Guides / Nail tech state board written exam: what to know
What is on the nail tech written exam?
Safety and nail care appear on the nail tech written exam, with California and Texas using different topic lists.
Updated October 18, 2026
What is on the nail tech written exam?
California’s nail tech state board written exam (Manicurist) covers safety and nail care. Infection control is part of the safety topic.
California and Texas do not use the same topic list. California names client consultation; Texas names licensing and regulation.
What does California cover?
California gives nail tech candidates 90 minutes for 65 questions. That includes 60 scored questions and 5 pretest questions.
California assigns 30 questions to safety and infection control, worth 50%. This topic includes cleaning tools, equipment, and workstations.
For California nail tech candidates (Manicurist), skin care is 10%, with 6 questions.
For California nail tech candidates (Manicurist), nail care is 22%, with 13 questions.
What does Texas cover?
Texas nail tech candidates (Cosmetology Manicurist) have 66 questions and 100 minutes. There are 60 scored questions and 6 unscored questions.
Texas puts 12 questions under licensing and regulation, worth 20%. Practitioner responsibilities and health and safety appear here.
Texas assigns 20 questions to infection control, worth 34%. It covers disinfection, equipment, implements, and the work environment.
Texas’s nail structure and analysis topic has 3 questions, worth 5%. Anatomy and physiology are included.
Texas puts 25 questions under nail care, worth 41%. This includes manicures, pedicures, and acrylic, gel, and tip enhancements.
The Texas nail tech written state board requires 70% correct on scored questions.
Where should I focus?
Spend focused study time on infection control and safe nail services. Practice choosing how to handle contaminated tools, then review nail care procedures.
The numbers on this page are read from each state's own candidate bulletin and were checked on 2026-10-18.
Common questions
- Do California and Texas test the same nail tech topics?
- California and Texas do not use the same topic list. California names client consultation; Texas names licensing and regulation.
- How much of California's nail tech exam is about safety?
- California assigns 30 questions to safety and infection control, worth 50%. This topic includes cleaning tools, equipment, and workstations.
- What nail services are tested on the Texas written exam?
- Texas puts 25 questions under nail care, worth 41%. This includes manicures, pedicures, and acrylic, gel, and tip enhancements.