KY State Board of Cosmetology Exam: Free Practice Test and Everything You Need to Know

Kentucky cosmetology state board
FIND SCHOOLS!

Sponsored

Are you planning to move to the state of Kentucky and start a new career as a cosmetologist? Are you planning to appear for the KY State Board of Cosmetology exam? 

In this article, you will learn more about the procedure involved in applying for and taking the KY State Board of Cosmetology exam. You will also learn about the licensure renewal process and license transfer process.

Go straight to the practice test

The Steps Involved in Taking the KY State Board of Cosmetology Exam

STEP 1: VERIFY YOUR ELIGIBILITY

The initial step to applying for the KY State Board of Cosmetology Exam is registering for the cosmetology examination. Before starting the registration process, you will need to verify your eligibility.

KY State Board of Cosmetology
KY State Board of Cosmetology

Next, we will discuss the minimum practical working hours required to be eligible for the KY State Board of Cosmetology Exam.

COSMETOLOGY SCHOOL HOURS

The minimum practical hours required are as follows:

  • 1800 hours for a Cosmetology license.
  • 1500 hours for a Barber license.
  • 600 hours for a Nail technician license.
  • 1000 hours for an Esthetician license.
  • 1000 hours + a Cosmetology license for a Cosmetology instructor license.

OUT-OF-STATE LICENSE

The minimum practical hours required are as follows:

  • 1500 hours + 12-grade education for a Cosmetology license.
  • 450 hours + 12-grade education for a Nail technician license.
  • 750 hours + 12-grade education for an Esthetician license.
  • 750 hours + 12-grade education for an Apprentice instructor/instructor.

STEP 2: APPLY FOR THE KENTUCKY STATE COSMETOLOGY BOARD EXAMINATION

Once you have verified your eligibility based on criteria set by the state of Kentucky, the next step is to apply for the Kentucky Cosmetology State Board Exam. To apply for the cosmetology exam in the state of Kentucky, you must register for the exam by filling out the application on the official website.

To download the exam application form, you must go to the Applications section on the official website and click on Application for Examination. You must download the application form and fill out the required information, then pay the required fee to further process your application.

The information you may need to provide on the application form is as follows:

  • Exam type: Theory or practical examination.
  • Prior attempts.
  • Examination field.
  • Practical exam location.
  • Name and other personal details.
  • Felony record history and other related information.
  • 2×2 passport photo.

Any applicant who has been convicted of a felony must submit the required documents for review by the board. The following documents must be submitted along with the application:

  • A typed and signed letter of explanation.
  • Judgment of sentence.
  • A letter of good standing from a parole or probation officer if the applicant is currently under probation or parole.

NOTE: Incorrect or incomplete applications will not be further processed by the board for the examination. The application will be returned to the respective applicant.

The applicant has to submit the application form and fees separately for both the theory and practical examinations. It takes about 30 days to verify the application from the date of mailing. The board office verifies the submitted application form. 

OUT OF STATE EXAM APPLICATION

The documents you should submit with the out-of-state application are as follows:

  • Out-of-state exam application.
  • Endorsement and examination fee.
  • A copy of the applicant’s high school diploma/GED transcript or diploma.
  • A copy of a government-issued photo ID of the applicant.
  • The applicant must request a digital certification from the transferring state’s licensing agency to the board office. The application cannot be further processed without this certification.
  • For out-of-state exam applications, the application and the exam fee must be submitted separately.
  • The documents to be submitted along with the application for felony record history are the same as mentioned above on the exam application part. 

STEP 3: PAY YOUR EXAM FEES

Once you have applied for the Kentucky State Cosmetology Board Exam, the next step is to pay the required fees to further process your application.

EXAM FEES

The examination fee in the state of Kentucky is as follows:

FEE TYPE FEE
Cosmetology $75
Instructor$75
Esthetician$75
Nail Technician $75
Out of State Cosmetology$175
Out of State Esthetician $175
Out of State Esthetics Instructor$175
Out of State Instructor $175
Kentucky cosmetology exam fees

OTHER FEES

Other fees in the state of Kentucky are as follows:

FEE TYPE FEE
Certification $25
Student enrollment permits$25
Demonstration permits$50
Duplicate license$25
Out-of-state endorsement $100
Kentucky cosmetology other fees

LICENSE FEES

The license fee in the state of Kentucky is as follows:

FEE TYPE FEE
Cosmetology $50
Cosmetology Instructor $50
Nail Technician $50
Esthetician $50
Esthetics Instructor $50
Apprentice Instructor $35
Dual Cosmetology/Esthetician $50
Kentucky cosmetology license fees

STEP 4: SCHEDULING YOUR EXAM

Once you have submitted your application and paid the necessary fees, the next step is to schedule your Kentucky State Cosmetology Board Exam. 

