Safety and Infection Control
30%of exam
Client Consultation and Analysis
19%of exam
Hairstyling
2%of exam
Haircutting
3%of exam
Haircoloring
10%of exam
Chemical Texture Services
12%of exam
Skin Care
4%of exam
Eyelash and Eyebrow
4%of exam
Hair Removal
8%of exam
Nail Care
8%of exam
Practical Skills
Not publishedof exam
Quick Facts
- Vendor
- PSI Services LLC
- Current guide
- v1.2 effective 5/20/26
- Theory items
- 100 scored + 10 unscored
- Theory time
- 120 minutes
- Theory pass
- 70 of 100
- Practical areas
- 11 topic areas
- Practical time
- About 235 minutes
- Practical pass
- 95 of 127
- PSI fees
- $167 both; $93 each
- Score window
- Both passes within one year
- LARA fee
- $63 initial license
Top Theory Weights
Safety, consult, texture, color lead
Safety 30%Consultation 19%Texture 12%Color 10%
Cleaning vs Disinfection
Cleaning
- Removes visible debris
- Comes first
Disinfection
- Destroys most pathogens
- Follows cleaning
Debris removal before pathogen control
Safety Response Picker
- Visible debris→Clean first(Before disinfection)
- Reusable implement→Clean then disinfect(Follow label)
- Porous disposable→Discard after use(Single-use)
- Suspected disorder→Decline and refer(Protect client)
- Adverse reaction→Stop service(Respond immediately)
- Chemical contact→Follow SDS response(Remove exposure)
- Damaged cord→Remove equipment(Prevent injury)
- Unsafe ventilation→Stop chemical service(Control exposure)
Infection + Safety
- Pathogens
- Disease-causing organisms
- Cleaning
- Removes visible debris
- Disinfection
- Destroys most pathogens
- Sterilization
- Destroys microbial life
- Exposure incident
- Stop, protect, clean, report
- SDS
- Chemical hazard guidance
- Product label
- Follow manufacturer directions
- Ventilation
- Controls vapors and particles
- Electrical safety
- Inspect cords and tools
Decontamination Order
Clean first; disinfect second
Remove debrisApply disinfectantFollow label
Single-Use vs Multi-Use
Single-use
- Use once
- Discard correctly
Multi-use
- Reusable item
- Clean and disinfect
Discard vs decontaminate
Client Analysis
- Client intake
- Health and service history
- Consent
- Document informed agreement
- Contraindication
- Decline or alter service
- Medical referral
- Suspected disease or disorder
- Patch test
- Checks allergic sensitivity
- Hair analysis
- Texture, density, porosity, elasticity
- Skin analysis
- Condition guides service
- Nail analysis
- Condition guides service
- Adverse reaction
- Stop service immediately
Styling + Cutting
- Textured styling
- Braids, locks, extensions
- Blowdrying
- Direct heat safely
- Thermal tools
- Test temperature first
- Hair type
- Guides cutting procedure
- Shears
- Controlled cutting tool
- Razor
- Use with safe handling
- Clippers
- Controlled short cutting
- Tool safety
- Protect scalp and fingers
Color Lift vs Deposit
Color lift
- Lightening task
- Practical topic 9
Color deposit
- Permanent color task
- Practical topic 10
Remove pigment vs add color
Haircoloring
- Strand test
- Predicts processing result
- Patch test
- Screens allergic sensitivity
- Virgin application
- Follow product placement
- Retouch
- Apply to new growth
- Color theory
- Guides safe formulation
- Lightener
- Removes natural pigment
- Developer
- Activates oxidative color
- Metallic dyes
- Check chemical compatibility
- Client protection
- Barrier, drape, gloves
Wave vs NaOH Relaxer
Chemical wave
- Creates curl pattern
- 45-minute topic
NaOH relaxer
- Straightens hair
- 20-minute topic
Curl creation vs straightening
Chemical Texture
- Permanent wave
- Creates curl pattern
- NaOH relaxer
- Straightens hair chemically
- Virgin hair
- Apply product safely
- Treated hair
- Adjust for hair condition
- Test curl
- Checks processing progress
- Neutralizer
- Stabilizes wave result
- Barrier cream
- Protects client skin
- Warning signs
- Burning, breakage, irritation
Skin Care
- Facial massage
- Use safe movements
- Skin preparation
- Cleanse and analyze
- Exfoliation
