CALIFORNIA / PSI / APRIL 2026
California Manicurist (Nail Technician) State Board Written Exam
The California manicurist (nail technician) written exam has 60 scored questions and 5 unscored pretest questions, and you get 90 minutes. PSI gives it for the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology in English, Spanish or Vietnamese. Safety and infection control is the largest topic at 50%. There has been no practical exam since January 1, 2022.
Prepare for the California manicurist (nail tech) state board written exam: see the published format and topic weights, take 25 free practice questions, and get the free Manicurist app. The Board also calls this the Nail Technician exam in its April 2026 outline. The California written exam for this license is delivered through PSI. The Board lists English, Spanish, and Vietnamese among its available exam languages. These figures come from the Board’s examination information and April 2026 content outline.
Free download · CA Nail Tech State Board Prep
Free in the app: 30 sample questions covering every exam topic, for Quick 10, short topic sets and a 10-question, 12-minute sample mock. Full access unlocks all 1,000+ questions, 25-question topic sets and full-length timed mocks (65 questions, 90 minutes), with every explanation in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. The app works offline after installation.
On Google Play it is called “Nail Tech State Board Prep”; the App Store lists it as “CA Nail Tech State Board Prep”.
Nail Technician
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Real app screens for your license. Tap a phone to enlarge it; scroll through the gallery on smaller screens.
Published written exam format
Topics in the Board outline
The Board can change exam content, languages, and rules. Confirm the current candidate information before your exam. The topic percentages guide study time; they do not guarantee the questions you will see.
Exam format sources checked September 28, 2026 · April 2026 exam outlines ↗
Use the outline to plan your study
Safety and infection control accounts for 50% of this outline; nail care is 22%, consultation and nail analysis 18%, and skin care 10%. For California safety rules, distinguish whirlpool, pipe-less, non-whirlpool, and disposable-liner basin procedures instead of memorizing one generic cleaning sequence. Use OSHA nail guidance for worker hazards, not as a substitute for Board rules.
These are study priorities based on the published topic weights, not a prediction of your exam questions. Read the full outline and current Board rules.
California beauty exam study resources ↗Three ways to start
Turn the published objectives into decisions you can explain. These are study suggestions, not official exam questions.
Sort reusable tools from single-use supplies
Compare the Board’s rules for disinfectable tools with its rule for supplies that cannot be disinfected. Write down what happens to each item after a client, and check the exact rule before using it in practice.
California health and safety rules ↗Compare pedicure basin procedures
California has separate rules for whirlpool and air-jet basins, pipe-less units, non-whirlpool basins, and disposable liners (§§ 980.1–980.4). Compare their after-client steps and cleaning logs instead of learning one generic routine.
California health and safety rules ↗Cover consultation and nail care
The outline also covers nail and skin analysis, manicure and pedicure massage, safe filing and cuticle work, workstation ventilation, and nail enhancements and removal. Give each a place in your study checklist.
April 2026 exam outlines ↗
Study safety and infection control as a core part of this exam, then use the remaining topic weights to plan practice. Always check current California rules for service procedures.
April 2026 exam outlines ↗ · Board examination information ↗
FAQ
Common questions
How many questions are on the California manicurist (nail technician) exam?
65 in total: 60 scored and 5 unscored pretest questions, in 90 minutes. Treat every question as if it counts.
Is there a practical exam?
No. Since January 1, 2022 California licenses cosmetologists, barbers, estheticians and manicurists with the written exam only.
Can I take it in Spanish or Vietnamese?
Yes. The Board lists English, Spanish and Vietnamese among its exam languages, and you choose the exam language on your application.
How much does it cost?
The Board’s August 2025 application form lists a $110 non-refundable application and initial license fee for manicurists. A re-examination application is $75. Check the current form before you pay.
What score do I need to pass?
PSI scores the exam against a fixed passing standard, so you are not competing with other candidates. If you pass, you receive your license at the test site. If you do not pass, the failure notice shows your score by content area and the number of correct answers needed to pass.
How can I practice for free?
Take the free 25-question practice test for this license on this site, in English, Spanish or Vietnamese. The CA Nail Tech State Board Prep app (“Nail Tech State Board Prep” on Google Play) is free to download with 30 sample questions; full access unlocks more than 1,000.