Infection + Safety
15%of exam
Disease SpreadInfection LevelsBlood ExposureSDSWork Injury
Anatomy + Physiology
15%of exam
Product Chemistry
10%of exam
Pre-service Process
5%of exam
ConsultationDocumentationContraindicationsWorkstation SetupSanitation
Nail Service Tools
13%of exam
EquipmentImplementsSuppliesProductsSafe Use
Manicure + Pedicure
18%of exam
Trim + ShapeCuticle CareMassagePolishAdd-ons
Enhancement Services
20%of exam
Nail TipsAcrylicsGelsPowder DipRemoval
Post-Service
4%of exam
AftercareClient EducationDisinfectionDocumentation
Quick Facts
- Exam
- Nail Technology Theory
- Owner
- NIC
- Time
- 90 minutes
- Items
- 110 total
- Scored
- 100 weighted
- Pretest
- 10 unscored
- Score
- State-set standard
- Major split
- 40 science / 60 procedures
- Blueprint
- Mar 1 2026
Clean Steps
Clean -> disinfect -> dry -> covered
Clean: debrisDisinfect: wet timeDry: prevent growthCovered: clean storage
Sanitize vs Disinfect
Sanitize
- Reduces microbes
- Skin/surfaces
- Lower level
Disinfect
- Kills pathogens
- Nonporous tools
- Label contact
Reduce vs destroy
Infection Control
- Sanitation
- Reduces microbes
- Disinfection
- Kills most pathogens
- Sterilization
- Destroys all life
- Cleaning first
- Removes barriers
- Contact time
- Surface stays wet
- EPA disinfectant
- Label controls use
- Single-use
- Discard after client
- Multi-use
- Clean then disinfect
Safety Actions
- Blood exposure
- Stop service
- Gloves
- Barrier protection
- Contaminated items
- Bag and discard
- SDS
- Hazards and first aid
- Ventilation
- Controls vapors
- Ergonomics
- Prevents strain
- Adverse reaction
- Stop and document
- Double-dipping
- Contaminates product
- Chemical splash
- Flush immediately
Nail Barriers
Matrix makes; bed feeds; hypo seals
Matrix: growthBed: bloodHypo: sealEpo: living
Cuticle vs Eponychium
Cuticle
- Dead tissue
- On nail plate
- Remove gently
Eponychium
- Living skin
- Protects matrix
- Never cut
Dead vs living
Nail Anatomy
- Onyx
- Technical nail
- Matrix
- Growth center
- Nail plate
- Hard keratin
- Nail bed
- Nerves and blood
- Lunula
- Visible matrix
- Eponychium
- Living fold
- Cuticle
- Dead tissue
- Hyponychium
- Free-edge seal
- Sidewall
- Lateral border
Skin + Body
- Skin
- Protects and senses
- Keratin
- Nail protein
- Melanocytes
- Pigment cells
- Bones
- Support structure
- Muscles
- Move joints
- Nerves
- Sense pain
- Circulation
- Feeds tissues
- Inflammation
- Redness swelling pain
Disorders Stop Signs
- Onychomycosis
- Suspected fungus
- Paronychia
- Nail-fold inflammation
- Onycholysis
- Plate separation
- Onychorrhexis
- Brittle splitting
- Open lesion
- Do not serve
- Warts
- Refer client
- Pus
- Possible infection
- Severe redness
- Stop service
Physical vs Chemical
Physical
- Form changes
- No new substance
- Filing example
Chemical
- New substance
- Curing example
- Acrylic sets
Shape vs reaction
Chemistry Basics
- Monomer
- Small liquid unit
- Polymer
- Linked unit chain
- Polymerization
- Units form chains
- Catalyst
- Speeds reaction
- Activator
- Starts reaction
- Solvent
- Dissolves product
- Primer
- Improves adhesion
- Dehydrator
- Removes moisture
- Physical change
- Form changes only
- Chemical reaction
- New substance forms
Product Hazards
- Overexposure
- Repeated skin contact
- Volatile
- Evaporates quickly
- VOCs
- Airborne vapors
- Heat spike
- Curing heat
- Wrong ratio
- Weak enhancement
- Undercured gel
- Reactive residue
- MMA
- Avoid prohibited monomer
- EMA
- Preferred acrylic monomer
- Acetone
- Soak-off solvent
Contraindication vs Modification
Contraindication
- Stop service
- Refer client
- Document reason
Modification
- Adjust service
- Reduce risk
- Continue safely
Stop vs adjust
Service Stopper
- Open wound→Refuse service(Refer)
- Suspected fungus→Refuse service(Refer)
- Allergy history→Patch test(Modify)
- Broken skin→Avoid area(Document)
- Product reaction→Stop service(Remove product)
- Poor circulation→Avoid heat(Medical caution)
- Unclear condition→Refer client(Outside scope)
- Healthy nails→Proceed service(Document)
Consult + Setup
- Consultation
- Needs and risks
- Client card
- Service record
- Allergies
- Screen before service
- Contraindication
- Service stopper
- Modification
- Safer adjustment
- Workstation
- Clean setup
- Practitioner sanitation
- Clean hands
- Product layout
- Prevents rushing
- Patch test
- Checks sensitivity
Single-use vs Multi-use
Single-use
- Porous items
- One client
- Discard after
Multi-use
- Nonporous implement
- Clean disinfect
- Store covered