- Removes surface cells
- Hot towels
- Check safe temperature
- Tools and devices
- Follow safe procedures
- Callus removal
- Avoid living tissue
- Scalp treatment
- Select by condition
- Contraindication
- Alter or decline service
Lashes + Brows
- Lash enhancements
- Apply and remove safely
- Lash adhesive
- Avoid eye contact
- Adhesive remover
- Use controlled removal
- Tint products
- Follow product safety
- Chemical services
- Follow safety procedures
- Client protection
- Shield skin and eyes
Waxing vs Tweezing
Waxing
- Removes multiple hairs
- Uses wax product
Tweezing
- Removes individual hairs
- Uses tweezers
Area removal vs precision
Hair Removal
- Depilatory
- Chemically dissolves hair
- Waxing
- Removes hair from root
- Sugaring
- Paste epilation method
- Tweezing
- Removes individual hairs
- Threading
- Twisted-thread epilation
- Gloves
- Limit cross-contamination
- Contraindication
- Decline unsafe service
Nail Care
- Filing
- Shape without plate damage
- Buffing
- Smooth conservatively
- Cuticle removal
- Remove nonliving tissue only
- Manicure
- Natural nail service
- Pedicure
- Feet and toenail service
- Ventilation
- Controls nail particulates
- Multi-use containers
- Close during clipping
- Nail repair
- Follow product directions
- Enhancement removal
- Never force product
Practical Flow
Work, nails, skin, cut, texture, color, work
Prep firstNails 2-3Skin 4-5Hair 6-10Prep last
Theory vs Practical
Theory
- 110 administered items
- 120 minutes
- Pass 70/100
Practical
- 11 topic areas
- About 235 minutes
- Pass 95/127
Knowledge test vs skill demonstration
Practical Sequence Picker
- Test begins→Workstation preparation(10 minutes)
- Nails begin→Manicure then enhancement(Topics 2-3)
- Skin begins→Facial then brows(Topics 4-5)
- Cutting begins→Haircutting(Topic 6)
- Texture begins→Wave then relaxer(Topics 7-8)
- Color begins→Lift then deposit(Topics 9-10)
- Final station→Next-client preparation(Topic 11)
- Every topic→Infection control + safety(Scored throughout)
Exam Logistics
- State eligibility
- Apply through MiPLUS first
- PSI application
- Use MICOS online application
- Theory delivery
- Computer or online proctor
- Practical delivery
- Onsite or virtual option
- Combined fee
- $167 theory plus practical
- Single portion
- $93 theory or practical
- Score window
- Passes within one year
- Initial license
- $63 through LARA
- Renewal cycle
- Two years; $48
Score Window
Theory plus practical: one-year window
Pass theoryPass practicalDates within one year
Practical Topic Order
- 1. Workstation prep
- 10 minutes
- 2. Basic manicure
- 20 minutes
- 3. Nail enhancement
- 30 minutes
- 4. Basic facial
- 20 minutes
- 5. Brow wax/tweeze
- 20 minutes
- 6. Haircutting
- 20 minutes
- 7. Chemical wave
- 45 minutes
- 8. NaOH relaxer
- 20 minutes
- 9. Color lift
- 20 minutes
- 10. Color deposit
- 20 minutes
- 11. Next-client prep
- 10 minutes
Common Traps
Clean is not disinfected
Cleaning removes debris ≠ Disinfection controls pathogens
Unscored is not optional
Ten items remain unscored ≠ Answer every administered item
One pass is insufficient
Theory alone fails licensing ≠ Practical alone fails licensing
Theory weights exclude practical
Theory publishes percentages ≠ Practical publishes topic times
Combined differs from separate
Combined tests cost $167 ≠ Separate portions total $186
Supply kit lacks official list
Bring necessary professional supplies ≠ PSI publishes no supply list
Last Minute
- 1.Apply through MiPLUS before PSI
- 2.Use current PSI v1.2 guide
- 3.Theory: 100 scored; 10 unscored
- 4.Theory: 120 minutes; pass 70
- 5.Practical: 11 areas; about 235
- 6.Practical: pass 95 of 127
- 7.Both passes within one year
- 8.Combined fee: $167
- 9.Single portion: $93
- 10.Safety plus consultation = 49%
- 11.Practical ends with workstation prep
- 12.Clean before disinfecting reusable tools
- 13.Safety is scored throughout practical
- 14.Bring two labeled disposal containers
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