Study area · Coming soon
The barber exam, made simple
For barber students getting ready for the written theory exam. We are drawing the outline one idea per page, in plain English, so you can study between clients, after a day in the shop or on your phone.
Coming soon
We'll email you once, when it is ready. Made Simple guides are independent study aids. No guide can guarantee a passing score.
The exam
What the exam covers
Barbering Made Simple is being written for the NIC and PSI National Barber written theory exams. Which one you take depends on your state board.
The written theory exam is about what you know, apart from the hands-on work you do in the chair. Each vendor publishes a candidate bulletin with its own outline, and we are writing to those outlines, one idea per page.
Many candidates take the exam in Spanish, so every page uses plain English and short sentences. We will add question counts, time limits and pass rates to this page only after we have checked them against the current bulletins.
This hub
Start here
The best places to start today, plus the pages we are adding next.
Our method
How we make our guides
How we build each page from the published outline and check every fact.
Read how we workPractice
Free practice tests
Every free practice test we have published so far, in one place.
See practice testsAll exams
All study areas
See every exam we cover and which guides are ready now.
See study areasComing to this hub
Planned pages, added as each one is ready.
- Barber exam guide
- Free barber practice test
- State-by-state barber guides
- Look-alike pages
- Barbering glossary
The plan
What we're building
Barbering Made Simple is being written for the NIC and PSI National Barber written theory exams. Here is the plan for the kit.
Barbering Theory Illustrated
The written theory outline, one idea and one drawing per page.
Rapid Review Cards
Short reviews you can do between clients.
Practice Questions with Explanations
Practice questions with the reasoning behind each answer.
The Words of Barbering
The terms you need, in plain English.
Made Simple guides are independent study aids. No guide can guarantee a passing score.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Which barber exam will this cover?
Barbering Made Simple is being written for the NIC and PSI National Barber written theory exams. Your state board decides which exam you take, so check its candidate bulletin.
Is Made Simple affiliated with NIC, PSI or my state board?
No. Made Simple guides are independent study aids. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any testing vendor or state board.
When will it be ready?
We'll email the list once, when it is ready.
I am taking the exam in Spanish. Will this help?
Many candidates take the exam in Spanish, so we write in plain English with short sentences and one idea per page. Check your candidate bulletin for the languages your exam is offered in.
Sources
- NIC National Barber written theory exam information · checked Oct 15, 2026
- PSI National Barber written theory exam information · checked Oct 15, 2026
We recheck every number against its source before each update. How we check facts.