National Cosmetology Theory Examination
Pass the Cosmetology exam — or get every dollar back. Guaranteed.
Don't pass? Full refund — and Lifetime pays up to $200 toward your retake fee
The written theory exam, prepared properly. Know exactly what to study and the moment you're ready to sit.
From $34 · 7-day, 30-day or Lifetime
- 596 exam-style questions, every one with a written explanation
- Every flashcard deck on spaced repetition — what you miss comes back sooner
- A readiness score that tells you when you're actually ready to sit
- Works offline — study anywhere, no signal needed
What’s inside your study portal
The full Cosmetology Fast Track Study System.
One system, paced to your exam date. Every practice question, every flashcard deck, full-length mocks, narrated audio, Miles the AI tutor and the whole study guide — every pass opens all of it, backed by the SurePass Guarantee.
- Every practice question — Tutor, Timed and Quiz modes — and every flashcard deck
- Full-length mock exams, narrated audio on every chapter, and Miles, the AI tutor
- Your Cosmetology cheat sheet — the highest-yield facts as a PDF, instant to download
- The whole study guide — every chapter, not a preview — as the depth behind the questions
- Your readiness meter and study plan, paced to your exam date, on every device
The Capital Prep Method
What to study, when to study it & the exact moment you're ready.
Cut out the months of studying you don't need. Cosmetology prep that adapts every day — no guessing what to do next.
SurePass readiness
A readiness score built from your own answers — not a progress bar. It moves as you answer, and recent work counts most.
Anywhere Mode · Study from your pocket
Ten minutes of scrolling — or ten minutes closer to passing.
Your phone is already in your hand. Two taps, no signal needed.
- Quick Ten — One tap. Ten questions, with the rationale on every one.
- It downloads itself — No button, no setup, nothing to remember.
- No bars? Still works — Airplane mode, the subway, a cabin in the woods.
- Nothing gets lost. Ever. — Saves as you tap, syncs when you're back.
Flashcards and practice questions work offline. The study guide, audio and full-length mocks need a connection.
Flashcards that work offline
Pass the Cosmetology — or get your money back.
- Every pass: full refund — and you keep Lifetime access, free.
- Lifetime (SurePass Pro): we also pay up to $200 toward your NIC retake fee.
From $34 · 7-day, 30-day or Lifetime
What you get with each Cosmetology pass
Every pass includes the full study system. Only the length of access and the guarantee payout change.
Lowest price
7-Day Pass
one-time · 7 days of access
Cram-ready full access for the final week before your exam.
Click any feature to see it.
- Retake fee not covered
- Full refund if you don't pass
- Keep full access, free, until you do
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
Strong guarantee
30-Day Pass
one-time · 30 days of access
A full month to prep — backed by our pass guarantee.
Click any feature to see it.
- Retake fee not covered
- Full refund if you don't pass
- Keep full access, free, until you do
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
Best guarantee
Lifetime
one-time · never expires
Study at your pace, forever — backed by our pass guarantee.
Click any feature to see it.
- We pay up to $200 of your retake fee
- Full refund if you don't pass
- Lifetime access already included
One payment · no subscription · secure checkout by Stripe
- Instant access
- Full study system with every pass
Don't pass? Full refund. On Lifetime, your retake fee is covered too. Terms apply
Questions before you choose? Ask an advisor →
Cosmetology · Features and Pricing
How Capital Prep compares
Tap any i to learn more about a feature.
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Competitor prices read 26 Sep 2026 — check before you buy. Trademarks are their owners'; Capital Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by NIC.
Worried about how you'll do on the Cosmetology?
Talk to an advisor.
Ask about the guarantee, which pass fits, or how the study system works. We read every message and reply within a few hours.
We'll reply by email within a few hours.or chat with us now
Questions, answered
What's inside the study portal?
The full Fast Track Study System — every practice question, every flashcard deck, full-length mock exams, narrated audio, Miles the AI tutor, and the entire study guide, every chapter readable and highlightable. The cheat sheet — the highest-yield facts as a PDF — is in the study portal on every pass, with instant access to download it. Every pass opens all of it, backed by the SurePass Guarantee.