You will be notified through an email to schedule your theory or practical exam date once the application has been accepted by the board. You are eligible to apply for the practical exam only after passing the theory exam.

For the theory exam, the applicant can schedule the exam for 90 days following the applicant’s notification. For the practical exam, the applicant can schedule at one of the regional testing centers.

The applicant must have taken and completed the theory exam successfully before applying to schedule the practical exam. Once you pass the theory exam, you can apply and pay for the practical exam by separately submitting the application form and exam fee. 

STEP 5: ON THE EXAMINATION DAY

Let’s discuss some of the things you should consider on the day of the exam.

THEORY EXAM

  • All the candidates must wear a mask, covering, or face shield at all times inside the testing site premises.
  • All candidates must have their printed admission letter with a photo ID issued by the state government.

PRACTICAL EXAM

  • All the candidates must wear a mask, covering, or face shield at all times inside the testing site premises.
  • All the candidates must have their printed admission letter and a photo identification card issued by the state government.
  • All the candidates are required to wear non-white solid-colored scrubs with no identifying information on the top or bottom of the scrubs.
  • Cosmetology candidates are required to bring a mannequin head with a telescoping, clamp, or suction cup for use during the hands-on practical examination.
  • All candidates must have an EPA-registered disinfectant or hand sanitizer for use during the practical examination. If a candidate fails to bring a hand sanitizer or an EPA-registered disinfectant, they will be required to reschedule for a future exam.

STEP 6: TAKE THE EXAM

The next step is to take the Kentucky State Cosmetology Board Exam. There are 2 exams offered by the state board of Kentucky. They are:

  • Theory exam.
  • Practical exam.

THEORY EXAM

The theory exam is a written exam with 110 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The duration of the exam is 90 minutes. Out of 110 questions, 100 questions will be scored and will contribute to the candidate’s final grade.

PRACTICAL EXAM

The practical exam is a hands-on, practical exam with 10 core domain sections. The duration of the exam is about 2 to 3 hours.

STEP 7: RESULTS ANALYSIS

After completing the written and practical examinations, the next step is to check the results. Exam scores will be emailed to the respective candidate within 5 days of the exam completion.

The board does not provide examination scores at the testing location and scores will not be released or verified over the phone.

STEP 8: RECEIVE YOUR KENTUCKY STATE COSMETOLOGY BOARD LICENSE

The last step is to receive your Kentucky State Cosmetology Board license. Once you have passed both the theory and practical examinations, you are now eligible to apply for licensure.

It takes about 30 days for the board to verify the receipt of the application then process it. Visit the official website to apply for the license.

Fill out the Licensure Application-Examination Complete form with the necessary information and submit the application to the board office. Make sure to attach the required documents and the fee to the board to further process your application for licensure.

To renew your Kentucky State Cosmetology Board license, you must apply for a renewal every year beginning July 1st through July 31st. If you fail to renew your license or are late to apply for renewal, your license will expire. You will have to pay a restoration fee to renew the expired license.

You will have to fill in the Duplicate License Application form to apply for a duplicate license, then pay the required fee. A duplicate license will be issued only if you have lost your license or if it was stolen.

You can restore your expired license by applying for a license restoration. You can apply by filling out the Restoration License Application form on the official website. It is required for the license to expire for less than 5 years. To restore an esthetician or cosmetologist license that has expired for more than 5 years, you will have to apply and successfully complete the respective theory and practical exams.

To apply for certification of licensure, you must fill out a Certification Request form on the official website. A license certification is required to apply for a license in another state. You must submit the application form with the fee. The certifications can be submitted only to the transferring state. Certifications cannot be mailed to a private address.

To transfer your application from one state to another, you will have to fill out the Out of State Transfer Application form. Make sure to attach all the necessary documents as well as the required fees to further process your application. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Kentucky Cosmetology Exams

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAMINATIONS?

To apply for the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology Exam, you must go to the Applications section on the official website and click on Application for Examination. Download the application form and fill out the required information, then pay the required fee to further process your application.

WHICH EXAMINATION PROGRAM DOES THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF BARBERING AND COSMETOLOGY USE?

The Kentucky State Cosmetology Board exam uses  National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) for its examinations.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TAKE THE KENTUCKY STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAMS?

