• 50 questions

NOCTI Cosmetology Practice Test

Unofficial practice for NOCTI Cosmetology: sanitation, hair, skin and nail science, salon business, physical and chemical services, hair design.

Ringworm of the scalp, also called tinea capitis, is what kind of infection?

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Exam mode: 50 questions, 51 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with NOCTI. Bank checked October 16, 2026.

Next step State law tests: cosmetology by stateAnother NOCTI test: Health Assisting

All 50 questions

Safety and Sanitation 10

  • A reusable razor is contaminated with blood. Until it is reprocessed, OSHA requires a container that is labeled, leakproof and what else? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • A salon stocks relaxers, lighteners and other hazardous chemicals. What does OSHA require of the safety data sheets for them? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • OSHA has found that some hair smoothing products can release which chemical above its permissible limits during use? OSHA, Hair Salons: Facts about Formaldehyde in Hair Products. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard fixes the headings of a safety data sheet. Which section is the last one, Other information? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1200. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • Ringworm of the scalp, also called tinea capitis, is what kind of infection? MedlinePlus, Ringworm of the scalp. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • Under 29 CFR 1910.138, employers must require hand protection when hands are exposed to which hazard named in the rule? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.138. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
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Safety and Sanitation, continued

  • Where a worker may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, what must be provided in the work area? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.151. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • Which kind of product destroys microorganisms on living tissue such as skin, and not on tools or surfaces? Wikipedia, Disinfectant. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • Which level of decontamination destroys all microbial life, including highly resistant bacterial endospores? OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation
  • Which machine sterilizes metal implements with pressurized saturated steam? Wikipedia, Autoclave. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Safety and Sanitation

Scientific Concepts 11

  • A blow dryer falls into a wet sink. Which device interrupts the circuit when current leaks to ground? Wikipedia, Residual-current device. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • A hair is actively growing, by about 1 cm a month. Which phase of its cycle is it in? Wikipedia, Human hair growth. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • Dead keratinocytes are shed all the time from the outermost layer of the epidermis. What is that layer called? National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, Layers of the Skin. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • Hair and nails are made mostly of which structural protein? Wikipedia, Keratin. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • On a fingernail, which nearly invisible layer of dead skin cells rides out on the back of the visible nail plate? Wikipedia, Nail (anatomy). Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • What are the eggs of head lice called? MedlinePlus, Head Lice. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • What do the sebaceous glands secrete? Wikipedia, Sebaceous gland. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • Which cells of the epidermis produce the pigment melanin? National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, Layers of the Skin. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • Which electrotherapy treatment used in facials applies a small, constant direct current? Wikipedia, Electrotherapy (cosmetic). Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • Which is the outermost layer of the hair shaft, made of flat cells that overlap like roof shingles? Wikipedia, Hair. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts
  • Which of these is a bone of the cranium and not of the face? National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules, Axial Skeleton. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Scientific Concepts

Salon-Related Business Skills 6

  • A stylist starts doing business alone and registers no other kind of business. Which structure applies automatically? U.S. Small Business Administration, Choose a business structure. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Salon-Related Business Skills
  • A stylist suggests a deep-conditioning add-on to a client who booked only a haircut. Which sales technique is this? Wikipedia, Upselling. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Salon-Related Business Skills
  • An employee must report cash tips to the employer once they reach what amount in a calendar month? IRS, Topic no. 761, Tips - withholding and reporting. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Salon-Related Business Skills
  • The IRS weighs three kinds of evidence to tell an employee from an independent contractor: behavioral, financial and which other? IRS, Independent contractor (self-employed) or employee?. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Salon-Related Business Skills
  • Two stylists want to own a salon together. Which structure does the SBA call the simplest for two or more owners? U.S. Small Business Administration, Choose a business structure. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Salon-Related Business Skills
  • Which structure does the SBA say protects an owner's personal assets from the business's lawsuits in most instances? U.S. Small Business Administration, Choose a business structure. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Salon-Related Business Skills

Physical Services 7

  • Acrylic artificial nails are made by reacting acrylic polymers with what? FDA, Nail Care Products. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services
  • During skin analysis, what does the Fitzpatrick scale estimate? Wikipedia, Fitzpatrick scale. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services
  • Glycolic acid and lactic acid, found in exfoliating products, belong to which group of ingredients? FDA, Alpha Hydroxy Acids. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services
  • In a pedicure, which tool is often used to rub dead skin cells off the bottom of the feet? Wikipedia, Pedicure. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services
  • Waxing removes the entire hair, not just the part above the skin. What is this kind of hair removal called? Wikipedia, Hair removal. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services
  • Which ingredient class in a shampoo traps oils so that they rinse away? Wikipedia, Shampoo. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services
  • Which massage movement used in facials is a long, gliding stroke? Wikipedia, Massage. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Physical Services

