1.3 The Written and Practical Examinations: Format, Fees, Admittance & Results

The Written and Practical Examinations

Exam Focus: Candidates routinely arrive with wrong expectations about scoring. New York publishes no percentage cut score and releases no numeric result. Know the two-examination structure, the 2½-hour written allowance, the $15 fee at scheduling, the six-day reschedule rule, the five-year validity of a passing mark, and the 60-day window for requesting a failure analysis.

1. Two Examinations, One Licence

GBL § 407(1) provides that the examinations for natural hair styling, esthetics, nail specialty and cosmetology "shall be practical and written". Only the waxing licence is limited to a written examination. The statute states the objective of both examinations: to ensure candidates have "sufficient basic skills to safeguard the health and safety of the public" and "adequate levels of skill to competently engage in the activities authorized by the license."

Three further points from § 407 appear on the exam:

• § 407(2) — the Secretary of State prepares the questions, and every examination for a given licence must be the same for all candidates at any given administration. The test "shall not be limited to any specific method or system", which is why New York items avoid brand-specific product answers.
• § 407(3) — examinations are given in English, but may be translated at the Secretary's discretion if the candidate requests a translation at the time the licence application is filed. Asking later is too late. DOS currently publishes the written examination in a range of languages including Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Arabic, French, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew, Albanian and Swahili.
• § 407(3) also requires examinations to be held at least quarterly in at least four convenient places in the State, and provides for alternative administration for candidates with physical disabilities on reasonable advance request.

2. The Written Examination

Treat any third-party claim of "100 questions, 70% to pass" with suspicion. DOS does not publish an item count or a percentage cut score for the appearance enhancement written examinations, and the official examination information sheet states expressly: "Examination results are reported as either passed or failed; you will not receive a numerical score."

3. The Practical Examination

The cosmetology practical examination is performed on an uncut, unprocessed, solid-colour human hair mannequin that the candidate supplies. Eleven timed procedures are graded, and DOS states the examination takes approximately three hours in total.

Chapter 14 teaches each of these procedures in detail. The point to fix here is structural: sanitation and infection control are graded across the entire examination, not as a separate station.

4. Scheduling, Fees and Admittance

• Scheduling is done online through the Appearance Enhancement and Barber Licensing System after the application is approved; a NY.gov ID account is required. Candidates needing special testing arrangements are contacted by DLS and cannot self-schedule.
• Fee: a $15 non-refundable fee is due at the time each examination is scheduled. GBL § 409(4) sets the statutory written examination fee at $15 and directs it into the licensing examinations services account.
• Rescheduling must be done at least six days before the scheduled examination. Cancelling, arriving late, or failing to appear forfeits the fee.
• Order does not matter — DOS confirms it makes no difference whether the written or the practical examination is taken first.
• Identification: a current, government-issued, photo-bearing signature identification is mandatory. Accepted documents include a driver's licence, state non-driver ID, IDNYC card, military ID, US passport, employment authorisation card, certificate of US citizenship, foreign passport, and Brazilian, Mexican, Honduran or Ecuadorian consular ID. The name on the ID must match the name used to schedule the examination exactly, hyphens included.
• Practical exam dress code: a clean, washable outer garment such as a smock or gown (aprons are not accepted); closed-toe shoes that cover the top of the foot (no canvas); no bulky or dangling jewellery; no gum, phones or other devices; hands washed with soap and water before arrival and a hand sanitiser of 60% or more alcohol used throughout. Firearms are barred from the examination site.
• Photograph: 19 NYCRR § 160.35 requires any applicant taking a practical examination to submit a recent photograph showing only the head and full face.

5. Results, Validity and Failure Analysis

• Results are released to the candidate's online account; they are never given at the examination site or over the telephone, and may not be appealed.
• Candidates who pass the practical examination are issued the licence by mail, assuming the written examination is also passed.
• 19 NYCRR § 160.34 — passing grades for practical and written examinations in any appearance enhancement discipline may be applied toward licensure for a period of five years. Pass one exam and stall for six years and that mark is gone.
• If you fail, you may schedule another examination through your online account. There is no published limit on attempts.
• Failure analysis: a candidate who fails the practical examination may email the DOS examination unit to request an analysis — a breakdown of the practical scores identifying strengths and weaknesses. The request must be made within 60 days of the examination date, and analyses are not provided to candidates who passed.
• Examinations may be cancelled for weather or other emergencies; DOS posts cancellations on the DLS website and its social accounts.