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Key Facts: IL Cosmetology Exam
120 min
Exam Time Limit
CTS Candidate Study Guide
75
Passing Grade
68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.410
32%
Salon Safety & Sanitation
CTS content outline
$195
CTS Exam Fee
Continental Testing Services ($200 from Oct 1, 2026)
1,500 hrs
Training Required
IDFPR
0
Practical Exams Required
IDFPR / CTS
The Illinois Cosmetology Examination is a 120-minute computer-administered multiple-choice test with a passing grade of 75. Seven content areas: Salon Safety and Sanitation (32%), Cut & Style Hair (13%), Waving & Relaxing (13%), Hair Coloring & Lightening (13%), Analyze & Treat Scalp, Hair, Skin & Nails (11%), Nail Services (9%), and Skin Services (9%). Illinois requires 1,500 school hours and no practical exam. After three failed attempts you must complete a 100-hour or 250-hour refresher course before a fourth attempt.
Sample IL Cosmetology Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the IL Cosmetology exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 418+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1What is the minimum contact time required for a disinfectant to be effective against bacteria on non-porous surfaces?
2Which of the following is considered a universal precaution in salon settings?
3What is the correct order for the levels of decontamination from lowest to highest?
4Which agency regulates disinfectants used in salons in the United States?
5How often should a whirlpool foot spa be cleaned and disinfected in a salon?
6What should be done with a multi-use implement that has been dropped on the floor?
7Which layer of the hair shaft contains the melanin that gives hair its color?
8Which muscle causes goosebumps when contracted?
9What is the primary function of the sudoriferous glands?
10Which of the following is the living layer of the epidermis where new skin cells are produced?
About the IL Cosmetology Exam
The Illinois Cosmetology Examination is a computer-administered, multiple-choice written test built for IDFPR by Continental Testing Services with a committee of Illinois cosmetology teachers. Its published content outline has seven areas: Salon Safety and Sanitation (32%), Analyze & Treat Scalp, Hair, Skin & Nails (11%), Cut & Style Hair (13%), Waving & Relaxing (13%), Hair Coloring & Lightening (13%), Nail Services (9%), and Skin Services (9%). Candidates have 120 minutes and must score 75 or higher. Illinois requires 1,500 school hours and is a written-only state — no practical examination is required.
Exam sponsor: Continental Testing Services (CTS) for IDFPR, delivered at PSI test centers. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Computer-administered multiple-choice (item count not published by CTS)
Time Limit
120 minutes
Passing Score
75%
Reported exam pass rate: Not publicly reported. by IDFPR Exam sponsor website
Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.
Our practice resources: topics covered
We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.
Salon Safety and Sanitation
Infections, draping for services, sanitation procedures, diseases and disorders, tools, gloves and chemicals, health and safety regulations, medical emergencies and blood, and hygiene
Cut & Style Hair
Advising clients, cutting hair, styling hair, thermal styling and drying, reducing bulk, and wigs and extensions
Waving & Relaxing
Client characteristics, perming and relaxing, product effects, safety and sanitation, and selecting and using products
Hair Coloring & Lightening
Client characteristics, coloring and lightening, product effects, safety and sanitation, and selecting and using products
Analyze & Treat Scalp, Hair, Skin & Nails
Analysis and treatment of the scalp, hair, skin, and nails, including conditioning and scalp treatments
Nail Services
Implements, manicures and pedicures, artificial nails, and safety and sanitation
Skin Services
Makeup, removing unwanted hair, selecting and using products, and safety and sanitation
Preparing for the IL Cosmetology Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 75%
- Assessment: Computer-administered multiple-choice (item count not published by CTS)
- Time limit: 120 minutes
- Exam / certification fees: $195 Official sources
Using Our Practice Resources
- Work through all 418 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
IL Cosmetology: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the Illinois Cosmetology exam?
Continental Testing Services does not publish an item count for the Illinois Cosmetology Examination. The CTS Candidate Study Guide states that every question is multiple-choice with one correct answer and that the time limit is 120 minutes. You need a grade of 75 or higher to pass, and Illinois is a written-only licensing state — no practical examination is required.
How long is the Illinois Cosmetology exam?
The time limit for the Illinois Cosmetology Examination is 120 minutes, according to the Continental Testing Services Candidate Study Guide. The computer tutorial before the exam does not count against your testing time, but the clock keeps running during personal breaks.
What are the Illinois cosmetology training requirements?
Illinois requires 1,500 hours at an IDFPR-approved cosmetology school; a 3,000-hour apprenticeship route takes effect January 1, 2027. You must be at least 16 years old and a high school graduate or equivalent, or beyond the age of compulsory school attendance. You may apply to CTS to sit for the exam after 1,200 hours, but the license is not issued until all 1,500 hours are complete.
What happens if I fail the Illinois Cosmetology exam 3 times?
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.
What is the most heavily tested topic on the Illinois Cosmetology exam?
Salon Safety and Sanitation is the largest area at 32% of the test, covering infections, draping, sanitation procedures, diseases and disorders, tools, gloves and chemicals, health and safety regulations, medical emergencies and blood, and hygiene. Cut & Style Hair, Waving & Relaxing, and Hair Coloring & Lightening each carry 13%.
How much does the Illinois Cosmetology exam cost?
Continental Testing Services lists the computerized English and Spanish Illinois cosmetology examination at $195, and the paper Chinese form at $50. All CTS fees are non-refundable. IDFPR has posted a $200 cosmetology examination fee effective October 1, 2026, when the exam becomes available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The separate IDFPR license application fee is $30.