Nail Technician (Manicurist) Exam Requirements by State
States license nail technicians (called manicurists in some states) through a written theory exam, and many add a practical exam as well. The table below shows the written exam in every state where passvana has a nail technician practice track; some states test their own laws and rules in a separate exam. 17 exams in 17 states. Where a state does not publish a figure, the table says so rather than estimating it.
| State | Exam | Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score | Practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Manicurist Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 70% | Practice → |
| California | Manicurist Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | Not published | Practice → |
| Colorado | Nail Technician Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 70% | Practice → |
| Georgia | Nail Technician Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 70% | Practice → |
| Hawaii | Nail Technician Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Illinois | Nail Technician Exam | 65 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Indiana | Manicurist Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Kentucky | Nail Technician Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 70% | Practice → |
| Maryland | Nail Technician Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Massachusetts | Manicurist Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 70% | Practice → |
| Michigan | Manicurist Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Minnesota | Nail Technician Laws and Rules Exam | 30 questions | 60 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Nevada | Nail Technologist Exam | 50 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Oregon | Nail Technologist Laws and Rules Exam | 90 questions | 90 min | 75% | Practice → |
| Pennsylvania | Nail Technician Exam | 60 questions | 105 min | Scaled score 75 | Practice → |
| Tennessee | Manicurist Exam | 85 questions | 150 min | 70% | Practice → |
| Texas | Manicurist Exam | 60 questions | 90 min | 70% | Practice → |
Exam mechanics above are sourced from each state's own official licensing authority or exam vendor, not third-party estimates. Any pass-rate figure shown elsewhere on passvana (e.g. the guarantee page) reflects practice mock-exam attempts taken on passvana itself, not official state exam outcomes.