Safety and Infection Control
24%of exam
Hand hygieneTool cleaning and immersionBlood exposureChemical/electrical safety
Consultation and Hair/Skin/Nail Analysis
16%of exam
Medical and service historyHair/scalp assessmentSkin assessmentNail assessment
Hairstyling
2%of exam
Wet setsThermal safetyBraids and additionsTension and cooling
Haircutting
2%of exam
ElevationGuidesCross-checkingTool and skin safety
Haircoloring
8%of exam
Level and toneDeveloper compatibilityPatch/strand testsLightening and correction
Chemical Texture Services
10%of exam
Thio reductionSystem neutralizationHydroxide chemistryHistory and overlap
Skin Care
3%of exam
Facial preparationProduct selectionMassage safetySuperficial scope
Eyelash and Eyebrow
3%of exam
Adhesive safetySite-approved productsProtect eyesContraindication screening
Hair Removal
6%of exam
WaxingSugaring/threadingChemical depilatoriesSkin integrity
Nail Care
6%of exam
Natural nailsEnhancementsSafe removalPedicure infection control
Quick Facts
- Theory items
- 140 total:125 scored+15 unscored
- Theory time
- 180 minutes
- Practical tasks
- 235 minutes total timed tasks
- Passing mark
- 70% theory and practical
- Eligibility
- At least 16; approved 1500-hour route
- Exam/licence fees
- 67+67+60 =$194 before extras
- Printed domain weights
- Total 80%; PSI clarification needed
- Renewal
- Every 2 years; individual fee$60
Cleaning Sequence
Clean, disinfect, protect dry storage
Correct labelFull contact timeNo recontamination
Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning
- Removes soil
- Soap and water
- Precedes required disinfection
Disinfection
- Approved product/organism claims
- Correct dilution/contact time
- Not routine sterilization
Keep cleaned and used tools separate
Infection-Control Choices
- Reusable tool after service→Clean; required label-directed immersion(Eligible non-electrics)
- Blood/body-fluid contamination→Use required hospital-grade HIV/HBV disinfectant(After cleaning)
- Client bleeding during service→Stop; protect; give appropriate first aid(Control contamination)
- Open sores or infectious symptoms→Defer; follow physician-permission rule(No salon diagnosis)
- Electrical appliance near water→Isolate hazard and equipment(Never immerse)
Tennessee Tool Reprocessing
- Clean first
- Soap and water removes soil
- Routine wet standard
- EPA bactericidal/virucidal/fungicidal immersion
- Blood-contaminated tools
- Hospital-grade; effective HIV-1/HBV label
- Contact time/dilution
- Follow complete manufacturer directions
- Dry storage
- Disinfected, dry, covered container
- Single-use items
- Discard; do not reprocess
- Powered appliances
- Follow instructions; never immerse electrics
School-Hour Total
300 general plus 600 chemical plus 600 physical equals 1500
Approved schoolApprenticeship has separate conditionsTheory before salon apprenticeship
Theory and Practical
Theory
- 140 items;125 scored+15 unscored
- 180 minutes
- Pass before practical
Practical
- Separate hands-on assessment
- 235 minutes of timed tasks
- Current kit/instructions essential
Both require minimum 70%
Licensing and Exam Choices
- School training completed→Obtain approved PSI eligibility(Before booking)
- Theory not passed→Pass theory before practical(70% minimum)
- Exam passed; licence pending→Confirm authorization before working(No pass-score shortcut)
- Individual licence expired→Stop unlicensed practice; contact Board(No 30-day grace)
- Need appointment cancellation→Confirm cancellation ≥48hours beforehand with PSI(Current bulletin)
Client and Workplace Safety
- Before each patron
- Wash hands; use clean cape
- Blood exposure
- Stop; gloves; appropriate first aid
- After blood exposure
- Wash hands; sanitizer/antiseptic per rule
- Foot-bath filters/jets
- Clean and circulate disinfectant as directed
- Product dispensing
- Clean spatula; discard/disinfect after use
- Disposable razor blade
- New blade for every patron
