Current PSI Blueprint and Exam Logistics

Study for the current Maryland test

PSI's Maryland Nail Technician Test Taker Guide, version 1.1 effective July 8, 2026, gives the current outline. The theory examination contains sixty scored questions and five unscored experimental questions, with ninety minutes to complete the sixty-five presented items. Do not use an older claim of one hundred scored questions or a two-hour limit.

The theory test is closed book and computer administered. PSI provides a tutorial before the timed examination, and its tutorial time is separate from the test time. Learn how to navigate and review responses before beginning. Experimental questions are not identified for the candidate, so answer all presented items rather than trying to guess which ones count.

Official domain weights

The outline has four domains. Safety and infection control carries half the scored content. Consultation and nail analysis, skin care, and nail care form the remaining half. Maryland licensing rules are useful context, but they are not a separate ten-percent theory domain in this bulletin.

Allocate study effort accordingly while covering every topic. A candidate strong in application but weak in sanitation risks missing the largest domain. Use short scenarios to connect definitions to safe decisions rather than memorize only product names.

Pacing calculation

Ninety minutes divided by sixty-five presented items is about 1.38 minutes, or eighty-three seconds, per item on average. This is a planning average, not a requirement to spend exactly that time on each question. Answer straightforward items efficiently so more complex scenarios and review have room.

For a practice session, consider sixty-five questions in ninety minutes, then analyze errors by domain. Practice-bank items are not actual PSI questions and do not guarantee score prediction. Keep the real exam count separate from the site's practice inventory. The passing requirement is seventy-five percent for each examination portion; do not label that threshold as a published candidate pass rate.

Registration and fees

Since March 31, 2025, PSI requires registration documents through its online submission process rather than mail, fax or email. Use an existing account if one already exists. Confirm approval before scheduling, and complete any requested missing information. Candidates requiring Board eligibility approval must obtain it before testing.

The dated July bulletin lists forty-seven dollars for either portion alone and seventy-seven dollars combined. Verify the amount shown in the current official registration process before paying, because fees can change and older Board pages may differ. Test fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable and are valid for one year from payment under the bulletin.

Appointment rules

The bulletin permits cancellation or rescheduling without fee forfeiture when notice is received two days before the appointment. A voicemail does not cancel the test; follow PSI's stated process and speak with a live representative where required. Retesting is allowed on an unlimited basis, while the two-year window for completing both passing portions still matters.

Request accommodations through PSI's procedure before the appointment. Do not assume that arriving with a translator or special equipment creates authorization. Review the current approval process and keep documentation available. Site availability and instructions should be confirmed through the actual scheduling account.

Identification and arrival

Arrive thirty minutes before the appointment. Bring one valid, nonexpired signature-bearing government-issued identification satisfying the bulletin's requirements, with the legal first and last names matching registration. Do not repeat an unsupported universal two-ID rule. Resolve an identification or name mismatch with PSI in advance.

Follow security rules for personal belongings, electronics and other prohibited items. A phone or smartwatch should not enter the test area merely because it contains useful notes or a timer. The practical examination also prohibits personal timers and supplies its timing instructions.

Practical and results

The practical portion is approximately ninety minutes and requires seventy-five percent to pass. Its five tasks and separate task clocks are taught in the practical section. Theory success does not replace practical competence, and practical artistry does not replace infection control.

Use the PSI account and score-report instructions to obtain results and follow up. The bulletin contains differing practical-result delivery descriptions, so do not rely on one guaranteed email or mail deadline. Once both portions are passed, complete the Board's issuance process. For exam planning, current dated instructions and the registration account are more reliable than an undated summary.

Sources checked October 10, 2026: PSI July 2026 bulletin, Board examination page.