California State Board Certification Requirements

The Cosmetology Act and the Bureau’s Rules & Regulations

Cosmetology Chemistry (chemical composition and the purpose of cosmetic, nail, hair, and skin care preparations; elementary chemical makeup, chemical skin peels, physical and chemical changes of matter)

Health and Safety / Hazardous Substances (training in chemicals and health establishments, material safety, data sheets, protection from hazardous chemicals and preventing chemical injuries, health and safety laws and agencies, ergonomics, and communicable diseases)

Theory of Electricity In Cosmetology (the nature of electrical current, principles of operating electrical devices, and the various safety precautions used when operating electrical equipment)

Disinfection and Sanitation (procedures to protect the health and safety of the consumer as well as the technician; all necessary functions for disinfecting instruments and equipment as specified in Section 979 and 980; disinfection is emphasized throughout the entire training period and must be performed before use of all instruments and equipment)

Bacteriology, Anatomy, and Physiology

Wet Hair Styling (hair analysis, shampooing, finger waving, pin curling, comb-outs) + Thermal Hair Styling (hair analysis, straightening, waving, curling with hot combs and hot curling irons, and blower styling)

Artificial Nails and Wraps (artificial nails – acrylic, liquid powders & brush-ons; artificial nail tips; nail wraps and repairs)

Permanent Waving (hair analysis, chemical and heat permanent waving) + Chemical Straightening (hair analysis, the use of sodium hydroxide and other base solutions)

Hair Cutting (hair analysis, the use of the razor, scissors, electric clippers, and thinning shears for wet and dry cutting)

Hair Coloring & Bleaching (hair analysis, predisposition tests, safety precautions formula mixing, tinting, bleaching, and the use of dye removers. Shall not include any credit for color rinses)

Scalp & Hair Treatments (hair and scalp analysis, scientific brushing, and manual scalp manipulation and other hair treatments)

Facials – Manual (cleansing, scientific manipulations, packs, and masks) + Electrical (the use of all electrical modalities, including dermal lights and electrical apparatus, for facials and skin care purposes) + Chemicals(chemical skin peels, packs, masks and scrubs; training shall emphasize that non-living, upper-most layers of facial skin, known as the epidermis may be removed, and only for the purpose of beautification)

Eyebrow Arching & Hair Removal (use of wax, tweezers, electric or manual and depilatories for the removal of superfluous hair) + Make-up (skin analysis, complete and corrective make-up, lash and brow tinting and the application of false eyelashes)

Manicuring and Pedicuring (water and oil manicure, including nail analysis, and hand and arm massage; complete pedicure, including nail analysis, and foot and ankle massage; artificial nails)