Esthetician (NIC Theory Exam) Sample Questions and Explanations

Sterilization is the highest level of infection control. It destroys every living microbe, including hard-to-kill spores.

Wrong choices

• Disinfection: Disinfection kills most germs on nonporous surfaces but not all spores.
• Sanitation: Sanitation only cleans to lower the number of germs.
• Antisepsis: Antisepsis slows germs on skin and is not the same as sterilization.

Cleansing removes makeup and dirt so later steps work well.

Wrong choices

• Mask: The mask is applied later in the facial.
• Massage: Massage comes after cleansing and analysis.
• Moisturizer: Moisturizer is applied near the end of the facial.

Sanitation (cleaning) is the lowest level. It washes away dirt and many germs but does not kill them all.

Wrong choices

• Disinfection: Disinfection uses a chemical to kill most germs.
• Sterilization: Sterilization kills all microbial life.
• Sensitization: Sensitization is an allergic response, not a cleaning level.

Effleurage is soothing and often used to begin and end a massage.

Wrong choices

• Petrissage: Petrissage is kneading, not tapping.
• Tapotement: Tapotement is tapping.
• Friction: Friction is circular rubbing, not tapping.

Sebaceous (oil) glands are attached to hair follicles. Their oil keeps skin soft, and too much can lead to acne.

Wrong choices

• Sudoriferous glands: Sudoriferous glands make sweat.
• Eccrine glands: Eccrine glands are a type of sweat gland.
• Pituitary glands: The pituitary gland is in the brain.

The form records health history, allergies, medicines, and products used, so you can plan a safe service.

Wrong choices

• A gift certificate: A gift certificate is a payment method.
• A retail receipt: A receipt comes after a sale and has nothing to do with health history.
• An appointment card: An appointment card is just a reminder.

A blackhead is a follicle plugged with oil and cells that is open at the surface. The dark color comes from air changing the plug, not dirt.

Wrong choices

• A closed comedone: A closed comedone is a whitehead.
• A milium: A milium is a tiny hard white cyst.
• A papule: A papule is a small raised bump.

A consultation helps you set goals and spot contraindications before you begin.

Wrong choices

• To sell the most expensive product: Selling is not the purpose of consultation.
• To diagnose a skin disease: Estheticians do not diagnose disease.
• To finish the service sooner: Rushing is not the purpose; safety and results are.

All living things are made of cells. Cells group into tissues, tissues into organs, and organs into systems.

Wrong choices

• The tissue: A tissue is a group of cells.
• The organ: An organ is made of several tissues.
• The gland: A gland is an organ that makes a substance.

Waxing pulls out the hair root.

Wrong choices

• Shaving: Shaving cuts hair at the skin surface, not at the root.
• Depilatory cream: Depilatory dissolves at the surface.
• Trimming: Trimming only shortens the hair above the skin.