Beauty School Background: How National Standards Can Help You Succeed in a Cosmetology Career
By Lara FoxCosmetology may not seem like an exam-oriented career, but in fact, you cannot begin practicing the trade until you pass a state licensing exam. As well, if you move among states during your beauty career, you may have to take additional tests to get licensed anew because many states do not honor other states' licenses.
Since 1969, the National-Interstate Council of Boards of Cosmology (NIC) has been working to establish national standards in cosmetology licensing. Keep reading to learn the specifics of these beauty education standards.
National Standards for Beauty School Tests
In 1969, NIC established its Testing Program with two goals in mind. First, it would offer its written test to all state boards of cosmetology in order to encourage consistency of beauty career tests given around the country--and, as a result, to ensure that you and other cosmetology candidates are assessed on the same measures of proficiency. Second, by providing a standard test, NIC would increase the likelihood of states offering reciprocity for licensing. That is, if state boards use the same licensing exam, then they have less incentive to require you to get re-licensed when you move to a new state--which certainly makes things simpler for you!
In 1990, NIC took another significant step--it added a practical assessment to the existing written component of its Testing Program. Providing a practical test allows NIC to entirely meet the needs of state boards of cosmetology. Today, 36 states use the written or practical component of NIC's test. More than 20 use both. If you are considering moving after getting your first license as a cosmetologist, contact the NIC to find out which states use the standardized test.
Beauty School Tests with Integrity
In 1999, NIC established computerized cosmetology licensing tests. The advantages of computerized tests are numerous. A key benefit is that you, as a test-taker, can receive your results immediately after completing the exam. In addition, you can select any of various languages in which to take the test, which should help those of you who are not native speakers of English succeed. Computer use also facilitates updating of the tests, which NIC first undertook in 2001. Today, NIC regularly updates its test using a research-based approach to test-writing. It hopes that by doing so, it will ensure that the tests always meet the general standards of the testing industry and are fair and secure for all beauty education students.
The basis of NIC's test updates come from nation-wide analyses of cosmetology jobs that NIC has conducted regularly since 1997. Surveying thousands of men and women who work in the field, NIC has been able to base its tests on the actual experiences of people who have already undertaken their beauty education and been working in a beauty profession. Thanks to this, the state licensing exams are realistic and relevant for you--could you ask for more from a test?
About the Author
Lara Fox has worked as a staff and freelance editor and writer for the past ten years. She holds a B.A. in anthropology and an M.A. in education.
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