ND Esthetician study plan

Define each link in the infection chain and classify at least 20 esthetics-specific items (linens, extractors, brushes, capes, wax pots) as single-use, reusable requiring disinfection, or reusable requiring sterilization.

Distinguish sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization, and select the correct EPA-registered hospital disinfectant or autoclave process for each category you classified.

List North Dakota-required handwashing, glove, and blood-exposure steps and rehearse them in order until you can perform the sequence without notes.

Draw and label the layers of the epidermis and dermis and state one function for each layer, tying barrier function to infection risk.

Identify the appendages of the skin (hair follicle, sebaceous gland, sweat gland, nail) and explain how each creates a portal of entry or a contraindication for treatment.

Explain the physiology of wound healing and inflammation and identify which visible skin signs mean you must stop a service.

Describe the functions of the skin (protection, sensation, thermoregulation, secretion, absorption, excretion) and match each to a treatment decision.

Differentiate the Fitzpatrick phototypes and the classic skin types (dry, oily, combination, normal, sensitive) and justify a product choice for each.

Perform a structured skin analysis routine (cleanse, magnified visual inspection, palpation, client interview) on two volunteers and record findings.

Translate skin analysis findings into a written treatment plan with at least three justified product or modality choices.

Sequence the steps of a basic facial from consultation through post-care and state the purpose and timing of each step.

Read ingredient labels on five products and classify key ingredients by function (humectant, emollient, surfactant, exfoliant, preservative, active).

Explain pH, acids and bases, and the difference between oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, then predict how each affects product selection.

Match massage movements and contraindications to client conditions and document the reasoning.

Assemble a product-selection decision tree that starts from skin type and sensitivity and ends in a specific product category.

Build a consultation script that captures medications, allergies, pregnancies, recent peels or waxing, and skin conditions, and practice it on two people.

Identify at least 15 contraindications (absolute versus relative) and state the action to take for each.

Write intake, consent, treatment-record, and adverse-event entries that meet legal documentation standards, including what must never be altered after the fact.

Rehearse a refusal-and-referral conversation for a client with a condition outside your scope of practice.

Re-verify your infection-control chart against a waxing, lash, and peel scenario and correct any gaps.

Map hair growth cycles and hair structure to waxing timing, and explain why hair length and growth stage affect results.

List hard-wax versus soft-wax selection criteria, temperature checks, patch-test steps, and the full contraindication list for waxing.

Demonstrate (or narrate step-by-step) safe brow shaping, brow tinting, and lash and brow tint patch-testing and aftercare.

Describe lash and brow service sanitation, adhesive and tint handling, and the signs of an allergic reaction requiring service to stop.

Select makeup products and application order for at least three different skin types and skin tones, including corrective color principles.

Explain the mechanism, depth, and expected response of superficial chemical peels and the meaning of pH and free-acid value in peel strength.

List peel contraindications, neutralization steps, and post-peel care, and describe the protocol for an adverse reaction.

Differentiate mechanical exfoliation methods (scrubs, brushes, microdermabrasion) and state indications and limits for each.

Describe the safe use, indications, and contraindications of at least five electrical or mechanical devices (high frequency, galvanic, microcurrent, LED, suction/brushing machine).

Explain the physics behind each device's effect on tissue well enough to state why a given client should not receive it.

Summarize North Dakota cosmetology and esthetics statute and rule structure: licensing, scope of practice, sanitation standards, and inspection requirements.

State the rules on client records, advertising, and prohibited practices, and identify where to look up a specific rule during the exam.

Explain professional ethics scenarios (scope of practice, confidentiality, conflicts of interest) and choose the correct action for each.

Combine ethics and safety into five scenario questions and answer them under timed conditions.

Take two full-length timed practice exams and score each domain to find your three weakest areas.

Re-study only the weakest domains using your own notes and flashcards, then retest those domains.

Recite the infection-control, consultation, and contraindication checklists from memory without notes.

Review every missed question and write a one-sentence correction for each.