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PA Cosmetologist Theory and Procedural Skills — Information & Free Practice

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PA Cosmetologist Theory and Procedural Skills

Provider
Pearson VUE
Format
Computer-based multiple-choice theory/procedural skills
Exam questions
135 total; 110 scored and 25 pretest
Time limit
2 hours 15 minutes
Passing score
75 scaled score
Examination outline
  • I. Rules, Regulations, and Safety (27% to 32%)
    • A. Safety
    • A. Safety / 1. Draping
    • A. Safety / 1. Draping / a. Sanitation
    • A. Safety / 1. Draping / b. Procedures
    • A. Safety / 2. Prevention of salon accidents
    • A. Safety / 2. Prevention of salon accidents / a. Maintaining safe working conditions
    • A. Safety / 2. Prevention of salon accidents / b. Labeling
    • A. Safety / 2. Prevention of salon accidents / c. Storing chemical products
    • A. Safety / 2. Prevention of salon accidents / d. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/ Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
    • A. Safety / 2. Prevention of salon accidents / e. Implements/tools
    • A. Safety / 3. First aid/OSHA
    • A. Safety / 3. First aid/OSHA / a. Handling blood-contaminated tools
    • A. Safety / 3. First aid/OSHA / b. Disposing of blood-contaminated objects
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection / 1. Personal hygiene
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection / 2. Implements and tools
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection / 3. Single-use items
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection / 4. Dispensing products
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection / 5. Identifying infectious disease/referral
    • B. Sanitation and disinfection / 6. Work surfaces
    • C. Client contact & communication
    • C. Client contact & communication / 1. Ethics
    • C. Client contact & communication / 2. Consultation
    • C. Client contact & communication / 3. Record keeping
  • II. Trichology (5% to 8%)
    • A. Structure of hair
    • B. Hair type
    • B. Hair type / 1. Pigment
    • B. Hair type / 2. Wave pattern/follicle formation
    • B. Hair type / 3. Texture
    • B. Hair type / 4. Density
    • B. Hair type / 5. Porosity
    • B. Hair type / 6. Elasticity
    • C. Hair growth phases
  • III. Shampoo / Scalp Analysis (4% to 6%)
    • A. Purpose and chemistry of shampoos and conditioners
    • B. Scalp conditioning services
    • C. Procedures
    • D. Scalp massage
    • E. Scalp analysis/Disorders and diseases of scalp
    • F. Procedures for clients with special needs
  • IV. Styling (5% to 8%)
    • A. Determination of appropriate hair style
    • A. Determination of appropriate hair style / 1. Hair texture and types/Hair analysis
    • A. Determination of appropriate hair style / 2. Hair length
    • A. Determination of appropriate hair style / 3. Face shape
    • B. Hair design techniques
    • B. Hair design techniques / 1. Wet styling
    • B. Hair design techniques / 2. Comb out
    • B. Hair design techniques / 3. Blow-dry styling
    • C. Thermal styling
    • C. Thermal styling / 1. Special considerations
    • C. Thermal styling / 2. Tools
    • C. Thermal styling / 3. Procedures
    • D. Artificial hair
    • E. Products and styling aids
  • V. Haircutting (9% to 11%)
    • A. Shaping and cutting principles
    • B. Determination of appropriate haircut
    • B. Determination of appropriate haircut / 1. Length, structure, and conditions
    • B. Determination of appropriate haircut / 2. Establishing guideline
    • C. Blunt/one-length, graduated, and layered haircuts
    • C. Blunt/one-length, graduated, and layered haircuts / 1. Elevation
    • C. Blunt/one-length, graduated, and layered haircuts / 2. Sectioning/parting
    • D. Thinning/texturizing
    • E. Using a razor
    • F. Using clippers/trimmers
    • G. Using scissors/shears
  • VI. Haircolor & Lightening (13% to 15%)
    • A. Scalp and hair conditions that preclude haircoloring or lightening services
    • B. Effects of hair structure and natural hair color on tone and intensity of outcome
    • C. Preparing hair to receive haircoloring or lightening services
    • C. Preparing hair to receive haircoloring or lightening services / 1. Patch test
    • C. Preparing hair to receive haircoloring or lightening services / 2. Strand test
    • D. Determining color level and tone/color theory
    • E. Products
    • F. Tools, implements, and materials
    • G. Formulation
    • H. Application, processing, and removal
    • I. Highlighting techniques
    • J. Corrective color
    • K. Special considerations
    • K. Special considerations / 1. Overprocessed or damaged hair
    • K. Special considerations / 2. Hair with metallic-based, compound-based, or mineral-based color
  • VII. Permanent Waving (12% to 14%)
    • A. Scalp and hair conditions that preclude permanent waving services
    • B. Effects of hair structure and condition on desired outcome
    • C. Preparation
    • D. Products
    • E. Tools, implements, and materials
    • F. Applying, processing, and removing products
    • G. Techniques of wrapping hair with rods and other tools
    • H. Special considerations
    • H. Special considerations / 1. Over processed or damaged hair
    • H. Special considerations / 2. Hair with metallic-based, compound-based, or mineral-based color
    • H. Special considerations / 3. Test curl
  • VIII. Chemical Straightening and Relaxing (12% to 14%)
    • A. Scalp and hair conditions that preclude chemical straightening and relaxing services
    • B. Effects of hair structure on desired outcome
    • C. Preparation
    • D. Products
    • E. Tools, implements, and procedures
    • F. Applying, processing, and removing products for chemical straightening and relaxing
    • G. Curl reformation/soft curl perm
    • H. Keratin-based smoothing treatments
    • I. Special considerations
    • I. Special considerations / 1. Overprocessed or damaged hair
    • I. Special considerations / 2. Hair with metallic-based, compound-based, or mineral-based color
    • I. Special considerations / 3. Strand test
  • IX. Esthetics (5% to 7%)
    • A. Skin conditions that preclude esthetic services
    • B. Skin conditions that benefit from esthetic services
    • C. Skin diseases and disorders
    • D. Special procedures for skin services on sensitive, acne-prone, or aging skin
    • E. Preparation
    • F. Tools, implements, and materials
    • G. Facial services
    • G. Facial services / 1. Purpose and procedures
    • G. Facial services / 2. Types of products
    • G. Facial services / 3. Applying and removing products
    • G. Facial services / 4. Using electric skin devices and equipment
    • G. Facial services / 5. Extractions
    • H. Massage manipulations
    • I. Makeup application
    • I. Makeup application / 1. Procedures
    • I. Makeup application / 2. Products
    • I. Makeup application / 3. Removal
    • I. Makeup application / 4. Corrective makeup
    • I. Makeup application / 5. Color theory
    • J. Hair removal
    • J. Hair removal / 1. Waxing and other depilatory techniques
    • J. Hair removal / 2. Eyebrow shaping with tweezers
  • X. Nails (5% to 7%)
    • A. Nail structure
    • B. Recognizing nail disorders and diseases
    • C. Clients’ health conditions that preclude service
    • D. Massage
    • E. Manicure/Pedicure
    • E. Manicure/Pedicure / 1. Products
    • E. Manicure/Pedicure / 2. Procedures
    • E. Manicure/Pedicure / 3. Tools, implements, and materials
    • F. Applying, maintaining, and removing nail enhancements/artificial nails
Examination sources

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