Free TN Nail Tech Exam Flashcards

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Its Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to keep an SDS for every chemical product used in the salon and make them accessible to employees.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Only disinfectants carrying an EPA registration number are approved for use on nail implements and salon surfaces; non-registered products (like plain rubbing alcohol wipes) are not sufficient.

Every chemical needs a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on file. Containers must be clearly labeled with contents (never left unlabeled or put in food/drink containers), kept tightly capped away from heat and sunlight, and disposed of per local hazardous-waste rules.

Nail products release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as acetone and toluene vapors; adequate exhaust or source-capture ventilation reduces technician and client exposure to fumes that can cause respiratory and eye irritation.

Before and after every client, after using the restroom, after touching their own face or hair, and any time gloves are removed or changed. Hand hygiene is the first line of defense against cross-contamination.

Refuse service to the affected area (or the whole service if warranted) and refer the client to a physician. Performing services over broken skin or a visible infection risks spreading pathogens and violates client-protection standards.

Pathogenic microorganisms cause disease and harm the body; non-pathogenic microorganisms (the majority of bacteria) are harmless or even beneficial. Only pathogens require the infection-control precautions taught for licensure.

Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV. These viruses can be transmitted through contaminated implements or contact with blood, which is why single-use sharps and proper disinfection are essential.

Cleaning physically removes dirt and debris with soap and water; sanitizing reduces germs to a safe level; disinfecting uses an EPA-registered chemical to destroy nearly all pathogens on non-porous surfaces and metal implements. Cleaning must always happen before disinfecting.

10 minutes of full immersion, unless the product label specifies a different time. The implement must be cleaned and visibly free of debris before it is submerged, and the manufacturer's label instructions always govern.

They must be discarded immediately after use on one client. Porous, single-use items cannot be disinfected and reused, and reusing them risks cross-contamination.

It must first be cleaned with soap or an EPA-registered cleaner and water to remove visible debris, then rinsed and dried. Disinfectant cannot penetrate residual organic debris.

In a clean, closed, and labeled container or dry sanitizer, never left uncovered or mixed with used/dirty implements, to prevent recontamination before the next client.

A non-jetted basin or disposable liner is cleaned and disinfected after each client. A jetted tub additionally requires circulating an EPA-registered disinfectant through the jets for the labeled contact time, since biofilm can build up inside the internal plumbing.

Disinfection uses an EPA-registered chemical to destroy most disease-causing organisms on tools and surfaces; sterilization (such as autoclaving) destroys all microbial life including bacterial spores and is standard in medical/surgical settings. Tennessee and most states require only proper disinfection of nail implements — autoclave sterilization is not mandated for nail salons.

Treating all blood and body fluids as if they are potentially infectious, regardless of how healthy a client appears. This means using barrier protection (gloves) and proper disinfection on every client, every time.

Stop the service, put on gloves if not already wearing them, apply antiseptic and a bandage to the client's wound, and clean/disinfect (or discard) any contaminated implements and surfaces before continuing.

It records the client's contact information, health history, allergies, and service goals so the technician can identify contraindications and customize the service safely before beginning.

A condition that makes a service unsafe to perform, such as a fungal nail infection, an open wound, or severe nail psoriasis. The technician must refer the client to a physician rather than perform the service over the affected area.

The matrix is the tissue beneath the cuticle at the base of the nail that produces new nail cells. Damage to the matrix can cause permanent nail deformity, so services must never gouge or injure it.

A fungal infection of the nail plate that causes thickening, yellow or white discoloration, and crumbling of the nail. It is a contraindication for cosmetic service and requires physician referral.

A bacterial or fungal infection of the skin fold around the nail, causing redness, swelling, and sometimes pus. Services should not be performed over the infected tissue.

Onycholysis is separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, often caused by trauma, chemical exposure, or infection. Unlike onychomycosis, it is not necessarily fungal, but any separated nail should be evaluated before an enhancement service.

The visible, whitish end of the nail plate that extends beyond the fingertip and is not attached to the nail bed. It is the part shaped and filed during a manicure or pedicure.

