You’ve always wanted to be a cosmetologist, and you’re really good. You know how to cut and color hair—all kinds of hair. You’re in cosmetology school now. Or maybe you just finished. You want to get licensed in New York. There’s just one problem. You have to pass the cosmetology state board written test in New York. 😰 It’s a timed, multiple choice test. It’s hard. Lots of people fail.
Don’t get scared. Get prepared.TM
New York State Cosmetology Licensing Exam
Did you know that you can request to see the pass-fail rates for the New York cosmetology state board exam? We made that request of the New York Department of State, and here are the results:
2022 Cosmetology Exam
Pass: 3,447
Fail: 1,631
Total: 5,079
January–March 2023 Cosmetology Exam
Pass: 563
Fail: 360
Total: 923
That’s a 32% failure rate in 2022. And in the first quarter of 2023, it’s even worse at 39%. Yikes!
How to Pass the New York Cosmetology State Board Written Exam
The New York cosmetology written exam is a timed, multiple-choice test.
You have 2 1/2 hours to complete it. And you need at least a 70% to pass. It has questions on cosmetology theory. The most important tip: Don’t get scared. Get prepared.TM
We can help! We’re the Filmbook State Board app. And tens of thousands of cosmetology students have used our app to help them pass the cosmetology state board written exam.
You can learn, practice, self-test, and drill on everything you need to know to PASS the cosmetology state board exam. Including cosmetology theory. Best of all, you can take UNLIMITED state board practice tests when you subscribe. That will really build your confidence.
Here’s what you need to do, step-by-step, to prepare for the cosmetology state board exam in NY.
Take Cosmetology Practice Tests and Quizzes
Because Filmbook State Board practice tests are open book, you can swipe up if you get stuck, and find the answer in the built-in book. Plus, you can retake any practice test as often as you want, to get a better score.
In New York, you need to answer 70% of the questions correctly to pass. In the Filmbook app, we set a passing score at 80%. So if you can pass the tests in Filmbook, you are getting prepared for the NY cosmetology state board written exam!
Here’s an example of a practice test for the cosmetology state board written exam:
When you’re ready, you can really ramp up your studying by taking Filmbook quizzes. They’re HARDER than the Filmbook open-book tests. That’s because they’re closed book. And timed. Plus they test you on cosmetology theory. And terminology.
So they’re very similar to the NY cosmetology state board exam.
You can get 100 FREE state board quizzes in the preview version of the Filmbook State Board app. And when you subscribe, you get UNLIMITED state board quizzes.
That’s when you really learn. By taking timed, multiple choice quizzes over and over.
Some Filmbook users have taken hundreds of quizzes. You can bet they’re ready for the state board exam.
Understand Cosmetology Terminology
Many questions on the state board exam are about cosmetology terminology. Do you know what these words mean?
- abductor hallucis
- agnails
- alpha hydroxy acid
- aponeurosis
- axon
And we’re only on the letter A!
How about these?
- parietal ridge
- paronychia
- peptide bond
- petrissage
- pH
- pityriasis capitis
You get a complete cosmetology glossary with over 1,200 words with the Filmbook State Board app. Every important word you have to know is defined.
Glossary with 1,200 cosmetology terms defined! Turn on the read-out-loud option to hear how to pronounce these complicated terms. Plus, you can filter this glossary by 32 topics, including anatomy, human biology, chemistry, electricity, hair diseases, nail diseases, skin diseases, sanitation and more.Plus you get flashcards, so you can study on the go!
Study with Cosmetology Flashcards
Get this! The Filmbook State Board app has over 1,200 flashcards built right into the app! So you can quiz yourself right on your phone.
Use the Read-Out-Loud Option
Not sure how to say all those confusing cosmetology terms? You can turn on the Filmbook read-out-loud option. Being able to say a word can help you remember its meaning.
Learn New York Cosmetology Laws and Rules
Every state has cosmetology laws and rules that licensed cosmetologists have to know—and follow. Do you know these for New York? The Filmbook State Board app can help! When you subscribe (for $4.99/month) you can unlock quiz questions on New York cosmetology laws and rules. Here are some examples.
Here’s how to make sure you get New York state-specific laws and rules questions when you subscribe to the Filmbook State Board app.
So what are you waiting for? That exam is coming up. You cannot be too prepared. Download your free 100-question state board practice quiz questions on the preview version of the Filmbook State Board app.
If you like it (and we’re sure you will) subscribe for $4.99/month. That’s the best price for the most state board content. (And just look at our ratings and reviews on the App Store. Yep, we’re proud to be helping so many future cosmetologists.)
How to prepare for the New York cosmetology state board practical exam
Most cosmetology students perform better on the practical exam than on the written exam. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared. Just completing cosmetology school is NOT enough!
In New York, you’ll be tested for 3½ hours. (No stress, right?) You’ll need to perform all of the following, according to strict timelines, on a mannequin:
- Haircutting Techniques—50 minutes
- Blow-Dry Styling Techniques—15 minutes
- Thermal Curling/Curling Iron Techniques—15 minutes
- Roller Placement, Top of Head—10 minutes
- Chemical Restructuring: Permanent Waving, Left Side of Head—10 minutes
- Diagonal Pin Curl Wave/C-Shaping, Right Side of Head—10 minutes
- Finger Waving, Back of Head—10 minutes
- Foiling Simulation (Virgin) Right Front—15 minutes
- Haircoloring Simulation (Retouch), Right Back of Head—10 minutes
- Chemical Restructuring Simulation (Relaxing without Rods), Left Front of Head (Virgin) and Left Back of Head (Retouch)—25 minutes
Yes, yes, at some point you probably learned all this in cosmetology school.
Or your instructor taught it.
(Whether or not you learned it is another matter.)
No worries! With the Filmbook State Board app, you can review ALL this information anytime. It’s ALL in the cosmetology theory films, practical films, and the built-in cosmetology exam study book.
Watch Filmbook State Board Theory Films
Want to review what you need to know for the NY practical cosmetology exam? It’s all in the Filmbook State Board app. Watch and learn:
- Four corners of the head film
- Round vs. square layers film
- Finger angle and position film
- Elevation film
- Overdirection film
- Guidelines film
- Base placement for perms (roller placement) film
Watch Filmbook State Board Practical Films
Filmbook State Board is the best cosmetology app for you because it includes demonstration films. Watch and learn:
- State board haircut film
- Virgin relaxer (chemical restructuring) film
- Foiling film
- Round brush film
- Curling iron film
- Blow dry brush film
- Flat iron film
- Fingerwaves film
- Pincurls film
Start Studying Today!
You can’t start too soon. With Filmbook, you will get comfortable taking timed, multiple choice tests. And that’s a big part of your success.
When you subscribe to the Filmbook State Board app (for $4.99/month), here’s what you get:
- Unlimited, timed multiple choice state board practice quizzes based on over 1,600 state board questions
- Step-by-step films that help you pass the New York cosmetology state board practical exam
- Cosmetology theory, clearly explained
- A built-in cosmetology exam book with a read-out-loud option!
- A cosmetology glossary with over 1,200 terms
- Over 1,200 flashcards, built right into the cosmetology glossary
- Practice questions on New York state laws and rules (Taking the test in a different state? We have state-specific practice questions on laws and rules no matter where you are taking the test!)
Basically, you get ALL state board topics! Use the Filmbook State Board app as long as you need it. Cancel anytime. And let us know when you pass!
See you on the App Store!
Until then …
Look out for one another. Keep a kind heart. And never forget that the world needs your artistry.