Here is how to become a nail tech in California: finish at least 400 hours of nail care training at a school approved by the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, apply for the manicurist exam with your proof of training and fee, then pass the written exam. If you pass, the Board issues your manicurist license on the day of the exam. After that, you renew it every two years.
Every hour count, fee and exam detail below comes from the Board’s own website and forms, read in October 2026. Fees and forms change, so always check the Board’s site before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.
Key takeaways
- California calls nail techs “manicurists.” The license covers manicures, pedicures and artificial nails, on the hands and feet only.
- You need at least 400 hours of training from a Board-approved school. Hours from schools that aren’t approved don’t count.
- There is only a written exam now. The manicurist exam has 60 scored questions plus 10 pretest questions, with 90 minutes to finish.
- You can’t work on paying clients while you wait for your exam. You need a license first.
- Manicurist licenses renew every two years, and the Board doesn’t require continuing education credits.
How to become a nail tech in California: what the license covers
In California, the license for nail work is the manicurist license. The Board’s FAQ page says manicurists can give manicures and pedicures and apply false nails using gel, acrylic or silk. Their work is limited to the hand and foot area.
A cosmetologist license also covers nail care, but it takes far more training. If you only want to do nails, the manicurist license is the shorter path.
To qualify for the exam, the Board’s license requirements page (quoting Business and Professions Code section 7326) says you must:
- Be at least 17 years old.
- Have finished the 10th grade in California public schools, or the equivalent.
- Not be subject to denial under section 480 of the code, which deals with things like certain criminal convictions.
- Have finished a nail care course at a Board-approved school, or have equivalent licensed practice outside California.
Good news for many applicants: the Board’s applicants page says it now accepts an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in place of a Social Security Number on license applications.
Step 1: Finish 400 hours at an approved school
The Board’s FAQ lists the training needed for each license. For a manicurist, it is 400 hours. The Board’s posted requirements (section 7365) say a nail care course must include at least:
| Training area | Minimum hours | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Health and safety | 100 | Hazardous substances, chemical safety, safety data sheets, health and safety laws, preventing disease |
| Disinfection and sanitation | 100 | Disinfecting procedures to protect clients and the tech, and how to disinfect salon equipment |
| Manicure and pedicure | 150 | Water and oil manicures, hand and foot massage, complete pedicures, nail analysis, nail repairs, artificial nails (liquid, gel, powder, dip, tips and wraps) |
| Total course | 400 | The full program, including the areas above |
Pick your school carefully. The Board’s applicants page links to its Approved School List and warns that hours from non-approved schools won’t qualify you for the exam. The FAQ adds that the Board doesn’t approve manicuring-only schools: nail care must be taught at an approved school of cosmetology. If a school offers to sell you hours, the Board asks you to report it.
You can’t take the exam before you finish all your hours. When you finish, the school gives you a Proof of Training document. You’ll need it for your application.
What about an apprenticeship? The Board’s apprenticeship page says its programs are for barber, cosmetology and electrology apprentices only. For a manicurist license, you go through a school.
Step 2: Apply for the manicurist exam
Once your hours are done, you apply to take the licensing exam. According to the Board’s applicants page, you send:
- The Manicurist Application (make sure you pick the right license type). It comes in English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese.
- Your Proof of Training from your approved school.
- The application fee. The current Manicurist Application form (revised August 2025) lists a $110 fee for the exam and initial license, and the fee is non-refundable.
- Any optional forms that apply to you, such as a disclosure statement, an interpreter application or a request for reasonable accommodation.
You can mail the forms to the Board or apply online through BreEZe, the Department of Consumer Affairs licensing system. The FAQ says online applications are generally processed 2 to 4 weeks faster than mailed ones. After your application is approved, expect the exam handbook from PSI, the testing company, about 6 weeks later. Then you schedule your exam at a time and PSI location you choose.