- Suspicious infectious signs
- Defer; follow physician-permission rule
Current Exam Arithmetic
125 scored plus 15 unscored equals 140 items
180 minutes theory235 minutes practicalPrinted weights total 80%
Separate Tennessee-Law Revision
- Minimum age
- 16 for cosmetologist licensure
- Standard school hours
- General300+chemical600+physical600 =1500hours
- Approved apprenticeship
- 50% classroom/50% supervised; theory first
- Initial licence fee
- Pay within 6 months; good-cause exception
- Exam completion
- Within3years after initial theory pass
- Individual renewal
- Every 2 years; $60; late fee$25
- Civil penalty ceiling
- Up to$1000 per violation
Patch and Strand Tests
Patch/allergy test
- Product-specific skin screening
- Follow timing and directions
- No absolute safety guarantee
Strand test
- Hair response and integrity
- Colour/texture compatibility
- Product-specific processing check
Neither replaces consultation
Hair/Skin/Nail Consultation
- Client history
- Medication, allergy, chemical/service history
- Texture versus density
- Strand diameter versus strands/area
- Porosity/elasticity
- Product uptake versus stretch/recovery
- Hair shaft
- Cuticle, cortex, optional medulla
- Nail matrix
- Produces nail plate
- Eponychium versus cuticle
- Living fold versus nonliving tissue
- New unexplained lesion
- Refer; do not diagnose
Skin Type and Condition
Type
- Cosmetic oil-pattern description
- Dry/oily/combination
- Guides product selection
Condition
- May coexist with any type
- Includes dehydration/sensitivity
- Disease needs appropriate referral
Do not diagnose from appearance
Styles and Haircuts
- Thermal heat
- Match hair and product directions
- Pin curl
- Base/stem/circle control result
- Roller placement
- Controls lift and direction
- Set before dressing
- Dry and cool appropriately
- Elevation
- Lift hair from natural fall
- Overdirection
- Redistributes length and weight
- Blade/guard numbers
- Consult manufacturer length chart
Cutting Tools and Control
- Stationary guide
- Fixed reference; increasing length possible
- Traveling guide
- Moves through successive sections
- Cross-check
- Verify with suitable alternate parting
- Natural fall
- Check released shape and balance
- Curly hair
- Allow actual shrinkage; dry-check
- Texturizing
- Avoid weakening fragile strands
- Tool selection
- Protect skin; follow model directions
Complementary Colours
Blue/orange; violet/yellow; green/red
Level differs from toneTest actual strandNo guaranteed lift
Colour Decisions
- Level versus tone
- Lightness versus colour character
- Complements
- Blue/orange; violet/yellow; green/red
- Developer labels
- Concentration is not guaranteed lift
- Virgin/regrowth
- Placement depends on history/system
- Patch/allergy test
- Manufacturer timing; no absolute guarantee
- Strand test
- Result, compatibility, hair integrity
- Bleach overlap
- Avoid fragile previously lightened hair
Thio and Hydroxide
Thio
- Reduces disulfide links
- Specified oxidizing neutralizer
- Compatible system only
Hydroxide
- Lanthionization
- Different neutralization process
- No incompatible overlap
Do not interchange systems
Chemical-Service Choices
- History or compatibility uncertain→Investigate and test first(No guessing)
- Fragile/incompatible strand result→Decline unsafe service(Client safety)
- Perm processed to instruction→Rinse/blot/neutralize per selected system(No universal minutes)
- Hydroxide-treated lengths→Avoid incompatible thio and overlap(Different chemistry)
- Unexpected irritation or burning→Stop; follow emergency/product guidance(Do not finish first)
Texture Chemistry
- pH 7
- Neutral near 25°C, not universal safety
- Hydrogen bonds
- Water/heat-sensitive temporary interactions
- Disulfide links
- Changed by chemical texture services
- Thio waving
- Reduction then specified oxidation
- Hydroxide relaxing
- Lanthionization; different neutralizing process
- Incompatible history
