Considering moving to Louisiana and starting a new career here? Are you interested in starting a cosmetology career in the state of Louisiana? Wondering about how to apply for the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam and License? Worry not!
In this article, you will learn more about the steps involved in applying for the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam. And you will learn more about the eligibility criteria set by the state of Louisiana to apply for the cosmetology exam and license.
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Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam Practice Test
Steps Involved in the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam
STEP 1: VERIFY YOUR ELIGIBILITY
The first step to applying for the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam is to enroll in the exam. You can start the enrollment process by registering on the official website.
Firstly, before you register, you must check if you are eligible to apply for the cosmetology exam in the state of Louisiana. The minimum practical working hours required to be eligible to apply for the cosmetology exam in the state of Louisiana are as follows:

- 1500 hours for a Cosmetologist License.
- 1500 hours for a Barber License.
- 500 hours for a Hair Design License.
- 750 hours for an Esthetician License.
- 500 hours for a Nail Technician License.
- 500 hours for a Massage Therapist License.
- 500 hours + a Cosmetology License for a Cosmetology Instructor License.
STEP 2: APPLY FOR THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAMINATION
Once you have verified your eligibility, the next step is to apply for the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam. In the state of Louisiana, exams are offered by NIC. To apply for the exam, you will have to fill out the application form available on the official website.
There are some requirements for applicants willing to apply for the exam. The requirements are as follows:
- Applicants must be at least 16 years old.
- Must have completed the required minimum practical working hours from a state-approved cosmetology school.
- Candidates must have completed 10th grade from an approved high school.
- Pay the required fees to further process the application.
STEP 3: PAY YOUR EXAM FEES
After you have applied for the cosmetology exam, the next step is to pay all the required fees for the board to further process your application. The fee details for the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology are as follows:
- NIC Theory Exam fee is $25.
- NIC Practical Exam fee is $25.
- Retake Exam fee is $25.
STEP 4: SCHEDULING YOUR EXAM
Once you have paid the required fee, the next step is to schedule the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam. You can visit the official website to learn more about the schedule of the upcoming exam.
Make sure to provide all the required information and supporting documents at the time of application or scheduling of the cosmetology exam.
STEP 5: ON THE EXAMINATION DAY
On the day of the exam, make sure to arrive a few minutes prior to your appointed time. Likewise, make sure not to leave the examination room without proper permission from the Proctor. You will require a picture identification for re-entry into the examination hall.
NOTE: In the state of Louisiana, candidates are prohibited from bringing electronic items into the examination area.
STEP 6: TAKE THE EXAM
The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam is administered by the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). NIC Exams consist of 2 components, namely:
- NIC Theory Exam.
- NIC Practical Exam.
NIC THEORY EXAM
The NIC theory exam is a written theory exam that has multiple-choice questions (MCQs) type. The written exam consists of 110 MCQs, out of which only 100 questions will be scored. The duration of the theory exam is 90 minutes.
NIC PRACTICAL EXAM
The NIC practical exam is a hands-on exam type. The duration of the practical exam is about 2 to 3 hours long. Candidates are required to bring a minimum of 4 mannequin heads for the exam.
STEP 7: RESULTS ANALYSIS
Once you have taken the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology Exam, the next step is to find out your results. Most of the time, the written examinations take about 2 to 3 weeks for the professionals to grade the exam.
Generally, after completion of grading, the examination scores are mailed to the individual candidates. The examination scores are not posted on any websites and will not be given through phone calls or email.
STEP 8: RECEIVE YOUR LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY LICENSE
After you have taken and passed the cosmetology exam, the next step is to apply and receive the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology License. Once you have applied for the licensure, you can also search your licensure online to see if it has been issued or not.
In the state of Louisiana, you can verify your cosmetology licensure by visiting the License Search page to verify your licensure. You will have to fill out the required information to search for the license.
LICENSE RENEWAL
In Louisiana, the board allows candidates to renew their license every year by the licensee’s birthday. You are required to fill out the Renewal Application Form available on the official website. You can visit the official website to learn more about the renewal procedure.
LICENSE TRANSFER
In Louisiana, the board allows candidates to transfer their licensure through reciprocity. You can transfer your license from Louisiana to a different state and vice versa through reciprocity.
You are required to fill out the Reciprocity Application Form available on the official website. For further information on the license transfer procedure, you can visit the official website.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Louisiana Cosmetology Exams
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LICENSURE AVAILABLE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA?
The different types of licensure available in the state of Louisiana are as follows:
- Cosmetology license.
- Barber license.
- Esthetician license.
- Hair Design license.
- Nail Technician license.
- Massage Therapist license.
- Cosmetology Instructor license.
HOW CAN I CONTACT THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY FOR LICENSURE?
In Louisiana, you can contact the State Board for cosmetology licensure by visiting the official website. You can also access their website to learn more about the license verification, license lookup, and license renewal procedures.
HOW DO I VERIFY MY LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY LICENSURE?
In the state of Louisiana, once you pass both the exams, you can verify your cosmetology licensure by visiting the License Search page to verify your licensure. You will have to fill out the required information to perform the license search.
HOW LONG IS COSMETOLOGY LICENSURE VALID IN LOUISIANA?
In the state of Louisiana, cosmetology licensure must be renewed every year. Every year by the birthday of the licensee, the license has to be renewed. The renewal fee details are as follows:
- In-state license – $25.
- Out-of-state license – $50.
HOW DO I TRANSFER MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE TO LOUISIANA?
In the state of Louisiana, the board allows candidates to transfer their licensure through reciprocity. You are required to fill out the Reciprocity Application Form available on the official website. For further information on the license transfer procedure, you can visit the official website.
HOW DO I RENEW MY COSMETOLOGY LICENSE IN LOUISIANA?
The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology allows candidates to renew their license every year by the licensee’s birthday. You are required to fill out the Renewal Application Form available on the official website.
HOW LONG IS THE COSMETOLOGY EXAMINATION?
In the state of Louisiana, the cosmetology exam has 2 sections, namely:
- The NIC theory exam – 90 minutes.
- The NIC practical exam – 2 to 3 hours.
CAN I RENEW MY LICENSE FOR A SHORTENED PERIOD IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA IF I DO NOT NEED THE LICENSE FOR THE FULL LICENSE CYCLE?
No. The Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology only lets you renew your license for a period of 1 year.
HOW CAN I CONTACT NIC TO GET MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THE EXAM?
For further information regarding the exam, you can visit NIC’s official website. You will learn more about both the NIC practical and theory exam.
CAN I TAKE A PRACTICE TEST EXAM?
Yes, you can take practice tests on the official website. Also, you can try out our free practice test to help you prepare for your cosmetology exam.
WHAT IS THE PASSING SCORE FOR THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAM?
The passing score for the NIC theory and NIC practical exams in the state of Louisiana is 75%.
HOW MANY TIMES CAN I TAKE THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF COSMETOLOGY EXAMINATIONS IF I FAIL?
In the state of Louisiana, you can retake the cosmetology exam any number of times, but you are required to pay the examination fee every single time you retake the exam.
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