The NIC cosmetology exam is the last barrier between cosmetology school and becoming certified. It consists of both a written test and a practical exam. The practical exam portion is not required in some states. The written section is a multiple choice test that lasts approximately two hours, although some states might have slight variations to this limit. Some states also require you to pass a practical exam in addition to the written one. The practical exam is generally about 4 hours long and the requirements are different depending on the state.