Step 3: Pass the written exam
California dropped the practical (hands-on) exam. The Board’s FAQ explains that Senate Bill 803, effective January 1, 2022, removed the practical exam. Today, the applicants page says candidates only need to pass the written exam to become licensed.
Here is what the Board lists for the manicurist exam:
- Length: 60 scored questions and 10 pretest questions.
- Time: 90 minutes.
- Languages: English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese. If your language isn’t offered, you may ask to use an interpreter.
- Study material: the Board links to PSI’s Candidate Information Bulletin, which has the content outline for each exam.
The Board warns you to be careful of anyone selling “inside” information about the exam. Study the bulletin and what you learned in school instead.
If you pass, the FAQ says you get your license on the day of the exam. If you don’t pass, you can retake it. There is no limit on attempts, but you need a new re-examination application and fee each time.
Step 4: Start working in a salon
Don’t take paying clients until you have your license in hand. The Board’s FAQ says working without a valid license can get you cited for unlicensed activity with a $1,000 fine.
Once you’re licensed, post your license at your main work station. California rule 16 CCR § 965 requires each operator’s license to be posted there, and only a current license may be displayed. From your first day, you’ll also follow the Board’s health and safety rules: disinfecting tools, throwing away single-use items after each client and keeping the foot spa log. Our nail salon inspection checklist walks through those rules, and our guide to nail salon waste disposal covers what goes in the trash and what doesn’t.
Some salons stock all the supplies. If you rent a booth or work for yourself, you’ll likely buy your own. Our nail salon supply list covers the basics. Single-use items such as disposable nail files and buffers go in the trash after each client, so it helps to buy them by the case.
Step 5: Renew your license every two years
The Board’s License Renewals page lists these details for a manicurist license:
- License period: 2 years.
- Renewal fee: $50. The delinquent fee is $25 if you renew late.
- When: you can renew up to 83 days before your license expires.
- How: online through BreEZe, by mail or in person in Sacramento.
Any unpaid fines must be paid before the license will renew. Don’t wait for a renewal notice, because it may not reach you if you moved and didn’t update your address. The Board doesn’t require continuing education credits. If a license goes unrenewed for 5 years, the Board cancels it, and you’d have to pass the exam again.
Nail tech job outlook and pay
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this job as “manicurists and pedicurists.” Its Occupational Outlook Handbook reports:
- A national median wage of $17.19 per hour ($35,760 per year) in May 2025.
- About 201,800 jobs in 2025.
- Employment projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- About 21,900 openings projected each year, on average, over the decade.
These are national figures. Pay in your area and salon can be higher or lower. If you are weighing how to become a nail tech in California, use them as a starting point, then ask local salons how they pay.
FAQ
How long does it take to become a nail tech in California?
You need at least 400 hours of training, so the school part depends on whether you study full time or part time. After that, the Board’s FAQ says you should get the PSI exam handbook about 6 weeks after your application is approved. Applying online is generally 2 to 4 weeks faster than mailing.
How much does a California manicurist license cost?
The current Manicurist Application form lists a $110 non-refundable fee for the exam and initial license. Renewal costs $50 every two years. School tuition is separate and varies by school, so ask each approved school for its costs.
Is there a practical exam for nail techs in California?
No. The Board says the practical exam was removed effective January 1, 2022. You only need to pass the written exam, which for manicurists is 90 minutes long.
Can I take the manicurist exam in Vietnamese?
Yes. The Board offers the exam in English, Korean, Spanish, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese. The Manicurist Application lets you pick your exam language.
Can I do nails while I wait for my exam?
No. The Board’s FAQ says you need to pass the exam and be issued a license before you do nail services for a fee. Working without a valid license can bring a citation and a $1,000 fine.
Learning how to become a nail tech in California comes down to five steps: 400 approved hours, an application with your proof of training, the written exam, safe work in a licensed salon and a renewal every two years. When you’re ready to stock your station, browse our disposable pedicure kits and other salon supplies, sold by the case. Questions? Call +1 (669) 696-7724 or reach us through our contact page.
