Safety and Infection Control
30%of exam
Infection ControlDecontaminationExposure IncidentsSDSVentilation
Consultation and Analysis
19%of exam
Client IntakeContraindicationsPatch TestsHair AnalysisMedical Referral
Hairstyling
2%of exam
Textured StylingExtensionsHair PiecesBlowdryingThermal Curling
Haircutting
3%of exam
Hair TypesShearsRazorsClippersTrimmers
Haircoloring
10%of exam
ApplicationStrand TestLighteningColor TheoryChemical Safety
Chemical Texture Services
12%of exam
Virgin HairTreated HairRelaxingPermanent WavingChemical Safety
Skin Care
4%of exam
MassageExfoliationHot TowelsFacialsCalluses
Eyelash and Eyebrow
4%of exam
EnhancementsChemical ServicesTintingAdhesivesRemoval
Hair Removal
8%of exam
DepilatoriesWaxingSugaringTweezingThreading
Nail Care
8%of exam
ManicurePedicureVentilationNatural NailsEnhancements
Quick Facts
- Test
- Cosmetology Theory
- Provider
- PSI
- Effective
- May 1 2026
- Scored
- 100 questions
- Experimental
- 10 questions
- Time
- 120 min
- Pass
- 70%
- Materials
- Closed book
- Order
- Written before practical
Infection Sequence
Clean, disinfect, protect, then serve.
CleaningDisinfectionStorageSafety
Cleaning vs Disinfection
Cleaning
- Removes visible debris
- First decontamination step
- Prepares surfaces
Disinfection
- Destroys many pathogens
- Uses proper product
- Follows cleaning
Remove debris then disinfect
Alabama Exam Picker
- Ready to test→Apply to Board(Seek approval)
- Approval received→Schedule with PSI(Book written)
- Theory test starts→120-minute plan(Closed book)
- Review blueprint→Safety first(30%)
- Written exam passed→Apply practical(Required next)
- Exam fails→Reapply(Board process)
Infection and Safety
- Pathogen
- Disease-causing organism
- Cross-contamination
- Transfer of contamination
- Cleaning
- Remove visible debris
- Disinfection
- Destroy many surface pathogens
- Sterilization
- Destroy all microbial life
- Exposure incident
- Potential pathogen contact
- Single-use item
- Discard after one client
- SDS
- Chemical safety information
Exam Sequence
Written opens practical.
Board approvalPSIWrittenPractical
Disinfection vs Sterilization
Disinfection
- Surface pathogen control
- Proper disinfectant
- Not all microbial life
Sterilization
- All microbial life
- Highest decontamination level
- Includes spores
High control vs highest
Workstation and Tools
- Daily workstation
- Daily cleaning target
- Contaminated tool
- Requires proper decontamination
- Disinfected storage
- Protected clean-tool storage
- Chemical label
- Chemical identification information
- Chemical storage
- Safe material storage
- Protective barrier
- Client chemical protection
- Electrical safety
- Safe equipment operation
- Ventilation
- Air-quality control
Written vs Practical
Written theory
- 100 scored questions
- 120 minutes
- Closed book
Practical
- Hands-on topic areas
- Written required first
- Separate test
Knowledge before performance
Consultation Sequence
Analyze first; select safely.
