How to Ace Your State's Cosmetology Licensing Exam
In every state in the U.S., state board exams must be passed before you can become a licensed cosmetologist. Some states' licensing exams include a practical in addition to a written exam. While tests may not be your strength, there are procedures and resources to help you ace the exam and get your license.
Cosmetology School and Testing: Preparing for State Board Exams
- State law. If your written exam includes a portion on state cosmetology law, go to the source. If you're working off of a previous student's notes, you may be missing a finer point that someone else didn't think was important to mention. Your beauty school instructor should have a copy of the state laws and they are most likely available online.
- Weekly review. It can be tedious to perform weekly reviews of all the materials, however it does pay off. It is important to review and re-review topics of study that are both easy and difficult, so when it comes time for the exams, all of the material is familiar and understood.
- Hands-on practice. There is no better way to ensure great exam results than to practice the curriculum as much as possible. Use as many friends and family members as possible to try various techniques and further understand the principles of hair design and beauty practices. If your state board exam requires a practical component, do a test-run with your model (if required) or mannequin and be sure to practice with the kit you'll be using on the day of your exam.
- Tutoring. Tutoring or mentoring is an excellent way to gain a different perspective on the state board exams. Industry professionals can offer advice on how to study effectively for the exams, from their own experience, as well as answer any questions relating to the course content itself.
- Study prep resources. The curriculum that your school uses most likely has exam prep materials, but most schools don't require students to purchase them. Curriculum companies have made some of these materials available online for a small fee, and other education sites offer flash cards and sample exams for free.
How Can Cosmetology School Help?
Cosmetology school can be a significant resource when preparing for state board exams. Always make instructors aware of any issues that arise with the curriculum throughout the program of study. If extra practice is necessary in a certain area, then make use of the hands-on learning facilities provided at beauty school.
Most cosmetology schools offer an exam training course, where students are monitored and evaluated by instructors as they do a trial run of the exam. Some schools even provide practical exam kits for you to practice with or to use on the day of your exam (instead of students incurring the expense of renting a kit). This experience is a great advantage to beauty school students, as they receive important feedback and advice from teachers while calming pre-exam nerves by gaining confidence under pressure.
Whichever preparation methods are used to get ready for the state board exams, remember that being organized, confident, and well-prepared is the best way to achieve top results.
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