TEXAS MANICURIST WRITTEN STATE
BOARD TEST 2026 WITH 300
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS) NEW VERSION .
INFECTION CONTROL AND SAFETY (Questions 1-60)
Q1: What is the minimum amount of time required for proper hand washing before performing
a nail service?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds [CORRECT]
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TDLR regulations and OSHA standards require a minimum of 20 seconds of vigorous
hand washing with soap and warm water before performing any nail service. This duration
ensures adequate removal of transient microorganisms and reduces the risk of cross-
contamination between clients.
Q2: Which EPA registration must a disinfectant have to be legally used in a Texas nail salon?
A. Hospital-grade disinfectant registration [CORRECT]
B. Industrial-grade sanitizer registration
C. Cosmetic-grade antimicrobial registration
D. Food-safe sanitizer registration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: All disinfectants used in Texas nail salons must be EPA-registered hospital-grade
disinfectants that are bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal. These products are proven effective
against the pathogens commonly encountered in salon environments, including bloodborne
pathogens.
Q3: What is the primary difference between sanitation and disinfection?
,A. Sanitation kills all microorganisms; disinfection only removes visible debris
B. Sanitation reduces the number of pathogens; disinfection destroys most pathogens on non-
porous surfaces [CORRECT]
C. Sanitation is required by law; disinfection is optional
D. Sanitation uses soap and water; disinfection uses only dry heat
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sanitation is the first step in the cleaning process that reduces the number of
microorganisms and removes visible debris, while disinfection uses chemical agents to destroy
most pathogens on pre-cleaned non-porous surfaces. Both steps are required by TDLR for
proper infection control.
Q4: How often must disinfectant solutions in a wet sanitizer be changed?
A. Daily or when visibly cloudy [CORRECT]
B. Weekly
C. Monthly
D. Only when it develops an odor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: TDLR regulations require disinfectant solutions to be changed daily or whenever they
become visibly contaminated or cloudy. Disinfectant effectiveness decreases over time and with
contamination, so fresh solution ensures proper disinfection of implements.
Q5: Which item can be properly disinfected and reused in a nail salon?
A. Wooden cuticle pusher
B. Metal nippers [CORRECT]
C. Emery board
D. Cotton ball
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metal nippers are non-porous implements that can be properly cleaned and
disinfected for reuse. Wooden cuticle pushers, emery boards, and cotton balls are porous,
single-use items that must be discarded after each client because they cannot be properly
disinfected.
,Q6: What is the correct order of steps for cleaning and disinfecting implements?
A. Disinfect, sanitize, store
B. Sanitize, disinfect, store in clean covered container [CORRECT]
C. Rinse, disinfect, sanitize, store
D. Soak in soapy water, dry, store
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Implements must first be sanitized (cleaned with soap and water to remove debris),
then disinfected (immersed in EPA-registered disinfectant for the required contact time), and
finally stored in a clean, covered, dry container to prevent recontamination.
Q7: What is the bloodborne pathogen standard designed to protect?
A. Only salon owners
B. Employees from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials [CORRECT]
C. Only clients receiving services
D. Chemical manufacturers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard protects employees from occupational
exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Nail technicians must follow
universal precautions and use appropriate PPE when there is a risk of blood exposure.
Q8: When should a nail technician wear gloves during a service?
A. Only during pedicures
B. When there is potential contact with blood, body fluids, or broken skin [CORRECT]
C. During every single service regardless of client condition
D. Only when the client requests it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gloves must be worn whenever there is potential for contact with blood, body fluids,
or broken skin. This follows universal precautions and the bloodborne pathogen standard to
protect both the technician and client from disease transmission.
Q9: What is the proper procedure for handling a blood spill in the salon?
, A. Wipe it up with a paper towel and continue the service
B. Apply acetone directly to the blood to dissolve it
C. Stop service, put on gloves, clean with EPA-registered disinfectant, and properly dispose of
contaminated materials [CORRECT]
D. Cover the blood with nail polish and continue
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood spills require immediate attention following universal precautions. The
technician must stop the service, put on gloves, clean the area with an EPA-registered
disinfectant that is effective against bloodborne pathogens, and properly dispose of all
contaminated materials in a biohazard container.
Q10: Which of the following is a porous item?
A. Metal nail file
B. Glass nail file
C. Wooden cuticle stick [CORRECT]
D. Stainless steel cuticle pusher
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Wooden cuticle sticks are porous, meaning they have small openings that can harbor
bacteria and cannot be properly disinfected. Porous items must be disposed of after a single
use, while non-porous items like metal, glass, and stainless steel can be properly disinfected.
Q11: What is the minimum recommended contact time for hospital-grade disinfectants?
A. 1 minute
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes or as specified by manufacturer [CORRECT]
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hospital-grade disinfectants typically require a minimum of 10 minutes of contact
time to be effective, though technicians must always follow the manufacturer's specific
instructions. Proper contact time ensures all pathogens are destroyed.
BOARD TEST 2026 WITH 300
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS) NEW VERSION .
