Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional
Achieve Your
CPCP Designation!
Elevate your professional stature and let your customers and peers recognize your commitment to excellence and high industry standards.
Discover everything you need to know right here.
What is CPCP Certification?
The CPCP examination was developed to support the growing need of the permanent cosmetic industry in 2004. Having achieved Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional ( CPCP ) status, and proudly displaying the acronym after your name, demonstrates a distinct level of knowledge and dedication to the industry.
CPCP certificants are held in the highest regard by industry peers and clientele in this very competitive industry.
CPCP certificates are like other delegations that must be earned and maintained. The SPCP requires its CPCP delegates to renew every two years.
ABOUT THE EXAM
+ The exam is taken online with a live proctor and is offered once a month. Upcoming exam dates are available in your application form.
The industry specific exam contains 100 questions
+ A pass of 81% is required for certification
+ The exam is a fundamental level so those professionals, having successfully completed training that meets the CPCP Candidate requirement and have attended a bloodborne pathogens class should be able to pass the exam. The exam subjects can be found below.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXAMINATION
+ Technician members of the SPCP are not required to take the CPCP examination in order to maintain SPCP membership.
+ Non SPCP members may take the examination even though member eligibility is required. This means a candidate must accept and abide by the SPCP Code of Ethics.
CPCP APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
+ A course of study in the field of permanent cosmetics of not less than 100 hours at the fundamental level. If less than 100 hours, continuing education specific to the industry must be accumulated to achieve 100 hours total.
+ Proof of hours are required.
- If they are not listed on a certificate, a short note from the trainer specifying hours is acceptable.
- Hours will not be accepted if fraud is suspected and/or signed off by your place of business.
- SPCP audits all continuing education certificates.
+ A certificate from a current Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) class. Classes must be industry specific & on the list of SPCP approved courses. (See List Below). OSHA Standard is required if the candidate works in the USA.
+ The candidate must be currently active in the permanent cosmetics industry or has recently completed a training program or apprenticeship.
+ A completed application is required with a copy of a photo ID, documentation of classes and/or continuing education, proof of the Bloodborne Pathogens Class, and the required fees. The application must be in the SPCP office 14 days before the exam. An incomplete submission will not be processed.
NOTE: Do not send membership certificates or copies of certificates from other programs or industries such as cosmetology, esthetics, nursing, etc.
CPCP RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS
To maintain your CPCP status you are required to renew every 2 years.
To renew your CPCP you must;
+ Complete CPCP renewal application & payment
+ Submit an updated certificate of completion of approved Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) class. Classes must be industry specific & on the list of SPCP approved courses. OSHA Standard is required if the candidate works in the USA.
+ Proof of 12 hours of continuing education in the past 2 years.
- Proof of hours are required. If they are not listed on a certificate, a short note from the trainer specifying hours is acceptable.
- Hours will not be accepted if fraud is suspected and/or signed off by your place of business.
- SPCP audits all continuing education certificates.
+ Continue to abide by the SPCP Code of Ethics
* Please refer to our TERMS & CONDITIONS page full CPCP terms & conditions.
2025 Exam Dates
March 10th at 3pm CST | April 14th at 4pm CST | May 12th at 4pm CST | June 9th at 4pm CST,
2025 Exam Review Dates
Tuesday April 8th, 2025 at 6pm CST
Preparing For The Examination
EXAM SUBJECTS
The exam will consist of the following subjects
Infection Control
+ Infection Control consists of: prevention cross contamination, hand washing, specific infection control terminology/definitions (such as sepsis, asepsis, sanitation, sterilization, etc.), methods of transmission of infections, knowledge of herpes virus, hepatitis virus, and other bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials, etc.
Pigment / Inks
Pigments/Inks consist of: color theory (traditional color theory, permanent cosmetics color theory, and differences), undertones, color correction, pigment ingredients (powders, organic, inorganic, carrier/hydrating solutions, etc.), pigment/ink allergic reaction correlation, potential interactions with medical testing equipment, etc.
