California State Board Nail Technician Written Practice Test
Thirty-nine of the 65 answers cite California's own statute and regulations, the foot spa procedures first among them.
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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology or PSI Services LLC. Bank checked October 12, 2026.
A California establishment uses disposable liners. How many must it keep on hand for each foot tub basin?Title 16 CCR 980.4(a)(4)
A nail file is powered by a wireless charger and has no cord. Which kind of tool is it under 16 CCR 977?Title 16 CCR 977
A poison is kept in the bottle its maker labeled. Does 16 CCR 988 call for a further marking on it?Title 16 CCR 988(b)
A whirlpool foot spa in a California salon is out of use. What does 16 CCR 980.1 require?Title 16 CCR 980.1(g)
After a client, how long is the disinfecting solution left in a California non-whirlpool foot basin or tub?Title 16 CCR 980.3(b)(4)
After each client, with what are the inside walls of a whirlpool foot spa basin scrubbed under 16 CCR 980.1?Title 16 CCR 980.1(c)(2)
After the disinfectant has circulated through a California whirlpool foot spa, how is the drained and rinsed basin dried?Title 16 CCR 980.1(c)(6)
At least once each week, how long is the disinfectant solution left undisturbed in a California whirlpool foot spa?Title 16 CCR 980.1(e)
Show all 65 questions (57 more)
Safety and infection control, continued
At the end of each day, what is circulated through a California whirlpool foot spa before the disinfectant?Title 16 CCR 980.1(d)(4)
How does 16 CCR 980.2 define a "pipeless" foot spa?Title 16 CCR 980.2(a)
How does an autoclave sterilize tools, by the definition in 16 CCR 977?Title 16 CCR 977
How much disinfectant solution must a tool container hold under 16 CCR 978?Title 16 CCR 978(a)(5)
How much does a surgical mask protect a nail technician from what is in the salon air?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
How must the disinfectant solution for non-electrical tools be kept under 16 CCR 979?Title 16 CCR 979(b)(1)
In the definitions of 16 CCR 977, how does a foot basin differ from a tub?Title 16 CCR 977
In which kind of container may nail powders stand at a California station, by 16 CCR 988?Title 16 CCR 988(a)
Into which kind of pouch or holder may disinfected nippers not be put, by 16 CCR 979(e)?Title 16 CCR 979(e)
Nail salon employees are likely to be exposed to blood at work. Who pays for their hepatitis B immunization?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Biological Hazards
To which title of the California Code of Regulations does 16 CCR 995 point for an establishment's system of adequate ventilation?Title 16 CCR 995(a)
Under 16 CCR 984, when may a licensee who has a cold or flu with a fever serve clients again?Title 16 CCR 984(c)
What does 16 CCR 980.4 say about a disposable foot basin liner once a pedicure is over?Title 16 CCR 980.4(a)
What is the first step in disinfecting a metal cuticle pusher under 16 CCR 979?Title 16 CCR 979(a)(1)
What must each entry in a California pedicure equipment-cleaning log contain?Title 16 CCR 980.1(c)(7)
Where must a salon make its safety data sheets available to nail technicians?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
Where must clean towels and linens be stored under 16 CCR 987?Title 16 CCR 987(c)
Which glove material protects against many of the chemicals used in nail salon products?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
Which health effects are linked to quaternary ammonium compounds, found in disinfectants?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
Which of these are bloodborne pathogens that nail salon workers can be exposed to through infected blood?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Biological Hazards
Who may ask to see a California salon's pedicure equipment-cleaning log?Title 16 CCR 980.1(f)
Why should no one be allowed to smoke in a nail shop?EPA, Protecting the Health of Nail Salon Workers (EPA 744-F-07-001)
Client consultation and nail analysis 11
A client has a dark streak running down the length of one nail. Which condition normally appears this way?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Nail abnormalities
A client has an infestation that can be passed on to the person serving them. What does 16 CCR 984 say to the establishment?Title 16 CCR 984(b)
A patch of thickened skin on the hand or on the sole of the foot is called what?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Corns and calluses
Both thumbnails show a lengthwise split or ridge. Which habit is linked to this median nail dystrophy?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Nail abnormalities
Clubbing of the nails may be caused by disorders that affect what?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Nail abnormalities
Fungal paronychia may occur in people whose hands are exposed a lot to what?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Paronychia
How long after exposure does an allergic contact dermatitis reaction most often occur?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Contact dermatitis
In patch testing for a contact allergy, when are the patches taken off?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Contact dermatitis
On which part of the body does contact dermatitis often occur?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Contact dermatitis
Which nail findings call for contacting a health care provider immediately?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Nail abnormalities
Which toe is most often affected by an ingrown toenail?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Ingrown toenail
Skin care 6
A foot file would take the skin down below the epidermal layers. How does 16 CCR 991 class that?Title 16 CCR 991(b)(4)
What does 16 CCR 993 say about a razor-edged tool for removing calluses?Title 16 CCR 993(a)
