November 2026
Taking your written exam in a second language
Texas and Illinois offer the written exam in five languages. What to check before you book, and how to study when English is not your first language.
November 2026
Texas exam pass rates: the written is where candidates get stuck
In TDLR's fiscal year 2025 figures, about half of Texas cosmetology written-exam attempts passed, against nearly nine in ten practical attempts. What that means and what to do.
November 2026
Getting 90s on practice tests and still failing the written exam?
Practice scores rise when you retake the same test, and that is memory, not readiness. How to read your scores honestly before you book the written exam.
July 2026
Blood Exposure Procedures Are Changing: What NIC's March 2026 Update Means for You
NIC is updating its blood exposure procedures beginning March 2026, and the exact steps are no longer printed in the exam bulletin. Here's what changed and how to study the current version.
June 2026
Mississippi Drops the Practical Exam: Written-Only Licensing as of February 2026
Mississippi eliminated the practical exam for cosmetology licensing in February 2026. Theory exam via PSI is now the only exam required.
June 2026
The NIC National Exam Certificate: How to Transfer Your License Between States
NIC's National Exam Certificate lets you prove you passed the NIC exam in one state and use it for licensing in another. Here's how it works and which states accept it.
June 2026
The NIC Esthetics Exam Changed on January 1, 2026
NIC released updated Esthetics CIBs effective January 1, 2026. If you're testing after that date, you're on the new version. Here's what shifted.
June 2026
California Rewrote Its Beauty Exams in April 2026 — Safety Is Now Half the Nail Tech Test
California's PSI exam got a major reweighting on April 1, 2026. Safety and Infection Control is now 40% of the esthetics exam and 50% of the manicurist exam.
June 2026
Written Practical vs. Live Model: Which States Are Switching and What It Means for Your Prep
Several states are replacing the live-model practical exam with a computer-based Written Practical. Here's what the format looks like and how to prepare.
June 2026
NIC Exam Changes for 2026: What You Need to Know Before You Sit
The NIC exams now run on the 2022 CIB across all states. Here's what changed, what it means for your prep, and what to focus on if you're testing in 2026.