- Decline unsafe chemical service
- Rinse/blot timing
- System-specific; no universal minutes
Skin and Eye Services
- Facial sequence
- Screen, select, apply, monitor
- Skin type/condition
- Different; sensitivity can coexist
- Massage
- Adapt movement, pressure, contraindications
- Superficial beautification
- No invasive removal of living tissue
- Eye-area product
- Must be intended/legally permitted
- Adhesive/remover
- Protect eyes; follow system directions
- Irritated/infected eye area
- Defer and refer appropriately
Skin/Eye/Removal Choices
- Lash adhesive near ocular surface→Protect eye; follow intended-use directions(Never scalp dye)
- Medication may weaken skin→Check wax contraindication before service(No universal waiting days)
- Nail infection suspected→Defer affected service; refer(Do not cover)
- Reduced sensation or poor healing→Assess safety; seek medical guidance(No routine assumption)
- Product not approved for site→Do not use at that site(Check scope too)
Lash and Brow Safety
- Eye-area consultation
- History, condition, contraindications, scope
- Adhesive/remover system
- Follow intended-site safety directions
- Scalp hair dye
- Not automatically permitted near eyes
- Brow/lash tint
- Only legally permitted intended-site products
- Testing
- Manufacturer method; no absolute guarantee
- Application
- Protect ocular surface and living skin
- Irritation or exposure
- Stop; follow emergency/product guidance
Hair-Removal Choices
- Wax consultation
- Screen skin, medicines, recent treatments
- Wax temperature
- Follow system; check safely
- Wax direction
- Use the selected system’s technique
- Sugaring/threading
- Hygiene and scope still apply
- Chemical depilatory
- Site-specific testing/time instructions
- Used applicator
- Never contaminate common product
- Skin lifting or reaction
- Stop and reassess
Cuticle and Eponychium
Cuticle
- Nonliving tissue on plate
- Remove only as permitted
- Avoid overfiling
Eponychium
- Living proximal-fold tissue
- Protect the barrier
- Do not cut living tissue
Anatomy guides safe care
Nail-Service Safety
- Suspicious nail colour
- Not a diagnosis; defer/refer
- Living tissue
- Protect; do not cut skin
- Pedicure risk
- Assess healing, sensation, circulation
- Acrylic liquid/powder
- Use compatible system and ventilation
- Liquid MMA
- Prohibited under Tennessee sanitary rule
- Gel cure
- System-compatible lamp and time
- Enhancement removal
- Product-specific; avoid nail damage
Common Traps
Official Percentage Discrepancy
Printed table totaling80% ≠ Complete100%official blueprint
Current and Older Theory Format
Current140items/180minutes ≠ Older125items/120minutes
Law Revision and Exam Authority
Seven unweighted local-law cards ≠ Invented weighted national-law domain
Product Instructions and Shortcuts
Manufacturer-specific safe use ≠ Universal heat/time/chemical shortcuts
Renewal and Practice Permission
Expired licence or pending application ≠ Permission to keep practising
Observation and Medical Diagnosis
Suspicious nail/skin appearance ≠ Confirmed diagnosis from colour alone
Last Minute
- 1.Theory: 140 items; 180 min
- 2.Theory: 125 scored; 15 unscored
- 3.Theory precedes practical; both need 70%
- 4.Practical: ≈235 min; timed instructions control
- 5.Printed domain weights total 80%
- 6.Complete PSI distribution remains unknown
- 7.Standard school: 1,500 h total
- 8.School: general 300 h
- 9.School: chemical 600 h
- 10.School: physical 600 h
- 11.Three-year exam deadline: first theory pass
- 12.Initial fee: ≤6 months after pass-notice
- 13.Good-cause exception: initial-fee deadline may extend
- 14.Renewal: $60/2 years
- 15.Expired licence: $25 late fee
- 16.Clean tools; use EPA-registered label-directed disinfection
- 17.Blood-contaminated tools: hospital-grade HIV-1/HBV disinfection
- 18.Patch screens allergy; strand checks hair
- 19.Never overlap hydroxide and thio treatments
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