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Nail tech exam prep, made simple

For nail tech and manicurist students getting ready for the written licensing exam. We start with Texas, then add more states, one illustrated idea per page.

In development

We'll email you once, when it is ready. Made Simple guides are independent study aids. No guide can guarantee a passing score.

The exam

The exam at a glance

The written exam depends on your state. Texas runs its own TDLR exam, delivered by PSI. Here is its shape.

60scored questions, plus 6 unscored (Texas)
90minutes, closed book
70%score needed to pass
$55written exam fee
68%of Texas written sittings passed in FY2025
  • Texas: its own TDLR exam, delivered by PSI. Offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Simplified Chinese. A 600-hour course comes first.
  • PSI national nail theory exam: California and about 8 other states.
  • NIC National Nail Technology exam: about 27 states.
  • Other states: a few run their own exam. Florida and Connecticut have no nail exam.

Texas outline: Texas law 20%, infection control 34%, nail structure 5%, nail care 41%. FY2025: 68.07% of 9,591 written sittings passed, all sittings.

This hub

Start here

The best places to start today, plus the pages we are adding next.

Texas

Texas nail tech license, step by step

The 600-hour course, both TDLR exams, the fee, languages and FY2025 pass rates.

Read the Texas guide

States

State exam guides

Step-by-step license guides by state, starting with the ones that are ready.

See state guides

Data

Exam pass rates

What state agencies publish about exam results, with the source for every number.

See pass rates

Coming to this hub

Planned pages, added as each one is ready.

  • Nail tech exam guide
  • Free nail tech practice test
  • More state guides
  • Look-alike pages
  • Nail tech glossary

The plan

What we're building

Nail Tech Made Simple is in development: a core illustrated book written to the published outlines, plus a state pack starting with Texas.

Core illustrated book

Written to the published outlines, one idea and one drawing per page.

State pack

Your state's rules and exam details, starting with Texas.

Vietnamese edition

Planned, since about half of US nail techs are Vietnamese-speaking.

Join the waitlist

Made Simple guides are independent study aids. No guide can guarantee a passing score.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Which nail tech exam will this cover?

We start with the Texas TDLR written exam, delivered by PSI. Other states use the PSI national nail theory exam, the NIC National Nail Technology exam or their own exam. Florida and Connecticut have no nail exam. Check your state board.

Is Made Simple affiliated with TDLR, PSI or NIC?

No. Made Simple guides are independent study aids. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any state board or testing vendor.

When will it be ready?

We'll email the list once, when it is ready.

Will there be a Vietnamese edition?

Yes, a Vietnamese edition is planned. The Texas written exam is also offered in Vietnamese, along with English, Spanish, Korean and Simplified Chinese.

Sources

  1. PSI candidate information for the TDLR manicurist written exam · checked Oct 15, 2026
  2. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), FY2025 exam statistics · checked Oct 15, 2026
  3. PSI national nail theory exam information · checked Oct 15, 2026
  4. NIC National Nail Technology exam information · checked Oct 15, 2026

We recheck every number against its source before each update. How we check facts.