Chemical Services 10

  • A colorist mixes shades from red, yellow and blue. What does traditional color theory call these three? Wikipedia, Primary color. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • After the waving lotion in a permanent wave, what does the oxidation lotion do? Wikipedia, Permanent wave. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • In a cold permanent wave, which bonds in the hair does the reduction lotion break open? Wikipedia, Permanent wave. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • Lightened hair shows unwanted orange. In the traditional RYB model, which color is paired with orange as its complement and cancels it? Wikipedia, Complementary colors. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • One kind of "no-lye" relaxer is mixed at the time of use from a calcium hydroxide cream and an activating solution of what? Wikipedia, Relaxer. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • Sodium hydroxide is the caustic agent in which kind of hair straightener? Wikipedia, Relaxer. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • Which area does the FDA say must never be dyed with hair dye? FDA, Hair Dyes. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • Which pair names the most common bleaching agents in commercial hair lighteners? Wikipedia, Hair bleaching. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • Which step does the FDA tell users of coal-tar hair dye to take every time before dyeing? FDA, Hair Dyes. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services
  • Why does permanent hair color generally contain ammonia? Wikipedia, Hair coloring. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Chemical Services

Hair Designing 6

  • A flat iron straightens hair for a time by breaking which bonds in the hair's cortex? Wikipedia, Hair iron. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Hair Designing
  • In a layered haircut, how are the top layers cut compared with the layers beneath? Wikipedia, Layered hair. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Hair Designing
  • Which blow dryer attachment spreads out the jet of air, and is used on naturally curly or permed hair? Wikipedia, Hair dryer. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Hair Designing
  • Which heated metal tool is also known as a pressing comb? Wikipedia, Hot comb. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Hair Designing
  • Which shears are made for removing bulk from thick hair so it does not look bushy? Wikipedia, Scissors. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Hair Designing
  • Which wet-styling method pinches the hair between the fingers and combs it in alternating directions to form an S shape? Wikipedia, Finger wave. Written to NOCTI Cosmetology (4182), Hair Designing

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the competency list of the Job Ready Credential Blueprint for Cosmetology (code 4182, version 01, copyright 2022) that NOCTI publishes at https://www.nocti.org/wp-content/uploads/Blueprints/JRCosmetology4182.pdf , read 2026-10-16: a written assessment of 176 questions in 3 hours over six areas (Safety and Sanitation 19%; Scientific Concepts 23%; Salon-Related Business Skills 13%; Physical Services 14%; Chemical Services 19%; Hair Designing 12%), plus a performance assessment of five jobs. This bank holds 50 in those proportions. Every rule and definition was read on 2026-10-16 on the public page named under its question: OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1910 and the OSHA page on formaldehyde in hair products, FDA pages on hair dyes, nail care products and alpha hydroxy acids, the IRS, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the National Cancer Institute SEER training modules, MedlinePlus and Wikipedia. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site. No question is taken from a textbook, a state board examination or a candidate handbook.

How it works

Fifty questions of our own for the NOCTI cosmetology practice test, sorted by the six areas of the Job Ready Cosmetology blueprint, code 4182. The page is free and unofficial: not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by NOCTI.

Read the full guide

Six areas, and science leads

Scientific Concepts is 23% of the written assessment: hair and scalp, skin, nails, anatomy and electricity. Safety and Sanitation and Chemical Services are 19% each, Physical Services 14%, Salon-Related Business Skills 13% and Hair Designing 12%. The 50 questions here split 11, 10, 10, 7, 6 and 6.

The clock

The timed exam runs the 50 questions in 51 minutes, the pace of the written assessment. The blueprint gives no passing score, so you get a score and no verdict.

  • Sterilizing destroys all microbial life, spores included. Disinfectants are for surfaces, antiseptics for skin.
  • Waving lotion breaks disulfide bonds and the oxidation lotion closes them. A flat iron breaks only hydrogen bonds.
  • State board rules differ and none is asked here. In the salon, follow the label and your state.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the NOCTI Cosmetology test?

The Job Ready blueprint, code 4182, lists 176 written questions in 3 hours, in one, two or three sessions. The five performance jobs take another 3 hours.

What is on the NOCTI Cosmetology performance test?

Five jobs: chemical applications (29%): a mock color retouch, six foil highlights, a virgin relaxer and perm rods on one section; a 90-degree layer cut (19%); a blow dry, press and Marcel curl (19%); a facial with three massage manipulations (17%); a one-hand manicure (16%).

Where is the NOCTI Cosmetology blueprint?

It is a free PDF on nocti.org/credentials/blueprints, with every competency, the weight of each area, ten sample questions and a sample job. None of the ten is used on this page.

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