The examination fees in the state of Kentucky are as follows:

  • Cosmetology , Instructor, Esthetician, and Nail technician are $75.
  • Out of State Cosmetology, Out of State Esthetician, Out of State Esthetics instructor, and Out of State Instructor are $175.

WHERE DO THE EXAMINATIONS TAKE PLACE?

The examination takes place in the following places in the state of Kentucky:

  • North – Lawrenceburg.
  • East – Big Sandy.
  • West – Madisonville.

HOW MANY HOURS OF PRACTICAL WORK DO I NEED TO QUALIFY FOR THE KENTUCKY STATE BOARD EXAMINATIONS?

The following are the minimum practical working hours required to be eligible for the Kentucky State Cosmetology Board Exam.

  • 1800 hours for a Cosmetology license.
  • 1500 hours for a Barber license.
  • 600 hours for a Nail technician license.
  • 1000 hours for an Esthetician license.
  • 1000 hours + a Cosmetology license for a Cosmetology instructor license.

CAN I TAKE THE STATE BOARD EXAMINATIONS BEFORE I’VE COMPLETED THE REQUIRED HOURS?

No. You must meet the eligibility criteria set by the state of Kentucky for completing the minimum practical working hours.

HOW LONG IS THE COSMETOLOGY WRITTEN EXAMINATION?

The written exam in the state of Kentucky is 90 minutes long.

WHAT’S THE FORMAT OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION?

The format of the written examination is multiple-choice questions (MCQs) where 100 questions out of 110 will be scored.

CAN I TAKE A PRACTICE TEST EXAM?

Yes. If you are interested in taking the Kentucky State Cosmetology Board exam, you can get your hands on our free practice test to level up your preparation for the exam.

HOW LONG IS THE COSMETOLOGY PRACTICAL EXAMINATION?

The cosmetology practical exam in the state of Kentucky is about 2 to 3 hours long.

WHAT’S THE FORMAT OF THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION?

The format of the practical examination is a hands-on exam. Candidates are required to bring a mannequin head to use during the examination.

WHAT SCORES DO I NEED TO PASS BOTH PORTIONS OF THE COSMETOLOGY EXAM?

In the state of Kentucky, the minimum passing score required for cosmetologist, esthetician, and nail technician is 70% for both theory and practical exams.

The minimum passing score required for all instructors is 80% in theory exam and 85% in practical exam.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN I RETAKE THE STATE BOARD COSMETOLOGY EXAMINATIONS IF I FAIL?

You can retake the Kentucky State Cosmetology Board Exam any number of times. The score will be valid for 6 months from completion of the exam. 

HOW DO I TRANSFER MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE TO KENTUCKY?

To transfer your application from one state to another, you will have to fill out the Out of State Transfer Application form. Make sure to attach all the necessary documents and pay the required fees to further process your application. 

HOW DO I RENEW MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE IN KENTUCKY?

To renew your Kentucky State Cosmetology Board license, you must apply for a renewal every year beginning July 1st through July 31st. If you fail to renew your license or are late to apply for a renewal, the license will expire. You will have to pay a restoration fee to renew your expired license.

Related Reads

Maryland State Board Of Cosmetology Exam: Free Practice Test And Everything You Need To Know

Arizona Cosmetology State Board Exam: Free Practice Test, And Everything You Need To Know

Washington State Cosmetology Exam: Free Practice Test And Everything You Need To Know

Kentucky Cosmetology State Board Exam Practice Test

"*" indicates required fields

What is the most appropriate hairstyle for round facial types?*
Which elevation angle could be used to add weight to a haircut?*
For which techniques should razors be used on curly hair?*
How does shampoo draping differ from chemical draping?*
At which two reference points does the comb leave the head?*
How can split ends be repaired?*
Which of the following is not one of the natural wave patterns of hair?*
What should be done for patients who have been treated with conditioner that must be left in for more than one minute?*
It is safe to perform a service on clients who have...*
Which type of shampoo should be used to remove build-up?*
What is the difference between treatment massages and relaxation massages?*
What purpose do humectants serve in conditioners?*
Which of the following is not a type of conditioner?*
Which type of shear is best for cutting large sections of hair?*
Moisturizing conditioners allow the _____ to absorb moisture from the air.*
Which of the following is not a function of brushing?*
What are the two types of asymmetrical balance?*
Which pair includes the two basic requirements for a healthy scalp?*
Which of the following is not a layered haircut?*
What purpose does silicone serve in conditioners?*

Get your results!

You must enter this in order to see which questions you got right and wrong

Take a FREE practice test

Find out if you’re ready, with real questions taken from the state board exam.

Select Your State