Minnesota Cosmetology Laws & Rules State Board Exam
Study Guide (Pass on First Try!) 2026
Boost your score and ace your Minnesota State Board Exam with this condensed,
high-yield study guide. It specifically targets the most frequently tested concepts from
MN Statutes 155A and Rules Chapters 2105/2110, including license durations, board
composition, and strict salon sanitation rules. Designed for quick memorization, this
document cuts through the confusing legal jargon to deliver clear, exam-ready fast facts
that guarantee you will feel confident on test day.
Question 1
If a practitioner fails to renew their individual Minnesota cosmetology license by its exact
expiration date, what is the maximum renewal late fee penalty they must pay in addition
to the standard renewal fee?
A) $20
B) $45
C) $100
D) $200
Answer: B) $45
Rationale: The Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners imposes a $45 late fee
penalty if an individual operator, manager, or instructor license is renewed after its
expiration date. This fee must be paid alongside the standard renewal processing fee.
Question 2
What is the specific thickness or physical requirement for a plastic storage bag used to
isolate blood-contaminated single-use items in a salon blood spill procedure?
A) It must be a clear bag made of any thickness.
B) It must be a paper bag explicitly marked "Biohazard".
C) It must be a leak-proof plastic bag that can be securely tied or sealed.
D) It must be a black heavy-duty trash bag.
Answer: C) It must be a leak-proof plastic bag that can be securely tied or sealed.
,Rationale: Minnesota state infection control rules dictate that any disposable item
contaminated with blood must be placed into a leak-proof plastic bag, sealed securely,
and then placed into a regular trash container to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 3
Which of the following describes the correct procedure for maintaining a salon’s towel
laundry machine under board guidelines?
A) Towels must be washed using cold water only.
B) Towels must be washed with detergent and hot water, and dried completely in a hot
dryer.
C) Towels can be sprayed with disinfectant instead of being washed.
D) Towels must be laundered at a commercial dry cleaner only.
Answer: B) Towels must be washed with detergent and hot water, and dried
completely in a hot dryer.
Rationale: To ensure biological contaminants and skin pathogens are destroyed, all
salon linens and towels must be laundered with laundry detergent and hot water,
followed by a complete cycle in a commercial or residential heat dryer.
Question 4
Under Minnesota Rules Chapter 2105, what must be done with an individual
practitioner’s original license if they work at multiple salon locations?
A) They must carry the original license in their wallet and move it between salons.
B) They can display a photocopy of the license at the secondary salon location.
C) They must post their original license at their primary employment location, and a
printout of their current online license status at the secondary location.
D) They must purchase a completely separate license for each individual salon location.
Answer: C) They must post their original license at their primary employment
location, and a printout of their current online license status at the secondary
location.
Rationale: A practitioner can only possess one original active license. If they are
employed at multiple licensed salons, they must display their original license at their
primary workplace and a verified board website printout at any additional locations.
,Question 5
What type of flooring material is strictly prohibited by state board rules in the immediate
work areas around a salon styling chair or shampoo bowl?
A) Ceramic tiles
B) Hardwood or laminated planks
C) Carpet or rugs
D) Commercial-grade vinyl sheets
Answer: C) Carpet or rugs
Rationale: Carpet and rugs are porous materials that absorb liquids, chemicals, hair
clippings, and biological materials. They cannot be properly sanitized or swept, making
them illegal in hair cutting, chemical, or washing stations.
Question 6
Which of the following individual roles requires a separate, specialized license issued by
the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners?
A) A salon receptionist who schedules appointments
B) A shampoo assistant who only washes hair without applying chemicals
C) A Designated Salon Manager (DSM)
D) A retail makeup coordinator who sells commercial products at a counter
Answer: C) A Designated Salon Manager (DSM)
Rationale: To oversee salon operations and assume legal accountability for infection
control, a practitioner must upgrade their basic operator license to a Designated Salon
Manager (DSM) license by passing specific testing and filing fees.
Question 7
How many total hours of classroom and practical instruction must an applicant complete
to earn an initial Minnesota Esthetician operator license?
A) 350 hours
B) 600 hours
C) 1,200 hours
D) 1,550 hours
Answer: B) 600 hours
Rationale: An esthetician license focuses exclusively on skin care, cosmetics, and non-
invasive epidermal procedures, which requires a completed curriculum of 600 hours at
an approved cosmetology school.
, Question 8
When using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant solution, what is the default
legal requirement regarding the chemical contact time if the label is damaged?
A) You must soak the tools for exactly 60 seconds.
B) The tools must be left in the liquid overnight.
C) You must follow the exact contact time specified by the manufacturer's directions.
D) Tools should be dipped and dried immediately with a towel.
Answer: C) You must follow the exact contact time specified by the
manufacturer's directions.
Rationale: Federal and state laws require strict adherence to the manufacturer's label
instructions for disinfectant contact time (usually 10 minutes). If a tool is removed early,
it is not legally disinfected.
Question 9
What is the administrative fine amount issued to a salon owner if they are caught
operating a salon without a Designated Salon Manager (DSM) assigned to the
establishment?
A) $150
B) $500
C) $1,000
D) $2,500
Answer: B) $500
Rationale: Every salon must have a Designated Salon Manager registered with the
board to maintain a valid business operation. Operating a salon without an active DSM
results in an immediate $500 administrative fine.
Question 10
A student enrolled in a licensed Minnesota cosmetology school has accumulated 1,550
hours of training. Within how many years from their graduation date must they apply for
their initial license before their hours expire?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) Their school hours never expire.
