IL Esthetician study plan

Differentiate cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and state which category each reusable implement, tool, and surface in an esthetics room falls into

Sequence a full turn-over routine for a treatment room between clients, from hand washing through implement storage

Explain the safe handling, dilution, and disposal rules for the disinfectant types commonly used in a salon, including contact-time requirements

Recite the Illinois licensing pathway for estheticians, including required training hours, exam steps, and renewal obligations, by writing them from memory

Apply the scope-of-practice line between what an Illinois esthetician may and may not perform, using five written scenario examples

Classify at least 25 skin conditions as contagious, non-contagious, or systemic, and identify which ones require referral or treatment refusal

Distinguish the layers of the epidermis and state the function of each, then link each layer to a treatment that affects it

Describe the structure and role of the dermis, subcutaneous layer, and skin appendages in the context of waxing, exfoliation, and massage

Build a contraindication checklist that maps common disorders and medications to specific services that must be modified or avoided

Explain the skin's barrier, acid mantle, and healing phases well enough to justify why over-exfoliation is a risk

Order the steps of a standard facial from consultation through post-care, and justify the sequence

Demonstrate the direction, pressure, and timing of the basic massage movements used on the face, neck, and décolleté

Group product ingredients by function (cleansers, exfoliants, humectants, emollients, occlusives, actives) and match each group to a skin type

Identify the pH ranges and chemical behavior of common acids and bases used in skin care, and explain why pH matters for the acid mantle

Select a product routine for three different client profiles and defend each choice ingredient by ingredient

Compare hard wax, soft wax, sugaring, and threading by hair growth cycle, skin type suitability, and contraindications

Sequence a safe waxing service from patch test and draping through post-wax care and home-care instructions

Describe lash and brow service options, including tinting and perming, with their patch-test and contraindication requirements

Conduct a structured client consultation that captures skin type, medications, allergies, and lifestyle, using open-ended questions

Perform a written skin analysis that separates objective observation from client self-report and converts findings into a treatment plan

Label the bones, muscles, and nerves of the face, head, and neck that are relevant to facial massage and treatment safety

Trace the direction of lymph drainage in the face and neck and connect it to massage stroke direction

Explain the function of the body systems most affected by esthetic services, particularly the integumentary, circulatory, and lymphatic systems

Describe the purpose, safe use, and contraindications of common esthetic devices such as facial steamers, galvanic and high-frequency units, and exfoliating equipment

State the electrical safety and sanitation rules that apply to any device that touches a client

Re-drill sanitation and disinfection rules using timed scenario questions until answers are automatic

Re-sort the disorder and contraindication chart by risk level and close every gap found in week 2

Write and answer 20 original scenario questions that combine an infection-control decision with a contraindication decision

Explain the legal and ethical reasoning behind refusing or modifying a service

Correct every missed item from weeks 1 through 5 in a written error log with the reason for the correct answer

Perform the full facial protocol and the full waxing protocol end to end in a timed run-through, narrating each safety check

Troubleshoot five common service problems, such as skin reaction, wax that is too hot, or a client who discloses a new medication mid-service

Rehearse post-service home-care instructions for facials, waxing, and lash and brow services in plain client-friendly language

Compare the aftercare and downtime rules for each service category so no instruction is applied to the wrong service

Draft a personal professional-image and career plan covering resume, portfolio, and interview talking points for an Illinois esthetics role

Summarize the business fundamentals an employee esthetician needs, including record keeping, retail math, and client retention

Re-verify the Illinois rules you wrote in week 1 against your study notes and correct any drift

Take a full-length mixed mock exam across all 11 domains and break the score down by domain

Build a final 7-day review schedule that targets only the two lowest-scoring domains from the mock