NC State Board Cosmetology Exam: Free Practice Test, and Everything You Need to Know

Ashley Wisener
June 14, 2023
6:11 am

FIND SCHOOLS!

Three Steps: Registration, Exam, and License

The first step for every exam is registration and the NC Cosmetology Exam is no exception. To begin your journey to receive the examination, you must register on the official website.

Once your registration is successful, you must qualify for the written and practical cosmetology exams. After successfully qualifying for both exams, you are eligible to receive your NC Cosmetology Licensure.

STEP 1: CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY

To register for the North Carolina Cosmetology State Board exam, you must complete the minimum number of practical hours. Apart from the minimum practical hours, you must score 75% or above to be eligible for the exam.

Cosmetology: 1500 hours completed from an approved cosmetic art school.
Esthetician: 600 hours completed from an approved cosmetic art school.
Nail Technician: 300 hours completed from an approved cosmetic art school.
Barber: 1528 hours completed from an approved cosmetic art school.
For cosmetology instructors: cosmetology license + 800 hours.
Esthetics Instructor: esthetics license + 650 hours.
Massage Therapist: 500 hours.

STEP 2: APPLY FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAM

Once you confirm your eligibility for the exam, you are ready to apply for the cosmetology exam.

For North Carolina, DL Roope is the administrating body for the cosmetology exam. You must register on the official website of DL Roope.

If you are a new user, you must register for a new account. With the following details:

Your school
First name
Email address

For your reference, please look at the attached screenshot of the application page for both new and returning users.

Reference for North Carolina online application

STEP 3: PAY YOUR EXAM FEES

Once you have completed the registration, the next step for you is to pay the examination fees. The examination fees for North Carolina Cosmetology are:

Cosmetologist: $49
Esthetician: $20
Natural Hair Care Specialist: $20
Cosmetology Instructor: $20
Manicurist: $20

If you overpay any amount during the application process, it will be refunded.

STEP 4: SCHEDULE YOUR EXAM

Once you successfully submit your examination fees, and your application gets approved, you may schedule your exam in the Iso Quality Testing (IQT) portal.

You may schedule your exam online, as all facilities are present in the online portal. The online scheduling portal is available 24/7. You may also call and schedule your exam. The online portal enables the option to select the locations two to three weeks prior to any examination date. If you want to schedule your exam at a later date, you must schedule it two to three weeks prior.

IQT is responsible for sending you notifications for scheduling. You will receive a practical exam schedule followed by a written exam schedule that you can schedule after the practical exam. Schedule both your practical and written exams on the same day.

You have six months to schedule your exam from the day your examination fees get approved and have the option of rescheduling your exam. You may do it five days prior to your scheduled date. The rescheduling fee is $25.00. You may call IQT at 1-866-773-114 to get assistance regarding the rescheduling.

STEP 5: ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION

For a smooth check-in on the day of the examination, you must arrive 30 minutes prior to the exam at the examination center. This will ensure hassle-free sign-in and document verification.

You must carry one valid government-issued identification document on the day of the exam. The identification mark must contain a valid photograph and signature. The name on the document and application form should be identical.

You may carry one of any documents from the list:

State-issued identification card.
US Military Identification Card.
State-issued driver’s license.
US government-issued Alien Registration Card.
Voter’s card.

STEP 6: TAKE THE EXAM

The North Carolina cosmetology written exam is a 90 minute-long computer-based exam and the cosmetology practical exam is four to five hours long.

STEP 7: RESULT ANALYSIS

To pass both exams, you must get a minimum of 75.00 points. For the North Carolina apprenticeship program, you must get a minimum of 70.00 points.

Once you qualify, your results will be published on the official website. You can check your results here http://www.dlroope.com/.

STEP 8: RECEIVE YOUR NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD COSMETOLOGY LICENSE

Once you pass both exams, you may apply for the license. You may download or take your license from the official DL Roope website and begin your cosmetology career.

Frequently Asked Questions About the North Carolina Cosmetology Exams

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAMINATIONS?

For the North Carolina Cosmetology Exam, you may apply online and offline. If you are applying online, you must get registered through the DL Roope website.

If you completed your graduation from any North Carolina Cosmetology school, you may apply offline. Your school will give this paper form to you or you can apply online mode too. If you apply online, your school will be notified.

For further information, you can contact:

DL Roope Administrations

P.O.- Box 631

Hampden, ME 04444-0631

Fax (207) 848-5511

I CAN’T MAKE THE DATE OR TIME OF MY EXAMINATION. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If you cannot make it on the day of the examination, you may reschedule the exam. If you want to reschedule without forfeiting your fees, you may do so five days prior to the exam.

You may reschedule your exam if you were in any one of the following situations:

You were in a car accident on the way to the examination.
You are in a dire medical emergency.
Any death in your immediate family.

For every situation, you are required to present proper documentation to support your situation.

You may call IQT at 1-866-772-1114 for further information.

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

The National-Interstate Council (NIC) State Board of Cosmetology administers the exams in North Carolina.

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

If you appear for the North Carolina cosmetology exam, you must pay the following fees for the particular specialization:

Cosmetologist: $49
Esthetician: $20
Natural Hair Care Specialist: $20
Cosmetology Instructor: $20
Manicurist: $20

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

No, to be eligible for the NC state board cosmetology Exam, you must complete the required number of practical hours.

