Free Practice Questions for IL Cosmetology

The Illinois Cosmetology Examination has 110 questions: 100 scored items and 10 unscored pretest items, according to the CTS/PSI candidate guide effective October 1, 2026. You have 120 minutes and need a score of 75 or higher to pass. Illinois is a written-only licensing state — no practical examination is required.

The time limit for the Illinois Cosmetology Examination is 120 minutes (2 hours) for 110 questions, according to the CTS/PSI candidate guide effective October 1, 2026. The computer tutorial before the exam does not count against your testing time, but the test timer keeps running during personal breaks.

Illinois requires 1,500 hours at an IDFPR-approved cosmetology school; a 3,000-hour apprenticeship route takes effect January 1, 2027 under Public Act 104-478. You must be at least 16 years old and a high school graduate or equivalent, or beyond the age of compulsory school attendance. Through December 31, 2026, 225 ILCS 410/3-6 lets you take the exam after 1,200 hours, but the license is not issued until all 1,500 hours are complete. Public Act 104-478 deletes that 1,200-hour sentence effective January 1, 2027, so check the current CTS instructions before applying early after that date.

Under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.410, an applicant who fails a third examination must submit an official transcript showing completion of a 100-hour refresher course or the 250-hour cosmetology refresher course before testing a fourth time. The Division may waive the remedial training in whole or in part on proof of competence, and the fourth attempt counts as the first for retake purposes.

Safety and Infection Control is the largest area at 30% (30 of the 100 scored items), covering infectious diseases and exposure prevention, cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, exposure-incident procedures, Safety Data Sheets, federal safety regulations, ventilation, and electrical safety. Client Consultation and Hair, Skin, and Nail Analysis is next at 19%, followed by Chemical Texture Services at 12% and Haircoloring at 10%.

Continental Testing Services lists the computerized Illinois cosmetology examination at $200 in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. CTS states that testing fees are not refunded. The separate IDFPR license application fee is $30.

Under 225 ILCS 410/4-5(e), as amended by Public Act 104-153 effective January 1, 2026, you have 3 years from notification that you passed to apply to IDFPR for a license; after that you must take and pass the examination again. 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.410(d) still says 12 months, so apply as soon as your CTS results letter arrives.