Nail Technician licensing
Nail Technician License Requirements by State (2026): Hours, Exams, Fees
Choose a state, scan the facts, then open the official board source before you enroll or apply.
CA · Last checked 2026-06-17
California Nail Technician Requirements
State board: California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC)
- Training
- 400 hours
- Written exam
- Yes
- Practical exam
- No
- Published passing score
- Not recorded
Phone: (800) 952-5210
Full California Nail Technician licensing guide, with exam details and official sources →
Taking your exam in Vietnamese?
Official sources checked 2026-10-27
California: Vietnamese exam language — Manicurist
The Board and current application list Vietnamese for the PSI written examination. California does not require a practical examination for this license.
- Select Vietnamese in Section D of the current examination application.
- After Board approval, follow the PSI handbook to schedule your written examination.
- Submit any interpreter-authorization or disability-accommodation forms with your examination application as instructed by the Board, and obtain approval before testing. An interpreter is not a substitute when your native-language exam is offered.
CEP study language does not determine the official exam language. Confirm the exact license, exam part, language and appointment with the Board or PSI. A translated guide does not promise a Vietnamese-speaking examiner.
Verify before applying. Licensing rules, fees, providers, and exam formats can change. Use the linked board source as the final authority.