New Applicants

If this is your first time applying for licensure in Delaware by examination you must apply online through our examination vendor Prometric.

• The DE exam and temporary permit apaplications are available online through Prometric at:  Prometric/SMT Candidate Management System.  Applicants will need to “Create a New Login” to access the Prometric/SMT Candidate Management application system.
• Once you have created your User ID and Password you will be directed to the Prometric/ SMT Candidate Management online examination application.
• See instructions for completing the examination application for additional information.

IMPORTANT: Your high school transcript must be mailed directly from your school to Prometric in a sealed envelope to:

Prometric SMT
c/o Delaware Cosmetology Processing
7941 Corporate Drive
Nottingham, MD 21236

• Once Prometric has received and approved your required documentation, Prometric will approve candidates for testing. Approved candidates will be emailed an Authorization to Test (ATT) from Prometric/IQTtesting. This Authorization to Test email will provide you with a unique User ID and Password that you will need to schedule your examination through IQT testing.
• Once authorized, you can register for the examination online.

Do not attempt to create a login for IQTtesting until you have received your Authorization to Test. Attempting to register/log in prior to receiving your Authorization to Test may delay your exam registration.

• See instructions for registering for your examination through IQTtesting for additional information.

Prometric Contact Information

For application, registration, and examination inquiries, please contact Prometric directly at
1-866-773-1114 from 8am to 5pm EDT Monday through Friday.

Examination Information

Prometric Practical Examinations will be held at:

Hilton Wilmington Christiana 100 Continental Drive
Newark, DE 19713

Practical Examination Dates are as follows

*Please note- the July 2025 practical examination date has been changed from July 14th to July 7, 2025.

Please be aware that all practical dates are tentative and subject to change–the website will be updated accordingly.

For additional information about the examinations, see Prometric’s website for  Delaware examinations.

Practice Testing

When you have registered for the examination, you may use the online practice testing system available from the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, Inc. (NIC). For information about practice testing, see NIC – Testing Program.

Examination Content

The State of Delaware requires applicants to successfully pass the written theory and practical NIC examinations for your license type.

All examinations prior to July 31, 2024 will be on the 2017 version of the NIC theory and practical examinations.

Beginning August 1, 2024, all NIC examinations will be administered on the 2022 version of the NIC theory and practical examinations.

Please be sure to visit the NIC website to review the Candidate Information Bulletins (CIB) for your specific license and exam type based upon your examination date.  The bulletins contain important information regarding the Written, Practical and Written Practical examinations, including content outline covered by the examination and sample questions and answers.

If your test is scheduled BEFORE August 1, 2024, please review the 2017 Candidate Information Bulletins for your specific license and exam type.

If your test is scheduled AFTER August 1, 2024, please review the 2022 Candidate Information Bulletins for your specific license and exam type.

For Cosmetology applicants only:

You will be required to successfully pass the NIC Cosmetology Theory Exam and the Cosmetology Practical Exam.  The State of Delaware’s Cosmetology Practical examination includes the Cosmetology Practical Core domains section # 1 through section # 10, section # 14 – Basic Facial, and section # 18 – Manicure and Polish application.  All Candidate Information booklets can be found on the NIC website.

Deadline for Passing Exams for Temporary Permit Holders

If you are eligible for admission to the exams and you meet the requirements for a temporary permit, you may request a temporary permit to practice under supervision from Prometric. The permit is valid for 30 days after the next available exam date. You may extend your permit only if you fail the exam and register for the next available exam date. To request a temporary permit extension you must submit a Service Request in DELPROS.

If you do not pass both exams within two years after applying for the permit, your temporary permit will expire. You must wait one year from the date of the last exam, then reapply and meet all requirements for licensure.  These requirements include repeating all educational requirements and re-taking and passing both exams.

See Section 2.0 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations.