Already licensed? If you hold a nail or manicurist license in another state, see our guide to transferring your license to Texas. If you already hold a Texas manicurist license, see our Texas manicurist license renewal guide.
In Texas, nail technicians are licensed as manicurists. The license lets you offer manicures, pedicures, artificial nails, and hand and foot treatments. To get one, you complete 600 hours of training at a licensed school, apply to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and pass a written and a practical exam. This guide covers each step.
This guide covers the Texas manicurist license, including the manicurist/esthetician combination license. For other license types, see our Texas cosmetology license guide, which covers every Texas barbering and cosmetology license, or our barber and esthetician license guides.
Table of Contents
Licensing Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Training required | 600 hours at a TDLR-licensed school |
| Exams | Written and practical, both through PSI |
| Exam fees | $55 written, $76 practical |
| Passing score | 70 |
| Minimum age | 17 |
| Application fee | $50, non-refundable |
| Temporary license | 60 days, if you apply before your written exam |
| License term | 2 years from the date of issue |
| Where to apply | TDLR manicurist license page |
What a Texas Manicurist License Allows
The TDLR’s manicurist scope of practice guide lists what the license covers.
Services you can offer
- Nail treatments, including cutting, trimming, polishing, coloring, and cleansing.
- Manicures and pedicures.
- Attaching artificial nails.
- Massaging, cleansing, treating, or beautifying the hands and feet.
Services you cannot offer
- Facial and skin treatments.
- Body hair removal.
- Eyelash extensions.
- Massage of the scalp, neck, shoulders, arms, or face.
- Hair services, shaving, and mustache or beard services.
- Hair weaving.
Three other Texas licenses also cover every manicurist service: the cosmetology license, the Class A barber license, and the manicurist/esthetician combination license. If you also want to offer facials or waxing, the manicurist/esthetician combination license adds those services with 200 more hours of training.
Step 1: Complete Your Training
Before you can apply, you must complete a 600-hour manicurist course at a barbering and cosmetology school licensed in Texas. When you enroll, the TDLR issues you a student permit. Your school reports your hours to the TDLR, so you do not need to submit them yourself.
Confirm the school and program before you pay tuition with the TDLR school and curriculum search.
Some schools teach part of the theory hours online. Texas limits this to no more than 50% of a course’s total hours. The rest of your training happens in person at the school.
Step 2: Submit Your License Application
You can apply for your license as soon as the TDLR notifies you that you are eligible for the written exam. You can also wait until after you pass both exams, but applying early lets you start working the same day you pass the practical exam (see Step 3).
The application fee is $50 and is non-refundable. You must be at least 17 years old to apply.
- Go to the TDLR manicurist license page and select “Apply Online.”
- Follow the prompts to enter your personal information and answer the background questions.
- Pay the $50 application fee.
- Check your license status with the TDLR License Search.
The TDLR recommends applying online for faster service. If you prefer paper, you can apply by mail with the License by Examination Application (PDF).
Step 3: Pass the Written and Practical Exams
You must pass a written exam and a practical exam, both given by PSI, the TDLR’s testing company. You become eligible for both exams after you complete all 600 hours. Once the TDLR verifies your eligibility, PSI emails you instructions for scheduling. You must pass the written exam before you can take the practical exam.
Plan to prepare for both. In fiscal year 2025, 68% of manicurist written exams and 82% of manicurist practical exams resulted in a pass. The manicurist practical exam has one of the lowest pass rates of any Texas practical exam, so practice your hands-on procedures as well as studying for the written test.
The practical exam is offered in Austin, San Antonio, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Houston area, McAllen, El Paso, Midland, and Amarillo.
Getting a temporary license
A temporary license prints with your practical exam score report and is valid for 60 days while the TDLR mails your 2-year license. To qualify, you must:
- Apply for your license and pay the $50 fee after you are notified that you are eligible for the written exam, but before you take it.
- Complete all 600 hours and pass the TDLR background check before the TDLR sends your practical exam eligibility to PSI.
- Pass the practical exam.
If you apply after passing both exams, you must wait for the TDLR to issue your license before you can work.
