1929 – The National Council of Boards of Beauty Culture was founded in Chicago, Illinois in an effort to develop some form of interstate exchange of ideas as it related to licensure, reciprocity, examinations, and methods or techniques of administration.

1936 – The Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology was formed. State board members from 14 states met in Pittsburgh to discuss state board problems. This Council was dedicated to the elevation of standards in education, public administration, and professional service to the public.

1956 – In July of 1956 the National Council of Boards of Beauty Culture and the Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology merged and a new organization was formed, the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology.

1968 – NIC decided to expand its activities to develop and provide a National Testing Program for cosmetology licensure.

1969 - NIC developed and released the Cosmetology written examination titles.

1974 – NIC made the Instructor and Nail Technology (Manicuring) titles available.

1986 – NIC made the Electrology and Esthetician titles available.

1989 – NIC made the Manager title available.

1990 – NIC made the Barber and Barber stylist examination titles available. NIC decided to expand its testing activities to include practical examinations and developed and released practical examinations for Cosmetology, Barber Stylist, Nail Technology, Esthetics, Electrology and Instructor.

1998 – NIC made the Barber 1 (no chemical) written and practical examinations available.

1999 – NIC adopted Item Response Theory (IRT) based pre-equating of exam forms, enabling the more rapid release of test scores. NIC began offering Computer-Based Testing (CBT) through its service partner LaserGrade, Inc.

2000-NIC began offering Candidate Processing, Practical administration, Paper/Pencil Administration services through its service partner DLRoope Administrations

2002 – NIC made the major theory examination titles available in Spanish.
2003 – NIC updated and revamped the examiner training program. NIC completed Natural Hair Job Analysis study. NIC made the Hair Design title available. NIC approved an additional service partner Professional Credentialing Services, Inc. (PCS) to offer Candidate Processing, Practical administration, Paper/Pencil Administration services to the states.

2004 – NIC made the Natural Hairstyling title available. NIC made the major theory examination titles available in Vietnamese. NIC completed Job Analysis studies for Waxing, Body Piercing, Tattooing and Esthetics.

2005 – NIC made Waxing, Body Piercing and Tattooing titles available. NIC released Esthetics examinations containing new content in October. NIC completed Cosmetology and Hair Design Job Analysis studies.

2006 – NIC released Cosmetology and Hair Design examinations containing new content in January. NIC completed Nail Technology, Barbering, Instructor, Esthetics Advanced Practice, Electrology and Micropigmentation Job Analysis Studies. NIC
made the major theory examination titles available in Korean.

2007 – NIC released Nail Technology and Instructor examinations containing new content in January. NIC made the Advanced Practice Esthetics written title available. PSI merges with LaserGrade and becomes a service partner for CBT delivery of NIC examinations.

2008 – NIC released Barbering and Electrology examinations containing new content in January. NIC completed an Advanced Practice Micro-Pigmentation Job Analysis Study and released new written examinations accordingly. NIC completed an Esthetics and Nail Technology/Manicure Job Analysis Studies.

2009 – NIC released Esthetic examinations containing new content in January. Job Analysis Study Cosmetology

2010 – NIC released Nail Technology examinations containing new content. NIC made the Advanced Practice Esthetics practical title available. Completed an Instructor Job Analysis Study.

2011 – NIC released Cosmetology, Hair Design and Electrology examinations containing new content.