Cheat sheet
Esthetician License Cheat Sheet
Scientific Concepts
- 55% of exam
- Microbiology Infection Control Anatomy Skin Histology Chemistry
Skin Care Services
- 45% of exam
- Consultation Skin Analysis Facial Protocol Hair Removal Makeup
Practical + State Rules
- 0% of exam
- Practical Core Blood Exposure Supply Labels Scope Limits State Bulletin
Quick Facts
- Exam NIC Esthetics Theory
- Items 110 total
- Scored 100 weighted
- Time 90 minutes
- Domains 55% / 45%
- Effective September 2025
- Revised March 2026
- Rules State board controls
Epidermis Layers SC
- Come, Let's Get Skin Basics
- Corneum Lucidum Granulosum Spinosum Basale
Sanitation vs Disinfection SC
Sanitation
- Reduces microbes
- Lower level
- Clean surfaces
Disinfection
- Kills pathogens
- EPA product
- Contact time
- Reduce vs destroy
Infection Picker SC
- Visible debris → Clean first
- Reusable implement → Disinfect ( After cleaning )
- Single-use item → Discard ( Never reuse )
- Skin antisepsis → Antiseptic ( Living tissue )
- Blood possible → Gloves ( Standard Precautions )
- Chemical hazard → SDS ( Read label )
Microbiology SC
- Bacteria Single-cell microbes
- Virus Host-cell invader
- Fungi Molds/yeasts
- Parasite Host-dependent organism
- Pathogen Disease-causing agent
- Contamination Unwanted microbes
- Infection Pathogen invasion
- Transmission Spread pathway
Hair Growth SC
- ACT through hair cycles
- Anagen Catagen Telogen
Disinfection vs Sterilization SC
Disinfection
- Most pathogens
- Salon standard
- Nonporous tools
Sterilization
- All microbes
- Medical level
- Higher process
- Most vs all
Infection Control SC
- Sanitation Reduces microbes
- Disinfection Destroys most pathogens
- Sterilization Destroys all microbes
- Antiseptic Skin-safe chemical
- EPA label Use directions
- Contact time Required wet time
- Clean first Remove visible debris
- Single-use Discard after service
Epidermis vs Dermis SC
Epidermis
- Outer barrier
- No blood vessels
- Basale cells
Dermis
- Support layer
- Nerves/vessels
- Collagen/elastin
- Barrier vs support
Safety + SDS SC
- SDS Chemical hazard sheet
- Label Manufacturer directions
- Gloves Blood/chemical barrier
- PPE Exposure protection
- Spill Follow SDS
- Ventilation Reduce vapor exposure
- Patch test Sensitivity check
- Contraindication Service stop sign
Skin Anatomy SC
- Epidermis Outer skin layer
- Dermis Vessels/nerves/glands
- Hypodermis Subcutaneous fat
- Corneum Outer dead cells
- Lucidum Thick skin layer
- Granulosum Keratinization layer
- Spinosum Strength layer
- Basale Cell division layer
Cells + Glands SC
- Keratinocyte Makes keratin
- Melanocyte Makes melanin
- Fibroblast Makes collagen
- Langerhans Immune defense
- Sebaceous Oil gland
- Sudoriferous Sweat gland
- Collagen Firmness protein
- Elastin Stretch fiber
Conditions + Lesions SC
- Rosacea Chronic redness
- Eczema Inflamed dermatitis
- Comedone Follicle blockage
- Milia Keratin cysts
- Telangiectasia Visible capillaries
- Hyperpigmentation Excess pigment
- Hypopigmentation Reduced pigment
- Melanoma Dangerous cancer
Hair + Chemistry SC
- Anagen Active growth
- Catagen Transition phase
- Telogen Resting phase
- Hirsutism Excess terminal hair
- Hypertrichosis Excess hair growth
- Acid Below pH 7
- Alkaline Above pH 7
- Neutral pH 7
Facial Flow SE
- Consult, cleanse, treat, protect
- Consult Cleanse Exfoliate Mask SPF
Type vs Condition SE
Skin type
- Oil baseline
- Generally stable
- Dry/oily/combo