Discard vs disinfect
Tool Picker
- Porous file→Single-use(Discard)
- Metal pusher→Multi-use(Disinfect)
- Natural nail→180-240 grit(Gentle)
- Enhancement bulk→Coarse file(Not natural)
- Pedicure basin→Clean disinfect(State rules)
- Dust exposure→Mask + ventilation(PPE)
- Loose dead tissue→Nipper(Avoid live skin)
- Surface shine→Buffer(Light pressure)
Tools + Storage
- Electric file
- Controlled removal
- Pedicure basin
- High-risk water
- Clipper
- Cuts free edge
- Cuticle pusher
- Moves dead tissue
- Nipper
- Loose tissue only
- Buffer
- Smooths surface
- Clean storage
- Covered dry container
- Damaged implement
- Discard or repair
- Foot file
- Smooths callus
Massage Four
Effleurage glide, petrissage knead, friction rub, tapotement tap
Effleurage: glidePetrissage: kneadFriction: rubTapotement: tap
Effleurage vs Petrissage
Effleurage
- Gliding stroke
- Begins massage
- Soothing effect
Petrissage
- Kneading stroke
- Works tissue
- Stimulating effect
Glide vs knead
Manicure Flow
- Remove polish
- First manicure step
- Shape nails
- Corner to center
- Soak
- Softens cuticle
- Cuticle care
- Remove dead tissue
- Cleanse nails
- Remove debris
- Buff
- Smooth lightly
- Massage
- Use safe pressure
- Base coat
- Improves adhesion
- Top coat
- Seals color
Massage + Add-ons
- Effleurage
- Gliding stroke
- Petrissage
- Kneading stroke
- Friction
- Targeted rubbing
- Tapotement
- Rhythmic tapping
- Paraffin
- Heat treatment
- Exfoliation
- Removes dead cells
- Thermal service
- Test temperature
- Callus care
- Do not cut
Enhancement Safety
Prep light, cure right, remove gently
Prep: no thinningCure: correct lampRemoval: no pryingSkin: avoid product
Soft Gel vs Hard Gel
Soft gel
- Soaks off
- Flexible
- Gel polish
Hard gel
- Files off
- Stronger overlay
- No prying
Soak vs file
Enhancement Picker
- Need length→Nail tip(Size first)
- Need overlay→Acrylic(Ratio matters)
- Need soak-off→Soft gel(Acetone)
- Need strength→Hard gel(File removal)
- Need dip color→Powder dip(Separate portion)
- Need maintenance→Fill(Restore apex)
- Product lifting→Remove lifted product(No pockets)
- Removal service→Soak or file(Never pry)
Enhancement Systems
- Nail tip
- Adds length
- Acrylic
- Liquid powder system
- Soft gel
- Soaks off
- Hard gel
- Files off
- Hybrid gel
- Gel acrylic blend
- Powder dip
- Powder resin layers
- Wrap
- Fabric reinforcement
- Fill
- Restores balance
- Removal
- Never pry
Acrylic vs Gel
Acrylic
- Liquid + powder
- Air sets
- Ratio critical
Gel
- Light cures
- Lamp matched
- Thin layers
Mix vs cure
Post-Service
- Aftercare
- Home-care guidance
- Client education
- Reduce service failure
- Schedule
- Plan maintenance
- Disposables
- Discard after use
- Reusable tools
- Clean and disinfect
- Surface cleanup
- Reset station
- Documentation
- Record concerns
- Retail
- Support home care
Common Traps
Sterilization assumption
Disinfection is salon standard ≠ Sterilization is higher level
Living skin
Cuticle is dead tissue ≠ Eponychium is living skin
Service refusal
Refer suspected infections ≠ Do not cover fungus
Product contact
Product stays off skin ≠ Allergy worsens with exposure
Gel removal
Soft gel soaks off ≠ Hard gel files off
Massage pressure
Massage avoids inflammation ≠ Pain changes service
Powder dip hygiene
Shared jar contaminates ≠ Separate portion protects
State authority
NIC supplies outline ≠ State controls license
Last Minute
- 1.110 items; 100 weighted
- 2.Time limit: 90 minutes
- 3.Science totals 40%
- 4.Procedures total 60%
- 5.Enhancements 20%; manicure 18%
- 6.Tools now 13%
- 7.Clean before disinfecting
- 8.Wet time follows label
- 9.Blood exposure: stop service
- 10.Never cut eponychium
- 11.Contraindications require referral
- 12.Soft gel soaks off
- 13.Hard gel files off
- 14.Powder dip: no shared dipping
- 15.Aftercare and cleanup close service
- 16.State bulletin controls passing
Buy on Amazon
Take courses on Udemy
Study guide on MometrixSame family resources
Explore More Nail Technician License
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
More From This Family
Videos and articles for deeper review.
VideoFree Nail Technician Practice Test by State 2026: 5,100+ QuestionsThis examVideoFree Nail Technician Practice Test by State 2026: 5,100+ QuestionsThis examVideoFree Nail Technician Practice Test by State 2026: 5,100+ QuestionsThis examVideoFree Nail Technician Practice Test by State 2026: 5,100+ QuestionsThis examArticleFree Nail Technician Practice Test by State 2026: 5,100+ Questions26 min read