TheoryCosmetology Practice Test Video
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Cosmetology exam — full Q&A walkthrough
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Q1Which level of decontamination completely destroys all microbial life, including spores?
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✓ Correct answer: Sterilization
Sterilization is the only process that destroys all microbial life including the most resistant bacterial spores; sanitation and disinfection reduce pathogens but do not achieve this absolute level.
Q2Before disinfecting a non-porous implement, the FIRST required step is to:
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✓ Correct answer: Physically clean it to remove all visible debris and biofilm
Cleaning to remove all visible organic matter must occur before disinfection because soil and biofilm prevent the disinfectant from making full contact with the surface of the implement.
Q3A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is required to include how many sections according to OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard?
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✓ Correct answer: 16
OSHA's HazCom Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) mandates that every SDS contain exactly 16 standardized sections covering identity, hazards, composition, first aid, handling, and emergency response.
Q4Single-use items such as wooden cuticle sticks and orangewood sticks must be:
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✓ Correct answer: Discarded after use on one client and never reused
Single-use (disposable) implements are porous and cannot be adequately disinfected, so cosmetology regulations require they be discarded immediately after use on a single client.
Q5Standard Precautions require that cosmetologists treat the blood and body fluids of EVERY client as if they are:
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✓ Correct answer: Potentially infectious regardless of the client's apparent health
Standard Precautions, established by the CDC, require treating all blood and potentially infectious body fluids as hazardous regardless of the client's known or disclosed health status.
Q6An EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant is properly prepared and a metal nail implement is fully immersed. According to Milady standard protocol, the minimum immersion contact time is typically:
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✓ Correct answer: 10 minutes
Standard cosmetology curriculum specifies that non-porous implements must remain fully immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant for a minimum of 10 minutes to achieve effective disinfection.
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