EMA (ethyl methacrylate) is the industry-recognized safe monomer used in professional acrylic systems. MMA (methyl methacrylate) is an industrial-grade monomer restricted or banned for nail use in many states because it creates overly hard, brittle enhancements that don't flex and can damage the natural nail.

Primer improves adhesion between the natural nail and acrylic product. Traditional acid-based (methacrylic acid) primers are corrosive and must be applied sparingly with a brush to avoid skin contact and chemical burns.

The monomer is the liquid component and the polymer is the powder component. Combining them triggers a polymerization reaction that hardens the mixture into the solid acrylic enhancement.

A gel formulated with oligomers (medium-length molecule chains) rather than pure monomers. The mixture is cured under UV or LED light to form the hardened gel enhancement.

Open containers let solvents evaporate, changing the product's consistency, and release VOC fumes into the air, increasing both technician and client exposure to chemical vapors.

Discontinue the suspected product immediately, avoid that ingredient class going forward, and refer the client to a physician if the reaction persists. An allergy is a contraindication for that specific product family.

Soften cuticles first (soak or remover), gently push back the eponychium with a cuticle pusher or orangewood stick, then trim only loose, dead tissue. Living cuticle should never be cut, since it protects the matrix from infection.

In one direction, from the outside edge toward the center, never in a back-and-forth 'sawing' motion. This prevents heat buildup and layer separation (delamination) of the nail plate.

Buffing removes shine and surface oils so the enhancement product can adhere properly. Over-buffing thins the nail plate and weakens the natural nail, so it should be done lightly and only as needed.

Bacteria and fungi from skin and nail debris can remain on smooth surfaces even without visible soil. Every basin or liner must be disinfected per label instructions before the next client to prevent cross-contamination.

The lower legs and feet for signs of infection, open sores, excessive redness, or diabetes-related circulation problems. These are contraindications that require modified service or a referral to a physician.

Massage improves circulation and client relaxation, but it must stay within the licensed scope of the hand/arm or foot/lower leg, and must be skipped if the client has a contraindicated skin condition or circulatory disorder.

Lightly buff the nail plate to remove shine, then apply nail antiseptic. The tip should be sized and blended to the natural nail's curve and cover no more than half of the natural nail plate.

Apply the tip at an angle, contacting the free edge first, then rock it down onto the nail plate in one smooth motion. A properly seated tip has no visible gaps, bubbles, or tunnels underneath.

The form fits snugly under the natural nail's free edge to create a temporary extension surface, on which the technician sculpts acrylic or gel product into the desired nail shape and length.

A thin fabric mesh is adhered to the nail plate (or tip) with resin or adhesive, then buffed smooth. It adds strength and can also be used to repair a crack or extend a nail edge.

Soak the nails in 100% acetone or the manufacturer-specified remover until the product softens, then gently push off the softened material. Enhancements should never be forcefully pried, filed off dry, or peeled, which damages the natural nail plate.

About every 2-3 weeks, to fill the regrowth area near the cuticle and rebalance the arch and structure. Leaving fills too long increases the risk of lifting, trapped moisture, and fungal infection.

Lifting is separation of the enhancement product from the natural nail plate. It is usually caused by improper nail prep (oils or moisture left on the nail), product touching the skin, or contamination, and it creates a pocket where fungus or bacteria can grow.

Effleurage (long gliding strokes), petrissage (kneading), and friction (circular pressure). These are used to relax muscles and improve circulation in the hand, wrist, and forearm.

When the client has a contraindication such as a skin infection, an open wound, a blood clot risk, diabetes-related circulation problems, or a recent injury in the area to be massaged.

600 hours of instruction in the practice and theory of manicuring at a school of cosmetology licensed by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.

At least 70 percent, on both the National Nail Technician Theory Test (administered by PSI) and, when applicable, the separate Tennessee Law Test.

When reactivating a retired license before age 65, reinstating a license that has been expired 3 or more years, or transferring a license from another state with Board approval. First-time candidates from an approved Tennessee program instead take the National Practical exam.

Their current license (or a copy) in plain view of the public, along with the sign pertaining to clients' rights required by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.

The salon owner and manager. Tennessee Board rules place accountability on ownership and management for workplace compliance, in addition to each individual technician's own licensure responsibilities.