Does this cover the practical exam too?
No, and we want to be straight about that. Your licence normally needs two things: the written theory examination and a practical judged in person against task checklists. This prepares you for the THEORY exam — the guide, the question bank, the mocks and the guarantee all cover that half. Nothing here claims to prepare you for the practical.
How does the SurePass Guarantee work?
Score 85%+ on one full-length mock, sit the real theory exam, and if you don't pass it we refund what you paid. On Lifetime, clear two mocks with your readiness meter at "Getting close" or above and we also pay up to $200 toward your retake fee. The guarantee is scoped to the written theory examination, not the practical. You file the claim in your study portal with your official score report.
How many full-length mocks do I get?
Four scored full-length sittings, each a brand-new 110-question paper built to NIC's four areas and timed to the real 90 minutes. Practice questions and timed practice are unlimited and never use one. 110 questions is the real theory form length, which most apps in this market do not reproduce.
Which pass should I buy?
Match it to your exam date. Sitting within a week, the 7-Day Pass is built for that. A month out, the 30-Day — which is the one most candidates want, because theory is usually the part you revise last. No date yet, or you want it after you qualify — Lifetime.
What does the exam cost, and what does a retake cost?
It depends on your state, because your state board contracts the administration. Fees run from about $45 in Georgia to $200 in Illinois, with most states nearer $90. That is why our Lifetime tier covers up to $200 toward your retake fee rather than a single flat figure — we pay what your receipt actually says, up to the ceiling.
What is on the theory exam?
110 questions in 90 minutes. Four areas: Hair Care and Services is the largest at 45%, then Scientific Concepts at 35%, and Skin Care and Nail Care at 10% each. Scientific Concepts is where infection control lives, and it is the part the exam treats most seriously.
What score do I need to pass?
NIC does not publish one. Your score is reported to your state board, and each state sets its own standard and its own required combination of examinations — so there is no national passing mark to quote, from us or anyone. The 85% our mocks score against is our own bar, stated as ours.
What about Milady's exam prep?
Milady is the de-facto default in this market and it is a real product: a state-board prep app at $39.95 per discipline for a year, and a CIMA exam-prep product at about $49.95 for two years, both chapter-by-chapter question sets with a final exam. If you studied from the Milady textbook, its prep follows that book closely. What it does not carry is a guarantee of any kind.
What happens when my pass expires?
Your account stays; the paid features stop. Your notes, highlights and flashcard history are all still there if you come back, and Lifetime never expires.
Are the questions like the real exam?
Every item is written to NIC's own Candidate Information Bulletin, weighted area by area, with four options and a rationale on each. Every key was recomputed from its own stem before the explanation was read. What we will not do is claim a number we have not measured — where we have run a construction audit we publish it, and on this bank it did not come back clean, so no page here claims that it did.
My exam date moved. Does the plan adjust?
Yes. Change the date and the Game Plan rebuilds around the new one — it works backwards from your date, so a move forward compresses it and a move back spreads it out. Nothing is lost.
Can I use it on my phone, and does it work offline?
Yes to both. Add it to your home screen and it behaves like an app. Your due flashcards and a set of practice questions download automatically, so you can revise with no signal. The whole study guide downloads too, narrated audio included; scored mocks and the tutor still need a connection.
Do you offer refunds if I change my mind?
Yes, separately from the pass guarantee: 24 hours on the 7-Day Pass, 48 hours on the 30-Day Pass, or 72 hours on Lifetime, measured from your purchase (or from your upgrade, if you upgraded) — no questions asked, as long as you haven't sat your exam yet. EEA and UK buyers also keep their 14-day statutory right. The SurePass Guarantee is the other promise — that one is about your exam result, not about changing your mind.
Why are SurePass guarantees limited?
Because we honor them. Every guarantee is a real financial commitment we may genuinely pay out, so a limited number opens for this exam each day. The allocation resets at midnight in your own time zone, and the counter shows how many of today's are still open.
Have questions or concerns?
A real person reads every message and replies by email.
Ready to start?
Every Cosmetology pass carries the guarantee — pick yours and keep the whole system open.
From $34 · 7-day, 30-day or Lifetime