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Nail Technician โ€” License Requirements by State

Performs manicures, pedicures and nail art. Often the quickest beauty license to earn.

51 of 51 states populated with official data (retrieved 2026-08-20).

State requirements lookupStudy plan generatorPass rate indexPrep budget
StateEducationExamPass %FeesRetakeReciprocityOfficial
AL600 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Alabama Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
AKโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
AZโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Arizona State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technology โ†—
AR600 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Arkansas State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technology โ†—
CA400 hrs ยท $75โ€” ยท Lic $35โ€”โ€”California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology โ€” Nail Care โ†—
COโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Colorado Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
CTโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Connecticut Department of Public Health โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
DEโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
DCโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”DC Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
FL240 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation โ€” Nail Specialist โ†—
GA600 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Georgia State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
HIโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Hawaii Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
IDโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Idaho Board of Occupational Licenses โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
IL400 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
INโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
IAโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences โ€” Nail Technology โ†—
KSโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
KYโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
LAโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technology โ†—
MEโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Maine Board of Barbering and Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MD150 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Maryland Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MA100 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MI400 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MN350 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Minnesota Board of Barber and Cosmetologist Examiners โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MS600 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MOโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
MTโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
NEโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
NVโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Nevada State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technology โ†—
NHโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”New Hampshire Board of Barbering and Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
NJ300 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”New Jersey Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
NMโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
NY250 hrs ยท $15โ€”App $40 ยท Lic $40โ€”โ€”New York State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Specialty โ†—
NC600 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”North Carolina State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners โ€” Manicurist/Nail Technician โ†—
NDโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
OH200 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Ohio State Cosmetology Board โ€” Manicurist โ†—
OKโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”
ORโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Oregon Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
PA200 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
RIโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Rhode Island Board of Hairdressers, Cosmetology and Barbering โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
SC400 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”South Carolina Board of Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
SDโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”South Dakota Cosmetology Commission โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
TNโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
TX600 hrsโ€”โ€”App $50โ€”โ€”Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) โ†—
UTโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Utah Division of Professional Licensing โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
VTโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Vermont Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
VA150 hrsโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
WAโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Washington State Department of Licensing โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
WVโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
WIโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services โ€” Nail Technician โ†—
WYโ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”โ€”

Data retrieved 2026-08-20 from state boards, PSI, Pearson VUE and CMS. Requirements change โ€” verify with your state board before enrolling or paying. Dash (โ€”) = not published / pending verification.

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