Technical Application
Technical Application consists of: application of theory to practical application (tattoo technique best practices, skin stretching, practical application of color theory, the healing process, color retention, etc.)
Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) consists of: terms used to describe the study of related anatomical and physiological characteristics, their purpose and function, healing processes, etc.
Diseases & Disorders
Diseases & Disorders (D&D) consists of: definitions and characteristics of commonly encountered disorders, methods of transmission, vaccinations, etc.
Regulations
Regulations consists of: health regulations as they may concern permanent cosmetics, regular vs. regulated waste, disposal requirements, and oversight agencies, etc.
Legal
Legal consists of: legal protection/waivers, scope of practice, insurance/ lawyers, documentation/photos, etc.
Client Management/Documentation
Client Management/Documentation consists of: client comfort, client history and procedure documentation, best practices when working with clients, etc.
EXAM PRACTICE
The SPCP offers an "Examination Review Course"
This is a live online zoom session that will cover what you need to review before sitting for the exam. It will give you an idea of what to expect and tips for test taking. The exam review is not required, but our test takers have found it very helpful. It is not a replacement for the needed 100 hours of PMU training.
The review is conducted by the CPCP Exam Chairperson and past SPCP President, Judith Culp Pearson, CPCP. Judi has been a member for over 30 years and was one of the first to take the exam, obtaining a high score for 2004.
The Exam Review is your opportunity to get help for exam preparation. It covers what you need to review before sitting for the exam and allows time for Q&A. Every student who has taken the review and followed our study recommendations has successfully passed the exam!!
Upcoming Session: Tuesday April 8th, 2025 at 6pm CST
RESOURCE LIST
The SPCP has developed the Certification Examination at the fundamental level so those professionals, having successfully completed training that meets the CPCP Candidate requirement, and have attended a bloodborne pathogens class, should be able to pass the exam studying training materials.
The following resources have been used as reference materials for the SPCP Certification Examination and can be very helpful for those professionals who would like to review prior taking the exam.
These publications are available through the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals and this website.
Primary Resources
Permanent Cosmetics—The Foundation of Fundamental Applications, 2nd Edition.
Glossary of Industry Terms - The purpose of this glossary was originally to assist those who are non-English speaking as their primary language to better understand some common terms used in the US that may not have clear translations into other languages. The glossary has since been expanded and can also serve as a study aid for candidates preparing for the CPCP examination who wish to review terminology. It is available for download from the SPCP website HERE
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard OSHA Regulations (Standards-29 CFR) Bloodborne Pathogens-1910.1030.
Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20210, 800-321-OSHA. http://www.osha.gov
Approved SPCP Bloodborne Pathogens Online Courses
NOTE: Should your school or training organization offer a bloodborne pathogens course you can request an SPCP review for it to be added to the SPCP Approved Courses.
CPCP FAQ's
Do I need to be a member to take the CPCP exam?
No, membership is not required; however, members are awarded a generous discount.
What advantage is there if I am an SPCP member?
Upon passing the CPCP Exam, all candidates will receive a certificate and will be able to use the acronym CPCP after their name and display the CPCP logo. They will be able to state they are a Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional if they remain in good standing.Only SPCP members can take the exam and renew certification at a greatly reduced fee. Only SPCP members may additionally display the SPCP logo.
Is the CPCP Examination required for membership?
The CPCP exam is not mandatory; it is a voluntary credentialing exam. If you choose not to take the exam, that decision does not prevent you from being a member, nor will it replace the membership provisions if the exam is taken. Note: The CPCP credential is required for trainer members.
Why has the SPCP elected to offer a certification examination?
The exam was originally planned as an examination to be used by SPCP trainer members to demonstrate core knowledge. Technician members asked us to provide a professionally developed and objective exam as a non-biased credential available to all who qualify. They wanted the credibility of a valid certification rather than only having a certificate of completion from training.
What does this mean?
This type of examination tests the candidate's knowledge or competencies against that of their peers. Certification is a formal recognition of comprehension of a specific body of knowledge demonstrated at the examination time and becomes a long-term investment in a professional's career.
