1.3 Examination Registration, Testing Rules & Score Reporting
Key Takeaways
- Candidates register through Professional Credential Services at pcshq.com, not through the Board; PCS issues the Authorization to Test and schedules the exams.
- Arizona examination fees are $100 for the theory examination, $77 for the written practical, and $177 for both, and they are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- The NIC bulletins prohibit phones, watches of any kind, notes and personal items, and require a government-issued photo ID with signature; candidates arrive 30 minutes early.
- A.R.S. § 32-515(B) lets a candidate retake only the failed part, but § 32-515(C) requires retaking both parts if a year or more elapses since the initial examination.
- PCS reports passing results directly to the Board, after which the candidate files a New License Application and pays the fee prescribed by A.R.S. § 32-507.
Examination Registration, Testing Rules & Score Reporting
Quick Answer: Create a PCS account at pcshq.com, choose Cosmetology & Barbering → Arizona, upload a government-issued photo ID and the Arizona School Verification Form, and pay $177 for both sections ($100 theory + $77 written practical). PCS emails an Authorization to Test (ATT); you then schedule both computer-based examinations through the PCS testing partner. A score of 75 passes each. PCS reports results to the Board automatically, and you then file the New License Application on the Board portal.
Step 1: Register with Professional Credential Services
The Board does not register candidates, schedule seats, or notify candidates of exam dates. All of that runs through Professional Credential Services (PCS).
ARIZONA BARBER EXAM REGISTRATION FLOW
1. Create PCS account at pcshq.com
-> "Applicants & Candidates" -> "Cosmetology & Barbering" -> "Arizona"
2. Submit exam application inside the PCS portal:
- school name and training dates
- clear photo of government-issued ID
- completed Arizona School Verification Form (required since Jan 2025)
- exam fees (approx. $177 for both sections)
3. PCS approves -> emails the Authorization to Test (ATT)
4. Candidate schedules both computer-based exams via the PCS partner
5. PCS reports passing results directly to the Board
6. Candidate files the New License Application on the BCB portal
and pays the § 32-507 fee
Fee schedule
| Examination | First time | Re-examination |
|---|---|---|
| Theory and written practical | $177.00 | $177.00 |
| Theory only | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Written practical only | $77.00 | $77.00 |
[!CAUTION] Two separate one-year clocks. Examination fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, and the examination fee is valid for one year from the date of payment. Separately, if you pass the examinations but wait more than a year to apply for the license, the Board will require you to retake the examinations before it can issue the license. Do not treat one deadline as covering the other.
Rescheduling is free only if done at least five business days before the scheduled date. Reschedule inside that window and the fee is forfeited.
Step 2: Testing-Centre Rules
The NIC candidate information bulletins impose a standardized administration on every jurisdiction, Arizona included.
Identification. A government-issued photo ID with signature is required — a state driver licence, state ID card, US passport, military ID, or alien registration card. Student IDs, temporary IDs and employment IDs are not acceptable. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early, and note that picture ID is required to re-enter the room if you leave.
Prohibited in the examination room:
- Cellular phones, watches of any kind, pagers, tablets, computers, projectors, cameras, or any other electronic or recording device
- Printed materials and handwritten notes
- Purses, bags, coats, hats, and any personal items not directly needed for the examination
- Communicating with other candidates or with an examiner
- Disruptive behaviour
Proctors may not speak with candidates except to give verbal instructions; raise a hand for an emergency. Any behaviour suggesting an effort to cheat results in immediate dismissal and a report to the proper authorities.
Step 3: What Each Examination Actually Tests
Both papers use the same four domains from the same job analysis; only the weighting moves. Budget your revision against both columns, because a topic that is minor on one paper can be major on the other.
| Domain | Theory (100 scored / 90 min) | Written Practical (50 scored / 120 min) |
|---|---|---|
| I. Scientific Concepts | 35% (~35 items) | 20% (~10 items) |
| II. Implements and Equipment Used in Barbering | 10% (~10 items) | 20% (~10 items) |
| III. Hair Care Services | 40% (~40 items) | 40% (~20 items) |
| IV. Facial Hair and Skin Care Services | 15% (~15 items) | 20% (~10 items) |
[!NOTE] Pacing. The theory paper gives 90 minutes for 110 items — roughly 49 seconds per item. The written practical is far more generous: 120 minutes for 60 items, about two minutes per item. Use the surplus on the practical paper to read procedural and sequencing questions carefully, because that paper leans on ordered-steps and image-identification items.
The written practical differs in flavour rather than subject. Its sample items ask which step comes first before disinfecting implements, what to do when a client is found to have head lice, how to apply styptic powder to a razor cut, how to order the steps of draping for a haircut, and to identify a labelled part on an image of a tool. Content areas overlap with the theory paper; the framing is "what would you do, and in what order."
Step 4: Failing, Retaking and the One-Year Rule
Reexamination is governed by statute, and the rules are precise.
| Rule | Authority | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| A candidate who fails is entitled to reexamination | § 32-515(A) | Failure is not disqualifying |
| Retake only the failed part | § 32-515(B) | Pass theory, fail practical → retake practical only |
| If one year or more elapses between the initial examination and the reexamination, retake both parts | § 32-515(C) | The one-year clock runs from the initial examination |
| Apply and pay the prescribed examination fee for each attempt | § 32-515(D) | Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable |
| No cap on the number of attempts | Board guidance | Attempts are unlimited if you re-register each time |
After a failed attempt, PCS provides a diagnostic report identifying the domains where performance was weakest. Read it before rebooking: the domain weights above tell you which of those weaknesses will cost you the most items.
Step 5: From Passing to Licensed
Passing is not the last step. PCS transmits both results to the Board automatically; the candidate must then log in to the Board licensing portal, submit the New License Application, and pay the state fee. Under A.R.S. § 32-507(A)(1) the Board may charge up to $100 for an application for an initial personal licence, and up to $200 for a reciprocity or universal licence application under § 32-507(A)(2). Renewal is capped at $100 every two years, with a $150 delinquent renewal penalty (§ 32-507(A)(6)–(7)).
Who registers an Arizona barber candidate for the licensing examinations and issues the Authorization to Test?
A candidate passes the theory examination but fails the written practical, and returns to retake it fourteen months after the initial examination. What does A.R.S. § 32-515 require?
Which item is expressly permitted in the examination room under the NIC candidate information bulletins?
How do the domain weights differ between the Arizona theory examination and the written practical examination?
What happens to a candidate who passes both Arizona examinations but waits more than a year before applying for the license?