Condition
- Temporary state
- Can change
- Dehydration/redness
- Baseline vs current
Service Picker SE
- New client → Consultation ( History first )
- Series treatment → Review each visit
- Open lesion → Defer service ( Refer out )
- Oily congestion → Clay mask
- Dry/dehydrated → Cream mask
- Brow shaping → Wax/tweeze
- Makeup service → Disposables ( Prevent contamination )
Consultation + Analysis SE
- Intake Client history
- Consent Service permission
- Release Physician clearance
- Fitzpatrick UV response scale
- Skin type Oil balance
- Skin condition Current state
- Charting Document findings
- Home care Aftercare plan
Contraindication vs Precaution SE
Contraindication
- Stop service
- Safety risk
- Refer if needed
Precaution
- Modify service
- Use judgment
- Document change
- Stop vs adjust
Facial Protocol SE
- Drape Protect client
- Cleanse Remove debris
- Steam Soften sebum
- Exfoliate Remove buildup
- Massage Manipulation sequence
- Extract Clear follicles
- Mask Target treatment
- SPF UV protection
Services + Tools SE
- Clay mask Oil absorption
- Cream mask Moisture support
- Gel mask Cooling hydration
- Paraffin Thermal occlusion
- Soft wax Strip removal
- Tweezing Individual removal
- Bracing Eye/mouth support
- Palette Makeup decanting
Practical Bins PR
- Tools, towels, trash stay separate
- To disinfect Soiled linens Trash
Theory vs Practical PR
Theory
- Computer exam
- 110 items
- NIC outline
Practical
- Hands-on tasks
- State required
- Timed sections
- Know vs perform
Practical Picker PR
- Start station → Disinfect area
- Product used → English label
- Soiled towel → Soiled linens
- Reusable tool → To disinfect
- Disposable waste → Trash
- Minor cut → Blood procedure
- Eye/mouth work → Brace
Practical Core PR
- Work area Disinfect setup
- Basic facial 25 minutes
- New client Fresh setup
- Eyebrow wax Untimed section
- Makeup 20 minutes
- Blood exposure 10 minutes
- English labels Required supplies
- Closed kit Dry storage
Scope vs Medical PR
Esthetics scope
- Cosmetic services
- State-defined
- License limits
Medical act
- Diagnosis/treatment
- Physician rules
- Outside basics
- Cosmetic vs medical
Scope + State PR
- Theory NIC content
- Practical State choice
- Written practical State choice
- Fees Vendor/state set
- Retakes State/vendor rules
- Scope State law
- Medical acts Outside basic scope
- Licensure Jurisdiction controlled
Common Traps
Antiseptic Level
- Antiseptic = sanitation ≠ Not sterilization
Weighted Items
- 110 seen ≠ 100 scored
Basale Name
- Basale = germinativum ≠ Not corneum
Anagen Phase
- Anagen = active growth ≠ Telogen = resting
Consultation Timing
- Review each treatment ≠ Not annually only
Visible Capillaries
- Telangiectasia = capillaries ≠ Seborrhea = oil
Disinfectant Use
- Follow contact time ≠ Do not guess
State Rules
- NIC = content ≠ State = license
Last Minute
- 1. Scientific Concepts = 55%
- 2. Skin Care Services = 45%
- 3. Answer all 110 items
- 4. Sanitize, disinfect, sterilize differ
- 5. Clean before disinfecting tools
- 6. Basale contains melanocytes
- 7. Anagen means active growth
- 8. Contraindication means stop
- 9. Consult every chemical service
- 10. SPF concludes facial care
- 11. Use state vendor bulletin
- 12. Scope is state-defined
Esthetician License
- Practice Questions 199 questions Study Guide 72 topics Cheat Sheet 96 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 1 short Videos 1 video Blogs 2 blogs Free CE