Texas Manicurist Practical Exam Kit List & Checklist
Every item, the exact must-label vs. do-not-label rules, and all 6 timed stations for the Texas Manicurist (nail technician) practical exam, administered by PSI on behalf of TDLR — sourced directly from the official PSI Candidate Information Bulletin effective January 1, 2026.
1h 21m
Total Exam Length
70%
Passing Score (36/51 pts)
6
Timed Sections
51
Total Points
Interactive kit checklist
Tick items as you pack — your progress is saved on this device. Print or save it as a PDF to check your bag the night before.
Products & containers you must bring
Label each in English (manufacturer labels are acceptable; numbering of any kind is not allowed).
Tools & implements you must bring
Do NOT label these — labeling a do-not-label item can lose points.
Already provided at the exam site — don't bring these
- Work area and chair
- Covered trash cans
- Mounted wall clock
- Brooms and dust pans
Station-by-station step order
Every task must be performed in this exact order — the time allotted for each section includes setup and cleanup, and you cannot leave the exam area once you've signed in.
1. Pre-Exam Set Up & Disinfection
10 min- • Disinfect work surfaces, dispose of waste, kit remains sanitary
2. Manicure
15 min- • Perform a manicure on the mannequin hand
3. Tip Application on One Nail
12 min- • Apply a tip to one finger
4. Nail Enhancement with Form
22 min- • Apply a nail enhancement with a form to one finger
5. Blood Exposure Incident
12 min- • Full procedure on a simulated cut — gloves, pressure, cleaning, bandaging, disposal
6. End of Exam Disinfection
10 min- • Dispose of materials, disinfect the workstation, remove all supplies and belongings
Rules that cost candidates real points
- •All procedures are performed on a mannequin hand prepped with tips — trainer hands are not permitted, and there are no live models.
- •Nail liquid must be odorless (examiners check before the exam) or you can't use it and lose those points.
- •All tasks must be performed in the order listed — steps out of order, or not completed within the allotted time, are not scored.
- •Follow the bulletin's two labeling lists exactly: label the required products in English, but do NOT label tools/implements. Numbering any item is never allowed; an identifying bag for a service is fine.
- •Cheat sheets and written notes — including numbered bags or bags with a written supply list — are prohibited and cost points across all Procedure Criteria.
- •Aerosol products are not permitted.
- •Raise your hand at the end of each section to signal completion.
- •Cell phones are not allowed in the practical room, and anything left behind is discarded.
Where to get your kit
You can assemble this kit yourself from what you already used in school, or buy a pre-packed Texas manicurist state-board kit from a beauty-supply vendor. If you buy one, verify it against the list above first — and make sure your monomer is clearly marked odorless.
Common Questions
How long is the Texas manicurist practical exam, and what score do I need to pass?
As of the January 1, 2026 Candidate Information Bulletin, the practical exam runs 1 hour and 21 minutes across 6 sections, worth 51 total points. You need 70% — 36 of 51 points — to pass. The written exam is 60 scored items in 90 minutes (also 70% to pass).
What services are tested on the Texas manicurist practical exam?
Three graded nail services plus setup and cleanup: a manicure, a tip application on one nail, and a nail enhancement with a form on one finger, followed by a blood exposure incident procedure — performed in that exact order on a mannequin hand.
Does the nail liquid (monomer) have to be odorless?
Yes. Examiners check your nail liquid before the exam — only bottles clearly marked "odorless" by the manufacturer are allowed. If it isn't odorless you can't use it, and you lose the points for those tasks. Trainer hands for nail procedures are not permitted; you use a mannequin hand prepped with tips.
Which kit items must be labeled in English, and which can't be labeled at all?
Products — your disinfectant, hand sanitizer, cuticle oil, cuticle remover, nail adhesive, nail dehydrator, odorless monomer with low-odor primer, polymer powder, and blood-exposure kit — MUST be labeled in English. Tools — nail files/buffers, cuticle pusher and nippers, application brush, dappen dish, finger bowl, orangewood stick, nail tips and forms, tip cutter, the mannequin hand — must NOT be labeled. Numbering any item is never allowed.
Where can I find the official, most current kit list?
This page is built from the PSI Manicurist Candidate Information Bulletin effective January 1, 2026. Requirements are updated periodically, so confirm against your own bulletin at psiexams.com before your exam date.