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.
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.
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
- ✓Full rationales on every question — including why the wrong answers are wrong
- ✓One checkout, one email unlock
- ✓Free 10-question preview · no signup
PSI National Manicurist Prep
Built for the April 2026 BBC/PSI outline- ✓All 7 practice tests (455 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
- ✓Full rationales on every question — including why the wrong answers are wrong
- ✓One checkout, one email unlock
TX Manicurist Prep
Built for the TDLR / PSI outline- ✓All 7 practice tests (462 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
- ✓One checkout, one email unlock
All purchases include a 14-day unconditional refund and a 60-day pass guarantee.** See our refund policy.
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.
Client Consultation
Client intake, contraindications, documentation, nail analysis, service recommendations, informed consent.
Nail Service Tools
Selection, use, care, and maintenance of implements · Electric file, nippers, pushers, buffers, bits · Sanitation and disinfection.
Nail Service Preparation
Workstation setup, draping, hand/arm/foot positioning, product layout, sanitation pre-service.
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 CIB — effective July 2020. 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 nine domains.
Safety and Infection Control
Disinfection, sterilisation 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 Scientific Concepts: it's 35% of the test, and most candidates underestimate the scientific concepts 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, Barber Styling and Hair Design, plus PSI National Cosmetology, PSI National Manicurist, CA Barber, TX Cosmetology, 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.
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.