NIC National Electrology Written Examination study guide
NIC National Electrology Written Examination, administered by National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC), is mapped here as 2 topic areas; the heaviest are Scientific Concepts (65%) and Services (35%).
About this course: Galvanic, thermolysis, blend - finally clear for the NIC written. Every clinical and electrical term glossed in plain English, the confusable pairs the exam loves drilled side-by-side, every card spoken aloud.
NIC National Electrology Written Examination at a glance
- Questions
- 50
- Time allowed
- 90 minutes
- Passing standard
- STATE-set, commonly ~75% (Iowa >=75% on the NIC exam; California = 75% aggregate on the CA State OR NIC Written)
- Standard / edition
- NIC National Electrology Written CIB
- Administered by
- National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC)
Source: NIC National Electrology Written CIB, National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.
Topic areas and weights
| Topic area | Weight | Concepts | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Concepts | 65% | 12 | Topic page |
| Services | 35% | 8 | Section below |
Topic guides at a glance
Scientific Concepts
65% of the course blueprint, 12 concepts. Emphasized: Sanitize < disinfect < sterilize, OSHA/CDC bloodborne-pathogen precautions and Single-use disposable probes/needles, never reused.
Study plan in this course
- Infection Control & Sterilization — 4 cards · free
- Modalities & Electrical Science — 5 cards · free
- Anatomy & Growth Cycle — 3 cards · full course
- Consultation & Contraindications — 4 cards · full course
- Insertion & Treatment Technique — 3 cards · full course
- Records, Ethics & State Law — 1 card · full course
Services
Services carries 35% of the NIC National Electrology Written Examination blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 2 weighted areas. It spans 8 concepts. The course teaches it in 3 study units: Consultation & Contraindications, Insertion & Treatment Technique and Records, Ethics & State Law.
What Services covers
- Consultation + contraindication screening first — NIC CIB
- HF/thermolysis pacemaker + other contraindications — NIC CIB
- Probe/needle selection + insertion angle & depth — NIC CIB
- Client-protection safe practices — NIC CIB
- Treatment record documentation — NIC CIB
- Treatment selection: galvanic vs thermolysis vs blend by case — NIC CIB
- Temporary methods vs permanent electrolysis; depilatory — NIC National Electrology Written CIB
- After-care / home care instructions — NIC CIB
How Services connects to other areas
- HF/thermolysis pacemaker + other contraindications links to Thermolysis: AC/HF current, heat coagulation — Scientific Concepts
- Probe/needle selection + insertion angle & depth links to Hair grows from the papilla via matrix-cell multiplication — Scientific Concepts
- Treatment selection: galvanic vs thermolysis vs blend by case links to Galvanic: DC current, chemical lye production — Scientific Concepts
- Treatment selection: galvanic vs thermolysis vs blend by case links to Thermolysis: AC/HF current, heat coagulation — Scientific Concepts
- Treatment selection: galvanic vs thermolysis vs blend by case links to Blend: galvanic + thermolysis combined — Scientific Concepts
- Temporary methods vs permanent electrolysis; depilatory links to Electrolysis = FDA-recognized permanent; laser/IPL = reduction — Scientific Concepts
Official references for Services
- NIC CIB
- NIC National Electrology Written CIB
In the app this area comes with 8 memory cards and 33 module-quiz questions in the full course.
Details that change — checked against official sources
- California: 600 training hours; written = 50 scored + 5 pretest, 90 min; practical NO LONGER required (eff. 1/1/2022); accepts CA State OR NIC Written at 75% aggregate. — California Board of Barbering & Cosmetology
- NIC National Electrology Written CIB edition: public mirror Revised 7/2011 (Ref 10/2014); NIC updated blood-exposure procedures alongside exam revisions from March 2026 — verify the live CIB edition + item count on nictesting.org at build. — nictesting.org NIC National Electrology Written Examination CIB
Official references
- NIC National Electrology Written CIB
- NIC CIB
- state board sites
- California Board of Barbering & Cosmetology
- nictesting.org NIC National Electrology Written Examination CIB
- professionals.electrology.com CPE credential
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens standard
- AEA electrology-licensing-requirements