IntakeConditionContraindicationService
Patch Test vs Strand Test
Patch test
- Allergy-reaction screening
- Client safety
- Before exposure
Strand test
- Color-result preview
- Hair outcome
- Before color service
Reaction vs result
Service Safety Picker
- Service begins→Client intake(Assess condition)
- Contraindication appears→Decline or alter(Protect client)
- Medical concern appears→Medical referral(No diagnosis)
- Allergy risk exists→Patch test(Follow procedure)
- Tool is contaminated→Clean then disinfect(Follow product label)
- Single-use item used→Discard item(No reuse)
Consultation and Analysis
- Client intake
- Service-information collection
- Consent form
- Client authorization record
- Contraindication
- Reason to decline service
- Patch test
- Allergy-reaction screening
- Hair analysis
- Hair-condition assessment
- Skin analysis
- Skin-condition assessment
- Nail analysis
- Nail-condition assessment
- Medical referral
- Recommend medical opinion
Contraindication vs Adverse Reaction
Contraindication
- Reason not to serve
- Found before service
- Decline or alter
Adverse reaction
- Undesired product response
- During or after
- Stop and protect
Before risk vs response
Theory Test Facts
- Scored questions
- 100 contribute score
- Experimental questions
- 10 unscored items
- Time limit
- 120 minutes
- Passing score
- At least 70%
- Test format
- Closed book
- Written approval
- Board approval first
- Practical order
- Written exam first
Styling and Cutting
- Textured styling
- Texture-focused hair procedures
- Braiding
- Textured styling procedure
- Hair extension
- Added-hair enhancement
- Hair piece
- Hair replacement addition
- Blowdrying
- Airflow styling procedure
- Thermal curling
- Heat-curling procedure
- Haircutting
- Hair-shaping procedure
- Cutting implements
- Shears razors clippers
Hair Service Picker
- Choose color formula→Hair analysis(Assess condition)
- Preview color result→Strand test(Check outcome)
- Lighten hair→Lightening procedure(Use safely)
- Change texture→Chemical texturing(Assess results)
- Hair is processed→Treated-hair procedure(Use precautions)
- Use thermal tools→Thermal precautions(Protect scalp)
Color and Texture
- Haircolor application
- Color-product placement
- Strand test
- Color-result preview
- Hair lightening
- Lightening-product procedure
- Color theory
- Color formulation principles
- Virgin hair
- Previously untreated hair
- Chemically treated hair
- Previously processed hair
- Chemical texturing
- Texture-changing service
- Process result
- Chemical outcome assessment
Skin and Hair Removal
- Facial massage
- Safe facial movements
- Exfoliation
- Surface-skin removal
- Hot towels
- Controlled towel application
- Eyelash enhancement
- Lash application service
- Eyebrow tinting
- Brow color procedure
- Waxing
- Wax hair removal
- Sugaring
- Sugar-paste hair removal
- Tweezing
- Individual-hair removal
Nail Care Basics
- Nail safety
- Safe nail-service practices
- Filing
- Nail-shaping procedure
- Buffing
- Surface-smoothing procedure
- Cuticle removal
- Safe cuticle procedure
- Manicure
- Hand and nail service
- Pedicure
- Foot and nail service
- Nail ventilation
- Particulate-control practice
- Nail enhancement
- Artificial nail service
Common Traps
Score Trap
100 scored ≠ 110 delivered ≠ Experimental ≠ scored
Decontamination Trap
Cleaning ≠ disinfection ≠ Disinfection ≠ sterilization
Test Trap
Patch test ≠ strand test ≠ Written ≠ practical
Service Trap
Contraindication ≠ adverse reaction ≠ Analyze ≠ diagnose
Hair Trap
Virgin ≠ treated hair ≠ Color ≠ texture service
Tool Trap
Single-use ≠ reusable ≠ Storage ≠ disinfection
Last Minute
- 1.Safety and Infection Control: 30%
- 2.Consultation and Analysis: 19%
- 3.Haircoloring: 10%; Texture: 12%
- 4.Hair Removal and Nails: 8%
- 5.100 scored plus 10 experimental
- 6.120 minutes; closed book
- 7.Pass mark: 70%
- 8.Clean before disinfection
- 9.Check contraindications before service
- 10.Patch test checks reactions
- 11.Strand test previews color
- 12.Written exam before practical
Practice Questions356 questionsStudy Guide23 topicsCheat Sheet63 factsFlashcards50 cardsVideos7 videosBlogs10 blogs
Free CE
Free CEThird-party resources · We may earn a commission from purchases.
Cosmetology State Board Exam Study Guide: Complete Written & Practical Prep Workbook for the State Board Exam — Theory Review, Practice Tests, and Step-by-Step Study System
By Grace Turner, Avery
$20.00 · 
Online course on Mometrix
Prep on RocketCertSame family resources
Explore More Cosmetology License
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
Video3 Best Cosmetology Exam Books 2026: RankedVideoBest Cosmetology State Board Exam Kits (2026): 5 Complete Kits ReviewedVideoBest Mannequin Heads for Cosmetology State Board Practice (2026): 5 Top Picks ReviewedVideoCosmetology Compact 2026: 10+ States, How to ApplyArticleCosmetology State Board Exam 2026: Written + Practical Guide14 min readArticleCosmetology Career Paths Beyond the Salon: 10 High-Paying Alternatives (2026)20 min readArticleCosmetology Compact 2026: 10+ States, How to Apply13 min readArticle3 Best Cosmetology Exam Books 2026: Ranked8 min read