Exam day and retakes
The written exam costs $55 and the practical exam costs $76, both paid to PSI. You need a score of 70 to pass either one. If you do not pass, you must wait 24 hours before you can schedule again, and you pay the exam fee again for each attempt.
Your name and ID must match the information the TDLR has on file exactly. You can schedule exams through PSI or by calling (833) 333-4741. The TDLR’s exam information page has more detail, and you can look up your eligibility and results with the TDLR exam data search.
The Manicurist/Esthetician Combination License
The manicurist/esthetician license combines nail services with facials, skin treatments, hair removal, and eyelash extensions in a single license. You can qualify in two ways:
- Complete the 800-hour manicurist/esthetician combined course.
- Complete both full courses separately: 600 manicurist hours and 750 esthetician hours.
The combined course is the shorter path. You must pass a written and a practical exam for a combination license earned through the 800-hour course.
If you already hold both an active manicurist license and an active esthetician license, you can upgrade to the combination license. Mail a completed application with the $50 non-refundable fee. Online upgrades are not available yet. The TDLR’s manicurist/esthetician scope of practice guide lists what the combination license covers, and our Texas esthetician license guide has more on the esthetics side.
Applying With a Criminal History
The TDLR runs a criminal history background check on every applicant. A conviction does not automatically disqualify you. The TDLR reviews each case using its published guidelines for applicants with criminal convictions, and this review can take one to six weeks.
If you have a criminal history, include a completed Criminal History Questionnaire (PDF) with your application. If you want a temporary license, apply early so the review is finished before your practical exam.
You can also ask the TDLR to review your record before you enroll in school. Start with the TDLR criminal history evaluation letter page.
After You Are Licensed
Your Texas manicurist license expires 2 years from the date it was issued. To renew it, you must complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education (also called continuing education units, or CEUs) and pay a $50 renewal fee. The 4 hours must include 1 hour of sanitation and 1 hour of human trafficking prevention.
Texas does not exempt new licensees from this requirement. You need CE hours before your first renewal, too.
Our Texas manicurist license renewal guide covers the full renewal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a manicurist and a nail technician?
There is no difference in Texas. “Manicurist” is the official name the TDLR uses for the nail technician license.
Do nail techs need a license in Texas?
Yes. To offer nail services for pay in Texas, you need a TDLR manicurist license or another license that includes nail services, such as a cosmetology, Class A barber, or manicurist/esthetician license.
How long does it take to become a licensed nail tech in Texas?
The requirement for a nail tech license is 600 hours. This can be completed in few months if your program is full time, or a little longer if you choose a part time program. If you apply before your written exam, you can start working with a temporary license the day you pass the practical exam.
How much does it cost to get a nail tech license in Texas?
The TDLR and exam fees total $181: a $50 application fee, a $55 written exam fee, and a $76 practical exam fee. School tuition is separate and varies by school.
Can I get my nail tech license online in Texas?
Partly. You can submit your application online, and some schools teach theory hours online. Texas limits online theory to no more than 50% of a course’s total hours, so at least half of your training happens in person. The practical exam is also given in person.
Do I need a high school diploma to get a manicurist license in Texas?
No. A high school diploma is not required by the TDLR for obtaining a manicurist license. However, a cosmetology school may still require a high school diploma for admission into their manicurist program.
Can I transfer my manicurist license to Texas?
Possibly. It depends on your state and how long you have been licensed. In many states, you need at least 2 years of experience as a manicurist. See our guide to transferring your license to Texas.
My manicurist license expired. Do I have to go back to school?
No. Going back to school is very rare. For a Texas license, what you need to do depends on how long it has been expired. Our Texas manicurist license renewal guide explains each step.
TDLR Contact Information
| Agency | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 12157, Austin, Texas 78711 |
| Physical address | 920 Colorado St., Austin, Texas 78701 |
| Phone | (512) 463-6599 |
| Toll-free (in Texas) | (800) 803-9202 |
| Relay Texas-TDD | (800) 735-2989 |
| Phone hours | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) |
| Website | tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology |
| License lookup | TDLR License Search |