New York cosmetology, nail specialty
and esthetics written exams.
New York gives 2½ hours for each of these written exams, and reports only pass or fail. The questions come from the state’s pre-licensing curriculum. We have written three full practice exams for each license, weighted by that curriculum’s hours, 5 credits each.
What the Department of State settles, and what it leaves open.
From the Department of State’s written examination procedures and its appearance enhancement law booklet.
| What is published | |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple choice, based on the pre-licensing curriculum |
| Time | 2½ hours |
| Result | Pass or fail only, no numerical score; a passed result is valid for five years |
| Booking | Scheduled online through the state e-Licensing system; photo ID required |
| Practical exam | Required as well as the written exam for nail specialty, esthetics and cosmetology |
| Questions and passing score | Not published |
Our practice exams have 100 questions each. That length is ours, as is the weighting by curriculum hours. Our report gives a score out of 100 and by subject; it does not say whether that would pass, because the state publishes no passing score.
Cosmetology: 1,000 hours of curriculum.
Cosmetology covers hair, head, face, neck and scalp, including cutting, coloring and chemical services that change the structure of the hair. Four subjects (styling, chemical restructuring, coloring and cutting) take 780 of the 1,000 hours.
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Professional requirements | 24 |
| Safety and health | 26 |
| Anatomy and physiology | 15 |
| Hair analysis | 10 |
| Hair and scalp disorders and diseases | 10 |
| Chemistry as applied to cosmetology | 5 |
| Shampoos, rinses, conditioners and treatments | 30 |
| Hair cutting and shaping | 175 |
| Hair styling | 245 |
| Chemical restructuring | 180 |
| Hair coloring and lightening | 180 |
| Nail care and procedures | 40 |
| Skin care and procedures | 60 |
Nail specialty: 250 hours of curriculum.
Liquid and powder extensions are the single largest subject, at 50 of the 250 hours.
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Orientation | 5 |
| Safety and health | 8 |
| Anatomy and physiology of the nail, hand, arm, foot and leg | 10 |
| Bacteria and infectious diseases; nail, foot and skin disorders | 10 |
| Methods of infection control | 10 |
| Client consultation | 4 |
| Manicuring and hand/arm massage | 20 |
| Pedicuring | 15 |
| Tip application and design | 12 |
| Nail wraps | 25 |
| Liquid and powder nail extensions | 50 |
| Gel nails | 20 |
| Nail art | 4 |
| Retailing techniques | 6 |
| Business practices | 8 |
| Job skills | 6 |
| Unassigned | 37 |
Esthetics: 600 hours of curriculum.
Esthetics covers the face, neck, arms, legs and shoulders, using makeup, waxes, tweezing and similar methods, and does not include electrology. Facial and body procedures take 240 of the 600 hours.
| Subject | Hours |
|---|---|
| Orientation | 5 |
| Safety and health | 8 |
| Infection control | 18 |
| Anatomy and physiology | 30 |
| Structure and functions of the skin | 18 |
| Nutrition for healthy skin and body | 5 |
| Skin disorders and diseases | 12 |
| Skin analysis | 18 |
| Superfluous hair | 60 |
| Chemistry | 3 |
| Chemistry as applied to esthetics | 21 |
| Electricity and equipment | 18 |
| Facial and body procedures | 240 |
| Make-up techniques | 70 |
| Business practices | 30 |
| Career skills | 12 |
| Introduction to advanced esthetics | 9 |
| Unassigned | 23 |
What people ask before they book.
How long is the New York cosmetology written exam?
The Department of State allows 2 1/2 hours for the written exam. The same time applies to the nail specialty and esthetics written exams.
How many questions are on the exam, and what score passes?
Neither is published. The Department of State reports results as pass or fail only, with no numerical score. Our practice exams have 100 questions each, which is our own choice, and our report does not claim to predict a pass.
Is there a practical exam as well?
Yes. The law says the examinations for nail specialty, esthetics and cosmetology shall be practical and written. Waxing is the exception, with a written exam only. Our practice exams cover the written exam.
What is the written exam based on?
The pre-licensing curriculum in 19 NYCRR Part 162: 1,000 hours for cosmetology, 250 for nail specialty and 600 for esthetics, each broken into subjects with set hours. Our questions are weighted by those hours.
Can I buy these practice exams now?
Yes. Each practice exam is 5 credits, and ten questions for each license are free to try first, with no account and no card.
On sale now.
Three full practice exams (Forms A, B and C) for each of cosmetology, nail specialty and esthetics: 100 questions each, 2½ hours, every wrong answer explained, 5 credits each. Ten questions are free for each license: cosmetology, nail specialty and esthetics.
Read before the New York cosmetology, nails and esthetics
- What is on the New York cosmetology written exam?
- The New York nail specialty written exam
- The New York esthetics written exam
- How to get a cosmetology license in New York
Free practice questions, answers explained: NY Cosmetology, NY Nail Specialty, NY Esthetics.