The aim of this final work was to plan, arrange and assess competence tests in hairdressing to the students of Northern Savo Vocational College. The key issues were to plan the assignments for demonstrating vocational skills, to arrange the tests in hairdressing salons in real working life, and to make the necessary arrangements for assessment. The work was accomplished by Jorma Aartonen, Minna-Liisa Karhunen and Paula Virolainen. Minna-Liisa Karhunen and Paula Virolainen concentrated on analyzing vocational skills and their assessment. Plans for arranging demonstrations of vocational skills as well as the forms for assessment were compiled together. Jorma Aartonen performed the tests. The planning work started in 2000 when Northern Savo Vocational College decided to take part in the national pilot project on competence-based qualifications. At the beginning of the project, the national Board of Education arranged courses dealing with the general principles of competence tests. Earlier competence tests and their work processes were used as a basis when the assignments in hairdressing were planned. The assignments and the targets of assessment were derived from the core skills of the requirements of the curriculum. The targets and criteria of assessment were analyzed together in the group and documented in assessment forms. The competence tests were performed in 2000 – 2003. The work gave us insight into and experience of the competence tests and performing them. The experience provides guidelines for further development of competence tests and as a result of this work we will have a practical pattern to use when competence tests are brought into practice on 1st August in 2005.