Passing the Multi-State / National Cosmetology State Board Exam.

If you are taking your Cosmetology State Board Examination in any of the 38 states (along with the District of Columbia and Guam), that are currently using the the National or Multi-State Exam, you will need to pass the exam as administered by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Because thats a lot to say, it is usually referred to as the NIC Exam.

More information about this exam can be found at: www.nictesting.org.

The exam itself is taken, about equally, from the two main textbooks presently used in Cosmetology Schools throughout the country. Specifically, Milady and Pivot Point (Salon Fundamentals). And this information is clearly posted on the NIC website. They do this because each textbook has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Currently, it appears that most of the exam questions regarding haircutting, roller-sets, and pin-curl placement are taken from the Pivot Point text, while the majority of chemical questions (color, bleach, permanent waves, and chemical relaxers) are coming out of the Milady series. And while this is subject to change at any time, it is what they are doing now - and have been doing for several years.

At this time, there are no schools currently requiring their students to purchase, and read, both texts. Sound good? The down side is that no matter what school you attend, and no matter how hard you study - you will be unprepared to pass your exam. You simply cannot know the material if you were never taught, or, if you never had the opportunity to read it, and teach, yourself.

This is not your teachers fault. The teacher uses the book she or he was told to use by the school officials. And it isn't really the fault of the school administration. They try to keep costs down, and the price of books is expensive.

Also, they realize many students work and have a family. Therefore, it is unlikely that most students would have the time to read two large textbooks (each is over 600 pages).

So each school director is faced with a decision, which book is best for my students. And no matter what they do - it is a guessing game. And this is one of the reasons the failure rate is so high on the State Board Examination.

This situation is best remedied by purchasing, AND READING, both books, along with their companion study-guides. The text books can be ordered for about $200.00 each from: www.milady.com, or www.pivot-point.com. The study-guides retail for approximately $50.00 each, and may be ordered from the same websites.

So, if you have the time, and $500.00, it would be in your best interest to read both books.
In this way, you can completely prepare yourself to pass your State Board Exam.

However; if you lack the time, or the $500.00, your next best bet is to purchase a study guide that covers the material in both texts.

There is only one study-guide currently available that does this, and it can be ordered from: www.cosmetologystateboardexam.com
At the time of ordering, it can be obtained as an immediate ebook download for $29.95. Or in hardcopy for the same price: $29.95 (plus P&H).

It contains over 1,700 questions.
With the questions taken equally from both Milady and Pivot Point.
And it covers every area currently tested on the State Board Exam.

So, if you have the time and the money, visit the websites for Milady and Pivot Point. Order the textbooks are read them. They are both excellent books filled with extremely valuable information.

If you lack the time, the money, or both; visit www.cosmetologystateboardexam.com to order your copy of the only available study-guide covering both textbooks exactly as they appear on the NIC Cosmetology State Board Examination.

www.nictesting.org
www.milady.com
www.pivot-point.com
www.cosmetologystateboardexam.com