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South Dakota Cosmetology Commission | Examinations

Examinations

The Cosmetology Commission requires each person seeking a license be examined for basic knowledge and skills. The required State Board examinations are the NIC (National-Interstate Council) written theory examination for cosmetology, esthetics, and nail technology.

Note: Do not register for examination until you have a received a payment confirmation email from the Cosmetology Commission, which includes a coupon code for use when registering.

South Dakota Graduates: If you have recently graduated from a South Dakota Cosmetology school, please follow the examination registration procedure to schedule your online examination. Once you have passed your examination, and we have received your Student Education Record from your school, your license will be mailed to you within 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays).

South Dakota Students: If you are currently enrolled in a South Dakota cosmetology school, you are eligible to register for the theory examination. You will not receive a license until you have completed your education and the Commission receives your student education record from your school.

Reciprocity Applicants: If you are an applicant for reciprocity licensure, you may be eligible for an examination waiver for the written theory examination. Please submit your reciprocity licensure application, fee, and all required documents to be considered for a waiver.

All reciprocity applicants must pass the South Dakota Cosmetology Laws & Rules Examination.

Out-of-State Applicants: If you graduated from a cosmetology school in another state, you are not eligible to take the South Dakota theory examination. Please do one of the following:

1. Become licensed in your state and apply for reciprocity licensure in South Dakota.
2. Transfer to a South Dakota Cosmetology school and complete any remaining education hours South Dakota requires. Some of your education may transfer to South Dakota, but you will need to:
   1. Request that your school send the Cosmetology Commission an official transcript of your education.
   2. Request a certification of your education from the cosmetology licensing agency in your state.
   Once the Commission receives your transcript and education certification, your transcript will be audited, and you will receive a report which will indicate how many education hours will transfer into a South Dakota cosmetology school.

Examination Policies:

1. Cancellations/Reschedules: Examinations must be canceled or rescheduled no later than 3 business days prior to a scheduled examination.
2. Emergency Cancellations: If you experience a medical emergency or the death of an immediate family member, you are excused from your examination. You must provide the Commission with satisfactory evidence of the medical emergency or death. The Commission and/or Prov determines what evidence is satisfactory to qualify for an excused “no show”.
3. Academic Dishonesty: Any instances of academic dishonesty will result in an automatic fail on an examination. Academic dishonesty may also result in disciplinary action, up to and including the revocation or denial of a license.
4. Examination Retakes: If an examinee fails his or her examination on the first attempt, he or she may retake the examination without prior authorization from the Commission.
5. Qualifying Score: An examinee must receive a score of 75% or greater in order to qualify for a license.
6. Examination Content: The content of the South Dakota Cosmetology theory examination(s) is owned and developed by the National Interstate Council of Cosmetology Boards (NIC). Examinees may not copy or distribute any of the content of the examination. Copying or distributing examination content will result in an automatic fail on an examination and may result in disciplinary action.
7. Examinees are required to adhere to all laws, rules, policies, and standards of academic integrity established by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission when completing an examination.

Examination Resources:

Examination Registration Guide

Candidate Information Bulletin

NIC Practice Examination: Cosmetology ($39.00)

NIC Practice Examination: Esthetician ($39.00)

NIC Practice Examination: Nail Technology ($39.00)

NIC Practice Examination: Barber Styling ($39.00)

Note: The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission does not develop or endorse any NIC practice examination. Practice examinations are an optional resource to examinees.