Which massages does the manicure and pedicure part of the California nail care curriculum name in B&P Code 7365?Business and Professions Code 7365(b)(3)
Which product, used after washing or bathing, helps prevent brittle nails?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Nail abnormalities
Why does the skin of a callus thicken?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Corns and calluses
Within the practice of nail care in B&P Code 7316, how much of the arm may a California manicurist massage?Business and Professions Code 7316(d)
Nail care 13
A California salon stores methyl methacrylate monomer in a back room and never uses it. Is that allowed under 16 CCR 989?Title 16 CCR 989(b)
By how much do NIOSH laboratory tests indicate exhaust ventilation may reduce a nail salon worker's chemical exposure?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
The catch basin of a ventilated manicure station fills with dust. How often should it be cleaned out?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
How is a manicure brush or nail duster cleaned before use on a client under 16 CCR 986?Title 16 CCR 986(a)
How many hours of a California nail care course are in manicure and pedicure, which takes in artificial nails, dip, tips and wraps?Business and Professions Code 7365(b)(3)
Under 16 CCR 988, which preparations need not be taken from the container in a special way, being unlikely to transmit pathogens?Title 16 CCR 988(c)(1)
What can long-term exposure to moisture or nail polish do to the natural nails?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Nail abnormalities
What does the FDA say about a federal regulation on methyl methacrylate monomer in cosmetic products?FDA, Nail Care Products
What is the best way to lower the level of chemicals in the air of a nail salon?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
Which cleansing agents does 16 CCR 986 name for acrylic, gel and nail-art brushes?Title 16 CCR 986(b)
Which kind of room air cleaning device should a nail salon avoid?EPA, Protecting the Health of Nail Salon Workers (EPA 744-F-07-001)
Which of these must go into a waste container right after use on one client, under 16 CCR 981?Title 16 CCR 981(a)
Why should product bottles be closed tightly when they are not being used?OSHA, Health Hazards in Nail Salons: Chemical Hazards
California licence law 5
At what moment does a California manicurist license expire under B&P Code 7415?Business and Professions Code 7415
Besides a school course, which in-state route to the manicurist examination does B&P Code 7326 name?Business and Professions Code 7326(d)
How far must a person have gone in school to be admitted to California's manicurist examination?Business and Professions Code 7326
What is the least number of hours of practical and technical instruction in a California nail care course?Business and Professions Code 7365(a)
What must a California manicurist license contain under B&P Code 7396?Business and Professions Code 7396
How this list was compiled: Outline: the Manicurist Theory Exam content outline in the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Candidate Information Bulletin, April 2026, published for the Board by PSI Services LLC (https://test-takers.psiexams.com/cabacos). Facts: the Board's 2026 Barbering and Cosmetology Act and Regulations (Business and Professions Code sections 7301 and following; California Code of Regulations, title 16, sections 904 to 999; https://www.barbercosmo.ca.gov/laws_regs/act_regs.pdf), OSHA's Health Hazards in Nail Salons pages, the EPA nail salon guide, the FDA's Nail Care Products page and MedlinePlus. Each question names its section or page and links to it. Read 2026-10-12. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the public texts named. Nothing comes from the real examination, a testing vendor, a textbook or a prep course.
How it works
This unofficial written practice test for the California State Board nail technician (manicurist) license follows the Board's published theory outline, with 5 added questions on licence law. It is not affiliated with the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology or PSI Services LLC.
Read the full guide
The California manicurist theory exam, as published
The Board's Candidate Information Bulletin (April 2026), opened October 12, 2026, weights four topics: safety and infection control 50 percent, nail care 22, client consultation and nail analysis 18, and skin care 10.
Why so much here is California regulation
California writes its own rule for most safety lines of the outline: Title 16, sections 977 to 995, with separate procedures for whirlpool, pipeless and non-whirlpool foot basins. Where a regulation covers a line, the question cites it; elsewhere the source is OSHA, the EPA, the FDA or MedlinePlus.
After every pedicure client, disinfectant circulates through a whirlpool foot spa for at least 10 minutes and the cleaning is logged (16 CCR 980.1).
Emery boards, buffers, pumice stones and toe separators are thrown away after one client (16 CCR 981).
Methyl methacrylate monomer may not be on the premises at all, used or not (16 CCR 989).
Questions and answers
Is there a California nail license practice test that follows the state board outline?
This page is one. Its first four groups are the four topics of the Board's manicurist theory outline, in the same proportions. The questions are our own and none is taken from the examination.
How many questions are on the California manicurist written exam, and what score passes?
The bulletin gives 65 questions in 90 minutes, of which 5 are unscored pretest questions. The Board uses a criterion-referenced passing score, and the bulletin prints no percentage.
Can I use this as a CA nail technician study guide?
Yes, as a drill: every answer names the regulation or public page behind it, so a missed question tells you what to read. The Board's bulletin lists the references the examination was built from.