Vermont Cosmetology — Requirements & Free Practice

• Scientific Concepts (35% of items) (35%)

  • Infection control and safety practices — Identify cause/transmission of diseases and infections
  • Infection control and safety practices — Identify the purpose and differentiate among the categories of infection control: Sanitation; Disinfection; Sterilization
  • Infection control and safety practices — Recognize how cross-contamination occurs and how it can be prevented (e.g., single use and multi-use items)
  • Infection control and safety practices — Apply blood exposure procedures
  • Infection control and safety practices — Identify requirements of government agencies: OSHA; EPA
  • Human anatomy and physiology — Identify function and structure of the: Hair and scalp; Skin; Nails
  • Human anatomy and physiology — Recognize signs and symptoms of conditions, disorders, and diseases related to: Hair and scalp; Skin; Nails
  • Human anatomy and physiology — Identify muscles and joints and their functions related to: Head and face; Arms and hands; Legs and feet
  • Human anatomy and physiology — Identify functions of: Nervous system; Circulatory system
  • Basic chemistry used in Cosmetology — Recognize purpose and effects of ingredients
  • Basic chemistry used in Cosmetology — Recognize interactions between chemicals
  • Basic chemistry used in Cosmetology — Recognize chemical reactions (e.g., overexposure, chemical burn)
  • Basic chemistry used in Cosmetology — Recognize the values of the pH scale
• Hair Care and Services (45% of items) (45%)

  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Evaluate condition of client’s hair and scalp
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Recognize conditions that would prohibit service (i.e., contraindications)
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Utilize preliminary tests (e.g., predisposition and strand tests)
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Recommend services or products based on client needs
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Establish/Maintain client records (e.g., service history, client card, medical history)
  • Hair care and services- Tools used in hair care services — Identify purpose, function, and infection control procedures of items: Equipment (e.g., chair, workstation); Implements (e.g., razors, shears, combs/brushes); Supplies and materials (e.g., towels, drapes, neck strips); Electrical tools (e.g., irons, blow dryers, clippers)
  • Hair care and services- Tools used in hair care services — Demonstrate safe practices: Tools/Implements; Ergonomics
  • Hair care principles and procedures — Demonstrate shampooing and conditioning
  • Hair care principles and procedures — Demonstrate scalp treatments and scalp massage
  • Hair care principles and procedures — Demonstrate draping (e.g., chemical, shampoo, cutting, styling)
  • Hair care principles and procedures — Recognize differences in hair care principles and procedures based on various hair types and textures
  • Hair design principles and procedures — Demonstrate hair cutting and shaping
  • Hair design principles and procedures — Demonstrate hair styling: Wet styling; Thermal styling; Natural hair styling (e.g., braiding)
  • Hair design principles and procedures — Apply, maintain, and remove hair enhancements: Wigs and hairpieces; Hair additions (e.g., taping, bonding, fusion, linking)
  • Hair design principles and procedures — Apply principles of balance and hair design (e.g., facial shape, physical structure)
  • Hair design principles and procedures — Recognize differences in hair design principles and procedures based on various hair types and textures
  • Chemical services principles and procedures — Perform hair color services (e.g., virgin, retouch, lightening, foiling, balayage, color formulation, color correction)
  • Chemical services principles and procedures — Perform chemical hair relaxer/restructurizer and curl reduction (e.g., hydroxide, thio, keratin) service
  • Chemical services principles and procedures — Perform chemical waving/texturizing (e.g., alkaline, acid, non-thio) services
  • Chemical services principles and procedures — Understand the chemical products used for the various hair texture types
• Skin Care and Services (10% of items) (10%)

  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Evaluate client’s skin: Type; Condition
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Recognize conditions that would prohibit service (i.e., contraindications)
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Recommend services or products based on client needs
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Establish/Maintain client records (e.g., service history, client card, medical history)
  • Tools used for skin care services — Identify purpose, function, and infection control procedures of items: Equipment (e.g., chair, steamer); Implements (e.g., tweezers, brushes, extractors); Supplies, products, and materials (e.g., creams, masks, towels, wax, head coverings)
  • Tools used for skin care services — Demonstrates safe practices: Tools/Implements; Ergonomics
  • Skin care principles and procedures — Apply knowledge of a basic facial
  • Skin care principles and procedures — Apply knowledge of hair removal
  • Skin care principles and procedures — Apply knowledge of makeup application
  • Skin care principles and procedures — Apply knowledge of electrical equipment
• Nail Care and Services (10% of items) (10%)

  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Evaluate condition of client’s nails
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Recognize conditions that would prohibit service (i.e., contraindications)
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Recommend services or products based on client needs
  • Client consultation, analysis, and documentation — Establish/Maintain client records (e.g., service history, client card, medical history)
  • Tools used for nail care services — Identify purpose, function, and infection control procedures of items: Equipment (e.g., workstation, pedicure basin); Implements (e.g., nippers, file); Supplies, products, and materials (e.g., towels, creams, polish)
  • Tools used for nail care services — Demonstrates safe practices: Tools/Implements; Ergonomics
  • Nail care service principles and procedures — Apply knowledge of a basic manicure and pedicure
  • Nail care service principles and procedures — Apply, maintain, and remove nail enhancements

The authority has not published an examination outline; the practice questions follow the scope of the existing question bank.

• Hair and Scalp Services

  • Shampooing, conditioning, and scalp care
  • Permanent waving and chemical straightening
  • Finger waving, pin curls, roller formation, and thermal styling
  • Hair analysis, scalp health, and preliminary testing
  • Hair lightening and coloring
  • Haircutting, clipper cutting, hairstyling, and shaping
• Skin Care and Hair Removal

  • Waxing and manual hair removal
  • Facials and related skin-care procedures
• Nail Services

  • Manicuring, polish application, and nail enhancements
• Infection Control, Anatomy, and Health

  • Equipment sanitation, disinfection, sterilization, and storage
  • Anatomy, personal health, hygiene, and communicable conditions
• Chemical and Workplace Safety

  • Safe chemical storage, use, disposal, and safety references
• Vermont Law and Professional Responsibility

  • Vermont scope, licensing, reporting, laws, rules, and professional ethics