How was the examination developed?
After three years of writing questions or items based on current reference materials in our industry and obtaining feedback, the SPCP contracted the services of Reasoning, Inc., a professional test development company, well known in the testing community.
Through experience with statistical feedback on many thousands of test items, they have developed an unparalleled understanding of the psychometric consequences of particular wordings and turns of phrase. These understandings are incorporated into the CPCP exam to provide us with the highest possible degree of security. The final step was the development of a pass or fail standard through the cut-score method.
The exam is kept up to date in our ever-changing industry through on-going item writing by subject matter experts and cut-score meetings.
Why has the SPCP chosen not to employ elements of hands-on testing, including chart review or photos of procedural work as part of the certification process?
Research has revealed there are no consistent ways for the SPCP to conduct hands-on testing or to review photos of cosmetic tattooing and remain completely objective.
Results of testing in this fashion make it extremely difficult to monitor the effectiveness of the candidate or test administrator.
How will I know if I passed?
The exam results will be sent to the email address listed on the application. If you did not pass, you will be informed of the areas of weakness and be eligible to apply for retesting within one year without showing further proof of education. If you do not successfully pass the exam upon the second attempt, you will need to wait a full calendar year and begin the process over again. The re-test fee is greatly reduced. The current pass rate is 75%. From the 100-question multiple-choice exam, the minimum passing score is 81.
Certification renewal is every two years. Do I need to retake the examination?
If the Certified Permanent Cosmetic Professional (CPCP) complies with the guidelines of accumulating at least 12 hours of continuing education in permanent cosmetics every two years, and remains current with their bloodborne pathogens classes generally annually), the exam does not have to be taken again. A renewal notice will be sent at least six weeks before your certification's two-year anniversary date. The SPCP must always have a current address since we cannot be responsible for undelivered mail. Failure to renew on time forfeits the right to use the CPCP logo and advertise certification. If the CPCP does not renew on time, re-testing is mandatory, so it is essential to know when your certification expires - listed on the certificate.
How soon will I receive the results of the exam?
The results will be emailed to you within two weeks of taking the exam. If you fail, you will be provided with areas of weakness in the event you wish to study for a repeat
What should I expect on the day of the online exam?
The time permitted for the completion of the 100-question CPCP Exam test is 90 minutes.
Once the identification process begins you will not be permitted to leave the testing area for any reason until the exam is completed.
Physical Onsite Requirements:
+ Webcam with the ability of moving it for 360 degree viewing by the proctor, who will also have access to your screen
+ Quality internet connection
You will be provided with a link to connect to the exam via email; fifteen minutes before the pre-arranged exam time you will be provided with information to get into a chat with your proctor.
+ The proctor will be able to view your desktop, nothing else can be running.
+ You will provide your ID that was submitted with the application and the proctor may ask general questions to further verify your identity.
+ You will be asked to show your desk area and a 360-degree visual of your surroundings to ensure nothing is present on the desk and no one is in the room with you.
+ You will have an opportunity to ask questions before the exam starts.
+ Be sure to enter your information exactly as it appeared on the application.
+ Your email address must be accurate as this is how you will receive your test results.
During the Exam:
+ You will control the pace of the exam and only move to the next question when you desire to; keep in mind that 90 minutes are allotted for 100 questions.
+ You will be observed through your webcam by the proctor while you are taking the exam.
+ The exam is also recorded.
+ If any attempts are made to stray from the exam while in session, a red warning screen comes up and the exam can be stopped.
+ The system monitors for unusual test-taking behaviors such as eyes straying from exam.
EXAMINATION POLICIES:
Cancellation
• If a CPCP candidate must cancel or reschedule, they must do so within 48 hours in advance of their appointment to avoid forfeiture of the exam fee. Exam fees are nonrefundable.
Tardiness
• The candidate must check in 15 minutes before the exam time. After 15 minutes have lapsed, they will be refused examination, risk their fee, and must reapply for the exam.
