Nail technology exam prep.
For every state that tests it.
NIC national, PSI National, Texas — different states use different exams. Pick yours below and practice the one you'll actually sit for. Study mode with full rationales, timed exam mode, lifetime access.
Lifetime access.
No subscriptions, no expiration, no extension fees. Pay once and study as long as you need. Start with the free 10-question preview — no email or signup required.
NIC Nail Technology Prep
Built for the NIC Candidate Information Bulletin- ✓All 10 practice tests (1,100 questions)
- ✓6 domain flashcard decks (81 terminology cards)
- ✓Study mode + timed exam mode under the real 90-minute clock
- ✓Every domain weighted to NIC percentages
PSI National Manicurist Prep
Built for the April 2026 BBC/PSI outline- ✓All 10 practice tests (650 questions, 65 per test)
- ✓3 domain flashcard decks (50 terminology cards)
- ✓Safety and Infection Control weighted at 50% — the largest block on the CA exam
- ✓Timed mock exam at the real 90-minute California pace
TX Manicurist Prep
Built for the TDLR / PSI outline- ✓All 10 practice tests (660 questions, 66 per test)
- ✓4 domain-stacked flashcard decks (131 cards)
- ✓Covers nail structure, nail care, infection control, and Texas licensing & rules
- ✓Timed exam mode at the real Texas written-exam pace
- Full rationales on every question, including why the wrong answers are wrong
- Interactive Tutor on every question — tap Explain — in 19 languages
- One checkout, one email unlock
- Free 10-question preview · no signup
All purchases include a 14-day unconditional refund and a 60-day pass guarantee.** See our refund policy.
Try the real thing.
10 questions from the nail technology bank and 10 terminology cards from the decks — the same items, the same rationales, the same study modes you get after checkout. No email, no signup.
A tutor on every question.
Not just an answer key.
Every question comes with a full rationale. When that isn’t enough — the concept is new, the wording is dense, you got it right by luck — tap Explain and the tutor talks you through it: why your answer was wrong, and what the right idea actually is. Ask it anything back, as many times as you need.
If English isn’t the language you learned this in, it teaches in yours, switched whenever you like. The questions stay in English, because that is how you will see them on exam day. Where enough candidates ask we translate the prep itself — so far Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Simplified Chinese, on the products that have it.
Included with every product · every question · 19 languages
- Español Spanish
- 한국어 Korean
- 简体中文 Simplified Chinese
- Русский Russian
- Tiếng Việt Vietnamese
- فارسی Persian (Farsi)
- Shqip Albanian
- العربية Arabic
- বাংলা Bengali
- Français French
- Kreyòl Ayisyen Haitian Creole
- עברית Hebrew
- Italiano Italian
- 日本語 Japanese
- Kiswahili Swahili
- Türkçe Turkish
- བོད་སྐད་ Tibetan
- नेपाली Nepali
- Українська Ukrainian
What the Nail Technology
written exam covers
The NIC Nail Technology Theory Examination contains 110 items across its weighted domains, mapped here in CIB order, and every question in our NIC course is distributed at those exact percentages. California runs a different exam on a different blueprint — 60 scored / 65 total, 90 minutes — and our CA course follows that one instead.
Infection Control & Safety
Microbiology, levels of infection control, EPA-registered disinfectants, OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards, autoclave operation, salon sanitation procedures.
Anatomy & Physiology
Nail unit anatomy, skin structure, bone and muscle structure of the hand and foot, circulatory and nervous systems, nail growth and disorders.
Chemistry of Nail Products
Monomer/polymer chemistry, adhesion, curing, solvents, primers, dehydrators, pH, product safety and MSDS.
Pre-service process
Client consultation and documentation, contraindications and service determination · Workstation set-up, draping and positioning · Client and practitioner sanitation before the service.
Nail Service Tools
Selection, use, care, and maintenance of implements · Electric file, nippers, pushers, buffers, bits · Sanitation and disinfection.
Manicure & Pedicure
Basic and spa manicure and pedicure procedures · Massage techniques · Polish application · Paraffin treatments · Callus care.
Nail Enhancement Services
Acrylic (liquid and powder), UV/LED gel, wraps and repairs · Tip application · Sculptured nails · Maintenance and fills · Safe removal techniques.
Post-Service Procedures
Client aftercare instructions, scheduling, retail recommendations, workstation breakdown, disposal procedures.
Source: NIC National Nail Technology Theory Examination Candidate Information Bulletin — effective 1 September 2025, revised 1 March 2026. 110 items, 100 weighted, 90-minute time limit.
