Texas license lookup / Exam guides / Manicurist (nail technician)
The Texas manicurist (nail technician) exam
Texas nail technicians are licensed as manicurists, and the license takes two PSI exams. The manicurist practical has the lowest pass rate of the beauty practicals, 82%, so it deserves more preparation than most candidates give it.
Reviewed 9 October 2026
The exam at a glance
| Exam | Questions | Time | To pass | Fee | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written | See PSI bulletin | See PSI bulletin | 70% | $55 | Closed book |
| Practical | See PSI bulletin | See PSI bulletin | 70% | $76 | Mannequin, own kit |
"+ N" is extra time or questions for unscored items, which PSI includes to trial new questions. Exam fees are paid to PSI, separately from TDLR's license application fee.
How many people pass
| Pass rate | Taken | Passed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written | 68.1% | 9,591 | 6,529 |
| Practical | 82.5% | 7,031 | 5,798 |
Fiscal year 2025 (September 2024 to August 2025). Counts are exams taken, not people, and exclude no-shows. Source: TDLR examination statistics.
What we know, and what to check
Like the other barbering and cosmetology exams, the written and practical are run by PSI, the written comes first, and 70% passes. The written and practical fees across TDLR's beauty exams are $55 and $76. The detailed content outline is in PSI's candidate bulletin for the manicurist license, which you receive with your eligibility notice; we have not reproduced it here because we could not verify the current edition.
Why the practical needs work
About one in six manicurist practicals ended in a fail in fiscal year 2025, against one in fifty for estheticians. The beauty practicals score safety and procedure separately and only in the listed order, and nail work involves the strictest product rules: only liquids the manufacturer marks "odorless", no aerosols, no trainer hands.
Scheduling and exam day
- Eligibility first. TDLR reviews your application, then PSI emails you that you are eligible and how to book. You cannot book before that.
- Booking. Online through your PSI account, or by phone; your name must match your government ID exactly.
- On the day. PSI's TDLR bulletins ask you to arrive 30 minutes early with one valid government photo ID; late arrivals are turned away and lose the fee.
- Cancelling. Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead through PSI, or the fee is forfeited.
- Results. Scores are given at the test center. PSI gives failing candidates a diagnostic report by topic, which is the best study guide for a retake.
Before and after the exam
- How to get a nail technician license in Texas: hours, application and fees
- License statistics and renewal for this trade
- Renewal calculator for once you are licensed
- All exam guides and pass rates
For context: Texas has 63,279 active licenses of this type in the public TDLR file dated 20 September 2026.
Questions
What is the pass rate for the Texas manicurist exam?
In fiscal year 2025, 68% of written exams and 82% of practical exams were passed, according to TDLR.
Sources
Pass rates: TDLR examination statistics. Exam fees, formats and outlines change when PSI reissues a bulletin: the bulletin sent with your eligibility notice is the one that applies to you.
Independent site, not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. We do not sell courses or practice tests.
Cite this page
PermitPulled (2026). The Texas manicurist (nail technician) exam. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/exams/manicurist-exam-texas
Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.