Preparing for your Cosmetology Exam
It’s been years since I have been a beauty school student and since then I have had several jobs in the beauty industry. I was a beauty school instructor for a while, as well as managers to several different hair salons. This hub is really designed around giving some hints and tips for the student of cosmetology and to get them prepared for taking that dreaded Cosmetology board test.
I went to beauty school in New Mexico and took my state board exam in Sante Fe New Mexico, such a beautiful place that is and I was there during January during the most amazing snowstorm that they had ever had. I remember it well, and I also remember how nervous I was to take the state board test. After 10 months in beauty school I still felt like I wasn’t prepared and I thought that I would never pass it, but I did and later realized how easy it was because all those months of training all came back to me while I was taking my test, and I should’ve realized that I didn’t really have anything to worry about.
When you are ready to take your state board test the best advice I can give you is to be prepared. There are so many people that walk in to take their test and then realize that they don’t have the necessary equipment that they need for the test. If this happens the instructors do not put up with any of it and you are kicked out for not being prepared. You then have to reapply to take the test and have to pay for it all over again. Bummer.
Be Prepared
Before I took my test I made a list of everything that I was going to need for my test. I had all my equipment ready, I double checked everything and wasn’t going to be caught off guard. I also retrieved as much outside sources as I could and the Board of Barbers and Cosmetology in whatever state you live in is a great source for getting this information.
I also talked to as many licensed stylist as I could and got their take on the exam as well and got as many tips as I could. They were very helpful in telling me what the experience was for them and let me know what the instructors were going to be looking for.
Sanitation,Sanitation,Sanitation
In my beauty school the area of sanitation was placed at a very high standard, so make sure that you are up to date on all the sanitation rules of your state and that you know it like the back of your hand because during the test instructors are known to ask you out of the blue questions about sanitation.
A few weeks before the exam I went through the cosmetology book and had someone ask me as many questions as possible so that I knew them very well. Before you graduate from beauty school they usually give you a practice test to see how well you do, so remember to practice on the areas that you didn’t do so well on and concentrate on them until you feel comfortable enough in that area that you will ace it.
The most important thing is that you have to remember that you have been through about 10 months of schooling for this profession and that you have the knowledge in your head so you have to not get too nervous or stressed out thinking about the exam. If you have to go to another city for your exam such as I did, it would be a good idea to get there the night before so that you can find the place you will be taking your test because you don’t want to be rushing the morning of the exam looking for it and possibly getting lost. Make sure that you are not late because if you are 1 minute late, they will close the door and tell you to reschedule, at least that is the way it was when I went through it. If you have to take a live model then make sure that you choose someone that is going to be dependable and doesn’t back out at the last minute. Some exams only require a mannequin head but in my state they required a mannequin and a live model.
Also it is crucial to get a good nights sleep the night before and eat a good breakfast before the exam because you do not need any distractions. Remember to take a deep breath and just tell yourself that you can do this as so many others before you have done it and you will be fine.
Remember that whatever state you live in has a Board of Barbers and Cosmetology and they will be happy to send you a check list of everything you need before your test and they are pretty good about helping, of course your beauty school is pretty good about preparing you as well.
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