HOW LONG IS THE COSMETOLOGY WRITTEN EXAMINATION?

The NIC cosmetology & apprentice written exam is 90 minutes long.

WHAT’S THE FORMAT OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION?

The written exam is a computerized exam administered by the IQT. The theory exam consists of 110 questions, but only 100 are scored.

The Cosmetology Theory Examination comprises the following domains:

Scientific Concepts (30%)
Hair Care and services (40%)
Skincare and services (15%)
Nail care and services (15%)

CAN I TAKE A PRACTICE TEST EXAM?

Yes, if you want to familiarize yourself with real questions, you may try our free cosmetology practice test. It has the final questions from previous years’ cosmetology final questions. You may gain a better understanding of the questions that appear on the North Carolina State Board exam.

You may try our complete exam cheat sheet to get a detailed understanding of the cosmetology exam and a thorough guide.

HOW LONG IS THE COSMETOLOGY PRACTICAL EXAMINATION?

NC state board cosmetology practical examination is three to four hours long.

WHAT’S THE FORMAT FOR THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION?

The North Carolina practical examination comprises the following domains:

Client preparation and work area set up 15 minutes.
Thermal curling- 10 minutes.
Haircutting- 30 minutes.
Second client preparation and work area set up 15 minutes.
Chemical waving- 20 minutes.
Predisposition test, and strand test with the simulated product- 10 minutes.
Highlighting with foil, virgin application with the colored simulated product- 15 minutes.
Hair color retouching with the color product- 10 minutes.
Virgin hair relaxer application with the colored simulated product.
Blood exposure process- 1 minute.

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

For the practical and theory exams, you must get a minimum of 75%. For a cosmetology apprenticeship, you have to score a minimum of 70%.

HOW DO I TRANSFER MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE TO NORTH CAROLINA?

If you are licensed in a different state, you must have these requirements before applying for your license transfer:

You must hold your cosmetology license in a good standing position.
Your license must be from a state that offers reciprocity to North Carolina.

To learn more about the different state regulations and processes, you may check this website.

HOW DO I RENEW MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE IN NORTH CAROLINA?

NC state board cosmetology has different renewal rules and requirements for a different license.

Cosmetologists must renew their licenses every three years. The deadline for the license renewal occurs on October first. Manicurists, natural hair specialists, and estheticians may renew their licenses annually.

North Carolina Cosmetology State Board Exam Practice Test

"*" indicates required fields

What purpose does silicone serve in conditioners?*

Reduces frizz

Adds shine

Retains moisture

Increases bulk

What should be done for patients who have been treated with conditioner that must be left in for more than one minute?*

Sit client upright with a towel wrapped around the head

Sit client upright with a plastic cap on the head

Escort client to the styling chair to wait

Leave client at the sink until time is up

What are the two types of asymmetrical balance?*

Diagonal and vertical

Front and back

Horizontal and diagonal

Vertical and horizontal

What purpose do humectants serve in conditioners?*

To promote moisture retention

To bulk up the hair

To restore protein

To reduce frizz

Which type of shear is best for cutting large sections of hair?*

Chunking shear

Thinning shear

Blending shear

Texturizing shear

Which of the following is not a function of brushing?*

Stimulating blood circulation

Detangling

Removing build-up

Scalp examination

Which of the following is not a type of conditioner?*

Repair conditioner

Dry conditioner

Rinse-out conditioner

Leave-in conditioner

At which two reference points does the comb leave the head?*

Apex and occipital bone

Four corners and apex

Occipital bone and parietal ridge

Parietal ridge and apex

Moisturizing conditioners allow the _____ to absorb moisture from the air.*

Medulla

All of the above

Cuticle

Cortex

Which of the following is not a layered haircut?*

Pixie cut

Bob

Caesar

Shag

What is the difference between treatment massages and relaxation massages?*

The products used

The amount of pressure used

They are the same

The duration of the massage

What is the most appropriate hairstyle for round facial types?*

Height and volume on top, little or no volume at the sides

Volume at the temples and height at the top

Volume at the jawline and forehead

Volume at the sides, close crop at the top

Which type of shampoo should be used to remove build-up?*

Balancing shampoo

Medicated shampoo

Clarifying shampoo

Conditioning shampoo

For which techniques should razors be used on curly hair?*

Razors should not be used on curly hair

Feathering

Texturizing

Blunt cuts

It is safe to perform a service on clients who have...*

Pityriasis steatoides

Seborrhic dermatitis

All of the above

Pityriasis capitis simplex

How can split ends be repaired?*

Cutting

Conditioner

Protein treatment

Wrapping the hair

Which elevation angle could be used to add weight to a haircut?*

90 degrees

45 degrees

No elevation should be used

100 degrees

Which pair includes the two basic requirements for a healthy scalp?*

Stimulation and regular trims

Cleanliness and regular salon visits

Regular trims and cleanliness

Cleanliness and stimulation

Which of the following is not one of the natural wave patterns of hair?*

Straight

Wavy

Extremely curly

Fine

How does shampoo draping differ from chemical draping?*

The towel(s) lay/lies across the client's shoulders

They are the same

Chemical draping requires more towels

The towel(s) cross(es) underneath the client's chin

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Your name*

Your email address*

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Ashley Wisener

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