Mississippi · MSBCB practical exam

Mississippi Cosmetology Practical Exam Kit List

Mississippi grades six cosmetology skills across two mannequins — a layered haircut, permanent wave, thermal styling, thermal pressing, a highlight and bleach retouch, and a relaxer retouch. All 49 items below are printed in the Board's own handbook, listed under the skill they belong to.

12 of these items must carry an exact label. The handbook has two columns — the item, and the precise word it must be labelled with. Not “label your bottles”: a spray bottle must read Water, a perm bottle must read Perm Wave Solution. Each one is marked below.

Your carrying case may not exceed 20″ × 14″ × 9″ — and if any required document is missing at check-in you are disqualified and forfeit every fee. Read your own current handbook before exam day; the Board revises it.

Interactive kit checklist

Tick items as you pack — your progress is saved on this device. Print or save it as a PDF to check your bag the night before.

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General bag — every candidate

Carried by every candidate whatever the licence.

Basic layered haircut (razor or shears)

Performed on: Mannequin 1

Permanent wave

Performed on: Mannequin 1

Thermal styling (curling iron)

Performed on: Mannequin 2

Thermal pressing (flat iron or pressing comb)

Performed on: Mannequin 2

Highlighting and bleach retouch

Performed on: Mannequin 2

Chemical relaxer retouch

Performed on: Mannequin 2

Ask about your own situation

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What's graded on the Mississippi cosmetology practical?Which of my supplies need an exact label in Mississippi?How does Mississippi's kit differ from Texas?

Rules that decide whether you test at all

Two forms of current, unexpired, signature-bearing ID. One must be government-issued photo ID, and the signatures and names must match. An expired ID means you cannot test.
Your MSBCB approval letter, as the emailed entry ticket — on your phone or printed.
If any required document is missing at check-in you are disqualified and forfeit all exam fees.
You may not borrow any item from another candidate. The Board recommends labelling everything you bring.
Where a live model is used, the model must be at least 16 years old and may not be affiliated with any MSBCB-licensed school.
All set-up and removal of supplies is counted inside the skill's time, not before it.
Once you have entered the testing room you can no longer be disqualified — the outcome is a pass or a fail.

Sources

Read from the MSBCB Practical Exam Handbook (revised April 2025) on 2026-08-14. Mississippi's practical is board-administered and evaluated by licensed practitioners of the licence being examined — there is no PSI or NIC bulletin involved.

Mississippi barbering kit listSame handbook, a different equipment list.Mississippi nail technology kit listSame handbook, a different equipment list.Ohio cosmetology kit listA board that publishes no list at all — it makes you derive one.