California weights the same subject matter differently
The California Manicurist exam runs 60 scored items in 90 minutes against the BBC/PSI outline effective 1 April 2026, and needs 75% to pass. Safety and Infection Control is half the exam on its own — where the NIC spreads the same ground across eight domains.
Safety and Infection Control
Disinfection, sterilization and sanitation · Bloodborne pathogens and exposure incidents · Implement handling and single-use items · Salon and equipment standards. Half the exam.
Nail Care
Manicure and pedicure procedure · Nail structure and growth · Enhancement application and removal · Implements and technique.
Client Consultation and Nail Analysis
Intake and history · Nail and skin assessment · Disorders, diseases and contraindications · Referral and home care.
Skin Care
Skin structure of the hand and foot · Conditions affecting service · Massage and product selection.
Source: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology / PSI content outline — effective April 1, 2026. See PSI National Manicurist prep →
Built from each exam's own outline —
not adapted from textbook content.
Most nail technology prep starts with generic textbook material and reshapes it into exam questions. NICPrep goes the opposite direction, and it does it once per exam. The NIC course is built from the official NIC Candidate Information Bulletin — every domain, every subtopic, every percentage weighting. The California course is built the same way from the April 2026 BBC/PSI outline, where Safety and Infection Control is half the exam, and the Texas course from the TDLR/PSI outline. Read about our construction standards →
1,100 NIC questions, 455 California and 462 Texas, none inflated. We wrote every question type each outline supports, then expanded into scenario-based variations that mirror how these exams test judgment. No filler. No recycled school-quiz trivia. No padding — and nothing shared between the banks, because the exams don't share a blueprint.
Designed around how your exam really works
Domain-weighted distribution identical to the exam you picked — NIC percentages in the NIC course, the April 2026 California weightings in the CA course, the TDLR outline in the TX course. Scenario-based judgment questions in that exam's style. Difficulty builds intentionally across the tests. Study mode rationales that teach. Timed simulation under the real clock.
Built for accuracy, not noise
If it's not in your exam's outline, it's not in that course — the NIC CIB, the BBC/PSI outline, or the TDLR/PSI one. You study exactly what your exam tests, nothing more. Some prep sites advertise 2,000+ questions; past a certain point they're repeating concepts or testing trivia that won't appear on your exam. A bank claiming to cover every state's nail exam at once is doing exactly that.
A focused path
from gap to ready.
Textbooks teach Nail Technology. NICPrep teaches you how to answer NIC exam questions about Nail Technology — which is a different skill, and the one that determines whether you pass.
Start with the free preview
The 10-question preview is real exam content — not a teaser. Take it before you buy anything. You'll see the question style, the difficulty level, and which domains need the most work.
Study mode first, in order
Work through all 1,100 questions in study mode with rationales on. Start with Test 1 and progress in order — the difficulty builds intentionally. Don't skip the science: Infection Control & Safety, Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry of Nail Products together are 40% of the test, and most candidates underestimate the detail required.
Exam mode before test day
Switch to timed exam mode the day before your exam. 110 questions, 90 minutes, no hints. The score and per-domain breakdown will tell you if you're ready.
Common questions
Why 1,100 questions instead of 2,000+?
Because the NIC exam has an exact number of testable concepts — and there are only so many ways to legitimately test that material. We wrote every high-quality, exam-relevant question the CIB supports. Past a certain point, competitors are repeating concepts or testing trivia that won't appear on your exam. We'd rather give you what you actually need.
What if I have to stop mid-test?
Your progress is saved automatically. Every time you answer a question, your answers, current position, and remaining time are saved to your browser. When you return to the same test, you'll see a prompt to resume where you left off or start fresh. Progress is saved per device.
Do I need to download an app?
No. NICPrep works fully in any mobile browser on iPhone or Android. On iOS, tap the share icon and "Add to Home Screen" to install it with its own icon, just like an app. On Android, tap the browser menu and "Add to Home Screen." It opens full screen with no browser chrome.
Can I study offline?
Yes. Once you've visited your exam pages while online, NICPrep caches everything locally — questions, flashcards, study mode, timed exam mode, and progress saving all work with no internet connection. An offline banner appears at the top of the page so you always know your connection status.
How many devices can I use?
You can access your purchased products on up to 3 devices using the same email address. Just enter your checkout email on the access page on each device — no account or password needed.
Does my access expire?
No. You pay once and the course is yours permanently — no 30-day countdown, no renewal fees, no extensions to purchase. Study at your own pace and come back whenever you need to.
