1.2 The Two Arizona Examinations, Scoring & Fees

Two Examinations, Both on a Computer

The single most common misconception about Arizona licensure is that candidates perform a hands-on practical on a mannequin in front of an examiner. They do not. Arizona administers the NIC National Cosmetology Written Practical Examination — a second multiple-choice examination that tests procedure, sequence, and safety in words rather than in scissors. Both examinations are scheduled and sat with Iso-Quality Testing (IQT), owned and operated by Prometric, after Professional Credential Services (PCS) issues an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter for each.

The unscored items in each examination are pretest questions being evaluated for future forms. They are indistinguishable from scored items, so treat every question as if it counts.

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Theory Examination Content Outline (Effective 2022)

Scientific Concepts plus Hair Care is 80% of the Theory Examination. Candidates who spend equal study time on all four domains are misallocating roughly half their preparation.

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Written Practical Content Outline (Effective July 1, 2022)

Planning consequence. Nail care is worth 10% on the Theory Examination but 20% on the Written Practical, and skin care rises from 10% to 15%. Candidates who write nail and skin theory off as "minor" domains routinely fail the Written Practical while passing Theory.

The Written Practical also enumerates chemical service variants explicitly — hydroxide, thio, and keratin relaxing and curl reduction; alkaline, acid, non-thio, and keratin waving — plus nail tips and acrylics, so procedure-level detail in those areas is fair game.

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Scoring: A Scaled 75, Not a Percentage

The minimum score required to pass each examination is 75. PCS states plainly that these are weighted and scaled scores, similar to an ACT score — not the percentage of items you answered correctly. Two candidates with the same raw number correct on different forms can receive slightly different scaled scores because forms are equated for difficulty.

Raw correct answers on 100 (or 65) scored items
            |
            v  statistical equating across forms
Scaled score reported on the score notice
            |
            v
        75 or above  -->  PASS that examination
        below 75     -->  FAIL; strengths and weaknesses report issued

IQT issues an unofficial pass/fail notice at the test center. PCS emails an official score notice at least 10 business days later. A failing notice carries a strengths and weaknesses report at the bottom, keyed to the sections of the Candidate Information Bulletin so you know which domain to rebuild.

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Fees and Re-Examination

These fees are paid directly to PCS, not to the Board — A.A.C. R4-10-102(D) says an applicant for licensure by examination pays the national organization the amount charged to administer and grade the written and practical examinations. All fees are non-refundable, and examinations must be taken within one calendar year of the PCS registration date or the fees lapse.

If you fail one examination, you re-purchase and reschedule only that component. Wait for the official score notice from PCS before paying the rescheduling fee; if an examination was missed, cancelled, or failed, the PCS account may need to be reset by emailing PCS before the re-exam payment will go through. Arizona law permits retakes — the Board's guidance to schools states that a student who fails any part of the licensing examination may try again.

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What the Examinations Do Not Test

Both Candidate Information Bulletins are national NIC documents. Neither content outline contains an Arizona statute or rule domain. Arizona law, Board rules, renewal cycles, and establishment requirements are conditions of licensure and practice, and they are enforced through inspection and discipline — but they are not a scored domain on the NIC examinations. Study Chapter 1 of this guide because you must comply with it every working day, not because a scored item will ask for the citation.

After both examinations are passed, PCS notifies the Board and sends a Notice of Completion; the candidate then applies for the license through the Board's licensing portal.