How it works
This unofficial state board manicure practice test follows the outline of the National Nail Technology Theory Examination. It is not affiliated with the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC). Not every state gives this exam, so check with your state board first.
Read the full guide
What the exam covers
NIC's candidate bulletin, effective September 1, 2025 and read October 12, 2026, lists eight sections: infection control and safety 15 percent, anatomy and physiology 15, chemistry of nail products 10, pre-service 5, nail service tools 13, manicure and pedicure services 18, nail enhancement services 20 and post-service 4.
Timing
Exam mode asks all 100 questions in 82 minutes, the pace of the real sitting.
Where the answers come from
Each answer names the public page it was read in: OSHA's nail salon pages, EPA's foot spa procedure and nail salon guide, the FDA's page on nail care products, MedlinePlus, the National Cancer Institute's SEER training modules and Wikipedia.
- Know what hardens each enhancement: acrylic cures as liquid and powder mix, gel under ultraviolet light, dip powder with an activator.
Questions and answers
Is this a manicure state board practice test for my state?
It follows the national nail technology theory exam that NIC writes for state boards. A state can give a different exam or add questions on its own law, so ask your board which exam it uses.
How many questions are on the nail technology state board exam?
NIC's bulletin gives 110 items, of which 100 are weighted and count toward the score, and allows 90 minutes. Each question has four answer options. The practical examination is separate and is not covered here.
What score passes the manicurist state board exam?
NIC's bulletin prints no pass mark, so the result here shows your score and no verdict. Ask the board that licenses you what score it requires.
Are these the real state board manicure exam questions?
No. Every question is our own, written from NIC's public outline and from the public page named under its answer. None comes from the exam or from the nine sample questions in NIC's bulletin.