OH Esthetician

It has two parts: a multiple-choice written theory test, usually taken on computer, and a separate practical examination in which you perform services on a model or mannequin while an examiner observes. The practical scores both technique and sanitation. Confirm current delivery details with the state board before your test date.

Question count and time limits are set by the testing vendor and the board, and they change. Rather than rely on a number from a prep forum, check the official board website or your candidate handbook for the current figures before you schedule.

The passing standard is set by the state board and is not fixed in prep materials. Your candidate handbook states the current requirement for both the written and practical portions. Treat any specific percentage you see online as unverified unless it comes from the board or its testing vendor.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and whether you must repeat both parts or only the failed one are set by the board and can change. Read the current candidate handbook and contact the board directly before paying for a retake, so you know the correct procedure and any fees.

Most candidates find the written test fair but detail-heavy, especially infection control and Ohio rules, where wording is precise. The practical is less about speed than about showing a clean, ordered, defensible routine. Candidates who fail usually lose points on sanitation sequencing and skipped steps, not on advanced technique.

Start with infection control and Ohio laws, because those rules shape correct answers across every other topic. Then study skin analysis and conditions alongside anatomy, since they reinforce each other. Add facial procedures and hair removal, and finish with chemistry, product knowledge, and makeup, which are smaller shares of the exam.

Skipping disinfection steps during the practical, forgetting to sanitize hands and tools between stages, and failing to ask about allergies, medications, or contraindications during consultation. On the written test, candidates misread questions that hinge on one word such as always or never. Slow down on rule-based items.

Rehearse full services end to end on a model, talking through each sanitation step as you go. Time yourself, keep your station organized, and practice setup and breakdown, which are scored. Have an instructor watch once and note missed steps, then repeat until the sequence is automatic.

Use the state board's website and its candidate handbook for application steps, scheduling, fees, identification requirements, and score reporting. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with the board, so treat the board's own publications as the authority on anything administrative.