Study Guide (Pass on First Try!) 2026
Boost your score and ace your Minnesota State Board Exam with this condensed,
high-yield study guide. It specifically targets the most frequently tested concepts from
MN Statutes 155A and Rules Chapters 2105/2110, including license durations, board
composition, and strict salon sanitation rules. Designed for quick memorization, this
document cuts through the confusing legal jargon to deliver clear, exam-ready fast facts
that guarantee you will feel confident on test day.
Question 1
If a practitioner fails to renew their individual Minnesota cosmetology license by its exact
expiration date, what is the maximum renewal late fee penalty they must pay in addition
to the standard renewal fee?
A) $20
B) $45
C) $100
D) $200
Answer: B) $45
Rationale: The Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners imposes a $45 late fee
penalty if an individual operator, manager, or instructor license is renewed after its
expiration date. This fee must be paid alongside the standard renewal processing fee.
Question 2
What is the specific thickness or physical requirement for a plastic storage bag used to
isolate blood-contaminated single-use items in a salon blood spill procedure?
A) It must be a clear bag made of any thickness.
B) It must be a paper bag explicitly marked "Biohazard".
C) It must be a leak-proof plastic bag that can be securely tied or sealed.
D) It must be a black heavy-duty trash bag.
Answer: C) It must be a leak-proof plastic bag that can be securely tied or sealed.
,Rationale: Minnesota state infection control rules dictate that any disposable item
contaminated with blood must be placed into a leak-proof plastic bag, sealed securely,
and then placed into a regular trash container to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 3
Which of the following describes the correct procedure for maintaining a salon’s towel
laundry machine under board guidelines?
A) Towels must be washed using cold water only.
B) Towels must be washed with detergent and hot water, and dried completely in a hot
dryer.
C) Towels can be sprayed with disinfectant instead of being washed.
D) Towels must be laundered at a commercial dry cleaner only.
Answer: B) Towels must be washed with detergent and hot water, and dried
completely in a hot dryer.
Rationale: To ensure biological contaminants and skin pathogens are destroyed, all
salon linens and towels must be laundered with laundry detergent and hot water,
followed by a complete cycle in a commercial or residential heat dryer.
Question 4
Under Minnesota Rules Chapter 2105, what must be done with an individual
practitioner’s original license if they work at multiple salon locations?
A) They must carry the original license in their wallet and move it between salons.
B) They can display a photocopy of the license at the secondary salon location.
C) They must post their original license at their primary employment location, and a
printout of their current online license status at the secondary location.
D) They must purchase a completely separate license for each individual salon location.
Answer: C) They must post their original license at their primary employment
location, and a printout of their current online license status at the secondary
location.
Rationale: A practitioner can only possess one original active license. If they are
employed at multiple licensed salons, they must display their original license at their
primary workplace and a verified board website printout at any additional locations.
,Question 5
What type of flooring material is strictly prohibited by state board rules in the immediate
work areas around a salon styling chair or shampoo bowl?
A) Ceramic tiles
B) Hardwood or laminated planks
C) Carpet or rugs
D) Commercial-grade vinyl sheets
Answer: C) Carpet or rugs
Rationale: Carpet and rugs are porous materials that absorb liquids, chemicals, hair
clippings, and biological materials. They cannot be properly sanitized or swept, making
them illegal in hair cutting, chemical, or washing stations.
Question 6
Which of the following individual roles requires a separate, specialized license issued by
the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners?
A) A salon receptionist who schedules appointments
B) A shampoo assistant who only washes hair without applying chemicals
C) A Designated Salon Manager (DSM)
D) A retail makeup coordinator who sells commercial products at a counter
Answer: C) A Designated Salon Manager (DSM)
Rationale: To oversee salon operations and assume legal accountability for infection
control, a practitioner must upgrade their basic operator license to a Designated Salon
Manager (DSM) license by passing specific testing and filing fees.
Question 7
How many total hours of classroom and practical instruction must an applicant complete
to earn an initial Minnesota Esthetician operator license?
A) 350 hours
B) 600 hours
C) 1,200 hours
D) 1,550 hours
Answer: B) 600 hours
Rationale: An esthetician license focuses exclusively on skin care, cosmetics, and non-
invasive epidermal procedures, which requires a completed curriculum of 600 hours at
an approved cosmetology school.
, Question 8
When using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant solution, what is the default
legal requirement regarding the chemical contact time if the label is damaged?
A) You must soak the tools for exactly 60 seconds.
B) The tools must be left in the liquid overnight.
C) You must follow the exact contact time specified by the manufacturer's directions.
D) Tools should be dipped and dried immediately with a towel.
Answer: C) You must follow the exact contact time specified by the
manufacturer's directions.
Rationale: Federal and state laws require strict adherence to the manufacturer's label
instructions for disinfectant contact time (usually 10 minutes). If a tool is removed early,
it is not legally disinfected.
Question 9
What is the administrative fine amount issued to a salon owner if they are caught
operating a salon without a Designated Salon Manager (DSM) assigned to the
establishment?
A) $150
B) $500
C) $1,000
D) $2,500
Answer: B) $500
Rationale: Every salon must have a Designated Salon Manager registered with the
board to maintain a valid business operation. Operating a salon without an active DSM
results in an immediate $500 administrative fine.
Question 10
A student enrolled in a licensed Minnesota cosmetology school has accumulated 1,550
hours of training. Within how many years from their graduation date must they apply for
their initial license before their hours expire?
A) 1 year
B) 3 years
C) 5 years
D) Their school hours never expire.
