

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