INFECTION CONTROL AND SAFETY (Questions 1-60)
Q1: What is the minimum amount of time required for proper hand washing before performing
a nail service?
A. 5 seconds
B. 10 seconds
C. 20 seconds [CORRECT]
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: TDLR regulations and OSHA standards require a minimum of 20 seconds of vigorous
hand washing with soap and warm water before performing any nail service. This duration
ensures adequate removal of transient microorganisms and reduces the risk of cross-
contamination between clients.
Q2: Which EPA registration must a disinfectant have to be legally used in a Texas nail salon?
A. Hospital-grade disinfectant registration [CORRECT]
B. Industrial-grade sanitizer registration
C. Cosmetic-grade antimicrobial registration
D. Food-safe sanitizer registration
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: All disinfectants used in Texas nail salons must be EPA-registered hospital-grade
disinfectants that are bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal. These products are proven effective
against the pathogens commonly encountered in salon environments, including bloodborne
pathogens.
Q3: What is the primary difference between sanitation and disinfection?
,A. Sanitation kills all microorganisms; disinfection only removes visible debris
B. Sanitation reduces the number of pathogens; disinfection destroys most pathogens on non-
porous surfaces [CORRECT]
C. Sanitation is required by law; disinfection is optional
D. Sanitation uses soap and water; disinfection uses only dry heat
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sanitation is the first step in the cleaning process that reduces the number of
microorganisms and removes visible debris, while disinfection uses chemical agents to destroy
most pathogens on pre-cleaned non-porous surfaces. Both steps are required by TDLR for
proper infection control.
Q4: How often must disinfectant solutions in a wet sanitizer be changed?
A. Daily or when visibly cloudy [CORRECT]
B. Weekly
C. Monthly
D. Only when it develops an odor
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: TDLR regulations require disinfectant solutions to be changed daily or whenever they
become visibly contaminated or cloudy. Disinfectant effectiveness decreases over time and with
contamination, so fresh solution ensures proper disinfection of implements.
Q5: Which item can be properly disinfected and reused in a nail salon?
A. Wooden cuticle pusher
B. Metal nippers [CORRECT]
C. Emery board
D. Cotton ball
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Metal nippers are non-porous implements that can be properly cleaned and
disinfected for reuse. Wooden cuticle pushers, emery boards, and cotton balls are porous,
single-use items that must be discarded after each client because they cannot be properly
disinfected.
,Q6: What is the correct order of steps for cleaning and disinfecting implements?
A. Disinfect, sanitize, store
B. Sanitize, disinfect, store in clean covered container [CORRECT]
C. Rinse, disinfect, sanitize, store
D. Soak in soapy water, dry, store
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Implements must first be sanitized (cleaned with soap and water to remove debris),
then disinfected (immersed in EPA-registered disinfectant for the required contact time), and
finally stored in a clean, covered, dry container to prevent recontamination.
Q7: What is the bloodborne pathogen standard designed to protect?
A. Only salon owners
B. Employees from exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials [CORRECT]
C. Only clients receiving services
D. Chemical manufacturers
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard protects employees from occupational
exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials. Nail technicians must follow
universal precautions and use appropriate PPE when there is a risk of blood exposure.
Q8: When should a nail technician wear gloves during a service?
A. Only during pedicures
B. When there is potential contact with blood, body fluids, or broken skin [CORRECT]
C. During every single service regardless of client condition
D. Only when the client requests it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gloves must be worn whenever there is potential for contact with blood, body fluids,
or broken skin. This follows universal precautions and the bloodborne pathogen standard to
protect both the technician and client from disease transmission.
Q9: What is the proper procedure for handling a blood spill in the salon?
, A. Wipe it up with a paper towel and continue the service
B. Apply acetone directly to the blood to dissolve it
C. Stop service, put on gloves, clean with EPA-registered disinfectant, and properly dispose of
contaminated materials [CORRECT]
D. Cover the blood with nail polish and continue
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Blood spills require immediate attention following universal precautions. The
technician must stop the service, put on gloves, clean the area with an EPA-registered
disinfectant that is effective against bloodborne pathogens, and properly dispose of all
contaminated materials in a biohazard container.
Q10: Which of the following is a porous item?
A. Metal nail file
B. Glass nail file
C. Wooden cuticle stick [CORRECT]
D. Stainless steel cuticle pusher
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Wooden cuticle sticks are porous, meaning they have small openings that can harbor
bacteria and cannot be properly disinfected. Porous items must be disposed of after a single
use, while non-porous items like metal, glass, and stainless steel can be properly disinfected.
Q11: What is the minimum recommended contact time for hospital-grade disinfectants?
A. 1 minute
B. 5 minutes
C. 10 minutes or as specified by manufacturer [CORRECT]
D. 30 seconds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Hospital-grade disinfectants typically require a minimum of 10 minutes of contact
time to be effective, though technicians must always follow the manufacturer's specific
instructions. Proper contact time ensures all pathogens are destroyed.