What's your refund policy?
Two layers. Within 14 days, full refund for any reason — no conditions. Through day 60, full refund if you completed all 10 practice tests, logged 20+ hours on the platform, sat for the NIC exam, and didn't pass. See full details in our terms.
What is the NIC CIB and why does it matter?
The Candidate Information Bulletin is the official NIC document that defines exactly what is tested on your exam — every domain, subtopic, and percentage weighting. Every question in our courses is built directly from the CIB for that modality, cross-referenced against the NIC's official references. More on how we build questions →
Will this work for my state?
Most U.S. states use the NIC National Theory Examination, and our NIC course is built to its Candidate Information Bulletin. California and Texas each run their own exam, and we build both separately — California to the April 2026 BBC/PSI outline, Texas to the TDLR/PSI one. All three are available now. If you're not sure which applies to you, check the state guide below before you buy.
I failed once already. Will this help?
Yes — and you're not alone. Failing the written exam almost never means you don't know Nail Technology. It usually means you weren't prepared for how NIC asks questions. The detailed rationales for every answer are specifically useful here: they show you exactly why answers are right or wrong, so your retake targets the real gap instead of covering the same ground that didn't work the first time.
Does this cover the practical exam?
No. This is theory (written) exam prep only. The practical exam is hands-on and developed through your school training. A strong theory foundation does directly support practical performance — understanding the why behind every procedure makes the how more intuitive.
Do California and Texas use the NIC nail exam?
Neither does. California's Manicurist exam is 60 scored items in 90 minutes, with Safety and Infection Control alone accounting for 50% of it. Texas runs its own manicurist exam through PSI for TDLR, 66 questions per test, with a Texas laws-and-rules component the NIC doesn't have. We sell prep built to each.
I bought the NIC course but I'm testing in California or Texas. Can I use it?
It's useful as supplementary study, but not as your main prep. Half the California exam is safety alone, and Texas tests state-specific licensing rules that appear nowhere in the NIC bank. Use the course built for the exam you're sitting.
Is this available in other languages?
Yes. In Spanish (Español): NIC Cosmetology, Esthetics, Barber Styling and Hair Design, plus PSI National Cosmetology, PSI National Esthetician, PSI National Manicurist, CA Barber, TX Cosmetology, TX Class A Barber, TX Esthetician and TX Manicurist. In Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt): NIC Nail Technology, PSI National Cosmetology, PSI National Manicurist and TX Manicurist. In Korean (한국어): NIC Cosmetology, NIC Esthetics, PSI National Cosmetology, PSI National Esthetician, TX Cosmetology and TX Esthetician. In Simplified Chinese (简体中文): TX Cosmetology.
Can I get the explanations in my language?
Yes. The Interactive Tutor explains any question, the rationale behind it and every term in your language, and answers your follow-up questions the same way. The languages it speaks — each in its own name and in English — are listed in the Study in your language section on this page. It is included with every product on your account — all of the languages, not one you have to choose between, and you can switch whenever you like. The questions and the answer options stay in English, because those are the words you will read on exam day.
Does the tutor translate the practice test?
No, and that is on purpose. The tutor explains in your language; the question and the four options stay in English, so you learn to recognise the exact wording you will see at the testing centre. If you want the questions themselves in your language, that is a different product: the fully translated editions in Spanish (Español), Korean (한국어), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) and Simplified Chinese (简体中文), on the products that have one.
Do I have to pick one language and stay with it?
No. Every language the tutor speaks comes with every product, so you can move between them mid-session — read a rationale in Spanish, ask the follow-up in English, check a term in Vietnamese. There is nothing to buy and nothing to switch on: choose the language in the tutor panel and it answers in it.
Translated edition or tutor in my language — which one should I choose?
Ask one question: which language will you sit the exam in? If your state offers the exam in your language and you plan to take it that way, choose the translated edition where this product has one — the questions match what you will see. If you will sit it in English, take the English edition and set the tutor to your language: the questions stay in English, the teaching is in your language, and every word you have to recognise on exam day is one you have already practised. Your state guide says which languages your state examines in.
NICPrep có bằng tiếng Việt không?
Có. Bộ đề thi thực hành Nail Technology của chúng tôi có sẵn hoàn toàn bằng tiếng Việt, với thuật ngữ chuyên ngành phù hợp với kỳ thi NIC chính thức. 1,100 câu hỏi thực hành trong 10 bài thi, kèm giải thích đầy đủ bằng tiếng Việt cho mỗi đáp án.