July 2009
CALFORNIA
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 944226 • Sacramento, CA 94244-2260
Information: 1-800-952-5210 | www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
As you may already know, the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Board) will now administer the national written examination which began May 1, 2009. What does this mean, you ask? Like 32 other states in the country, the Board is contracting out with a provider of national examinations solely in the barbering, cosmetology and electrology fields to ensure that the content of our examinations are valid, reliable, current, and conforms to industry standards.
The new written examination will continue to be administered through computerized testing. The scope of the exams has not changed and neither has the pass criteria. What has changed is a bigger question pool that is developed through studies of practitioners throughout the country and is based on current Board statutes and regulations. For the cosmetology and manicurist exams, this includes the most recent update to our health and safety regulations, which pertain to cleaning and disinfecting pedicure footspas.
Administering the national examination also brings California to an equal level of testing and competency with the majority of other states in the country. This will greatly improve the prospect of other states granting reciprocity to California licensees.
The written examinations for all license types will be available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The Board’s applications for examination, re-examination, interpreters, and interpreter models have been revised to reflect the new languages available. The use of an interpreter will not be allowed if the preferred language of the candidate is available in the examinations offered by the Board. The Board has also updated the approved text and reference book list and is available on our Web site at www.barbercosmo.ca.gov.
To obtain more information regarding the national written examination, including candidate information bulletins, please visit www.nictesting.org.
The Board hopes you will welcome this positive change to its written examinations.
The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Board) has received several inquiries regarding defining the term of “Medical Pedicure”. Although the Board does not define or regulate medical procedures, the manicuring industry is governed by the Board and shall adhere to the Board’s Laws and Regulations when performing manicuring services in any facility within the State of California.
CALFORNIA
Board of Barbering and Cosmetology State of California Department of Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 944226 • Sacramento, CA 94244-2260
Information: 1-800-952-5210
www.barbercosmo.ca.gov
Staff Members:
Kristy Underwood — Executive Officer
Denise Johnson — Deputy Executive Officer
Betty Ho — Staff Writer
The Board of Barbering and Cosmetology does not endorse any article, product, advertisement, or service contained in this newspaper. If you have any questions or concerns about the contents of any article in this newspaper you believe may affect you as a licensee, you may write to: Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, P.O. Box 944226, Sacramento, California, 94244-226
