Georgia Cosmetology License Exam — All Questions

Which authority is responsible for licensing and regulating cosmetologists in Georgia?

• a.The county health inspector, with no statewide authority
• b.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• c.The individual salon owner, who issues licenses to staff
• d.The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers✓

Cosmetology practice in Georgia is regulated by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, a board administered by the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Georgia Secretary of State. Federal agencies like the FDA regulate cosmetic products, not practitioner licensing, and salon owners cannot issue state licenses.

In Georgia, which of the following best describes who must hold a license to practice cosmetology for pay?

• a.Only workers who use chemical products
• b.Only salon owners, not the individuals performing services
• c.No one, as long as the salon is registered
• d.Each individual who performs cosmetology services for compensation✓

State law requires every person who performs cosmetology services for compensation to hold the appropriate individual license issued by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. Registering a salon does not license the workers, and the requirement is not limited to chemical services.

The Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers issues several categories of credentials. Which statement is most accurate?

• a.Distinct license types exist (for example cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, nail technician, instructor, and shop/salon licenses), each with its own scope✓
• b.Only instructors need a license; practitioners do not
• c.Licenses are issued for life and never distinguish specialties
• d.A single universal license covers every beauty service without distinction

The board issues distinct credential types—commonly cosmetologist, barber, esthetician, nail technician, instructor, and shop/salon licenses—and each defines a specific scope of practice. There is no single universal license, and practitioners as well as instructors must be credentialed.

What is the general rule in Georgia about displaying a cosmetology license at the place of work?

• a.Only the salon license must be posted; individual licenses are optional
• b.Current licenses must be displayed or available at the licensee's work station or salon as the board requires✓
• c.Licenses may be kept at home and shown only if requested by a client
• d.No display is ever required once the license is issued

Boards require the current license (and often the salon/shop license) to be displayed or readily available at the workplace so the public and inspectors can verify it. Keeping it only at home does not satisfy the rule.

A cosmetology license issued by the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers is best described as:

• a.Permanent and never requiring renewal
• b.A credential that must be periodically renewed to remain valid✓
• c.Automatically transferable to any other state without review
• d.Valid only while employed at one specific salon

Cosmetology licenses are issued for a set term and must be periodically renewed to stay valid. They are not permanent, are not tied to one employer, and other states apply their own reciprocity or endorsement review.

Which of the following is a prohibited practice the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers can discipline a licensee for?

• a.Performing services beyond the scope of one's license or while unlicensed✓
• b.Following the manufacturer's directions for a chemical service
• c.Referring a client to a dermatologist for a suspicious lesion
• d.Displaying a valid, current license at the work station

Practicing outside your license scope, or practicing without a valid license, is a prohibited act the board can penalize. Following product directions, displaying a license, and referring medical concerns are all proper conduct.