Nail Technician Licensing Study
Guide — Utah State Board Core
Concepts & Practical Review
SECTION 1: UTAH STATE LAWS & ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
1. Q: What is the name of the state agency that regulates cosmetology/barbering in Utah?
A: Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL)
2. Q: How many hours of training are required for a nail technician license in Utah?
A: 300 hours
3. Q: Is a separate license required to perform nail technician services in Utah?
A: Yes, a Barbering/Cosmetology/Nail Technology License is required.
4. Q: How often must a nail technician license be renewed in Utah?
A: Every two years.
5. Q: Continuing education (CE) is required for license renewal in Utah. True or False?
A: False. As of current Utah law, CE is not required for nail technician renewal.
6. Q: Under Utah law, can a nail technician diagnose or treat a nail disease?
A: No. Only a licensed medical professional can diagnose or treat diseases.
7. Q: What is the minimum age to obtain a nail technician license in Utah?
A: 16 years old.
8. Q: In Utah, is it permissible to work from home as a licensed nail technician?
A: Yes, if the home salon is approved by DOPL and meets all facility requirements.
9. Q: Who is responsible for ensuring all tools are properly disinfected between clients?
A: The licensed nail technician performing the service.
10. Q: What must be displayed publicly at your workstation in Utah?
A: Your current Utah nail technician license.
,SECTION 2: SANITATION, DISINFECTION & INFECTION CONTROL
11. Q: What is the highest level of decontamination that destroys all microbial life?
A: Sterilization.
12. Q: What is the second-highest level of decontamination used on non-porous surfaces
and tools?
A: Disinfection.
13. Q: Which EPA-registered disinfectant is required for immersion of tools in Utah?
A: A hospital-grade, bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal disinfectant.
14. Q: How long must non-electrical tools be immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant?
A: Follow manufacturer's instructions, but typically 10-20 minutes.
15. Q: What is used to clean tools and remove debris before disinfecting?
A: Soap, water, and a brush.
16. Q: What should be used to disinfect the surface of a work station between clients?
A: An EPA-registered disinfectant spray or wipe.
17. Q: How should porous files and buffers be handled after use on a client?
A: They must be discarded (single-use) or given to the client.
18. Q: What type of container should be used for disinfecting tools?
A: A clean, covered, disinfected container marked with the solution name and date
changed.
19. Q: How often should disinfectant solutions be changed?
A: According to manufacturer instructions, typically daily or when visibly contaminated.
20. Q: What is the proper procedure for a blood spill during a service?
A: Stop service, wear gloves, apply antiseptic to client, clean area with soap/water, then
disinfect with a tuberculocidal disinfectant, dispose of contaminated materials in a
biohazard bag.
21. Q: What is the term for an item that cannot be disinfected?
A: Porous or single-use item.
, 22. Q: Which organization provides guidelines for infection control that nail technicians must
follow?
A: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
23. Q: What does MSDS/SDS stand for?
A: Material Safety Data Sheet / Safety Data Sheet.
24. Q: What is the purpose of an autoclave?
A: To sterilize tools using steam, heat, and pressure.
25. Q: Can isopropyl alcohol be used as a disinfectant for tools?
A: No, it is an antiseptic for skin, not an EPA-registered disinfectant for tools.
SECTION 3: NAIL ANATOMY & DISORDERS
26. Q: What is the living skin at the base of the nail plate that produces new nail cells?
A: The matrix.
27. Q: What is the cuticle?
A: The non-living, translucent tissue that adheres to the nail plate.
28. Q: What is the lunula?
A: The visible half-moon area at the base of the nail plate.
29. Q: What is the hyponychium?
A: The skin under the free edge where the nail plate separates from the nail bed.
30. Q: What is the technical term for the nail?
A: Onyx.
31. Q: Which nail disorder is characterized by white spots or lines on the nail plate?
A: Leukonychia.
32. Q: What is the term for brittle, splitting, or soft nails?
A: Onychorrhexis (splitting) or Hapalonychia (softness).
33. Q: What is onycholysis?
A: Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, often starting at the free edge.
34. Q: What fungal infection appears as white, yellow, or brown discoloration under the nail
plate?
A: Onychomycosis.
Guide — Utah State Board Core
Concepts & Practical Review
SECTION 1: UTAH STATE LAWS & ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
1. Q: What is the name of the state agency that regulates cosmetology/barbering in Utah?
A: Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL)
2. Q: How many hours of training are required for a nail technician license in Utah?
A: 300 hours
3. Q: Is a separate license required to perform nail technician services in Utah?
A: Yes, a Barbering/Cosmetology/Nail Technology License is required.
4. Q: How often must a nail technician license be renewed in Utah?
A: Every two years.
5. Q: Continuing education (CE) is required for license renewal in Utah. True or False?
A: False. As of current Utah law, CE is not required for nail technician renewal.
6. Q: Under Utah law, can a nail technician diagnose or treat a nail disease?
A: No. Only a licensed medical professional can diagnose or treat diseases.
7. Q: What is the minimum age to obtain a nail technician license in Utah?
A: 16 years old.
8. Q: In Utah, is it permissible to work from home as a licensed nail technician?
A: Yes, if the home salon is approved by DOPL and meets all facility requirements.
9. Q: Who is responsible for ensuring all tools are properly disinfected between clients?
A: The licensed nail technician performing the service.
10. Q: What must be displayed publicly at your workstation in Utah?
A: Your current Utah nail technician license.
,SECTION 2: SANITATION, DISINFECTION & INFECTION CONTROL
11. Q: What is the highest level of decontamination that destroys all microbial life?
A: Sterilization.
12. Q: What is the second-highest level of decontamination used on non-porous surfaces
and tools?
A: Disinfection.
13. Q: Which EPA-registered disinfectant is required for immersion of tools in Utah?
A: A hospital-grade, bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal disinfectant.
14. Q: How long must non-electrical tools be immersed in an EPA-registered disinfectant?
A: Follow manufacturer's instructions, but typically 10-20 minutes.
15. Q: What is used to clean tools and remove debris before disinfecting?
A: Soap, water, and a brush.
16. Q: What should be used to disinfect the surface of a work station between clients?
A: An EPA-registered disinfectant spray or wipe.
17. Q: How should porous files and buffers be handled after use on a client?
A: They must be discarded (single-use) or given to the client.
18. Q: What type of container should be used for disinfecting tools?
A: A clean, covered, disinfected container marked with the solution name and date
changed.
19. Q: How often should disinfectant solutions be changed?
A: According to manufacturer instructions, typically daily or when visibly contaminated.
20. Q: What is the proper procedure for a blood spill during a service?
A: Stop service, wear gloves, apply antiseptic to client, clean area with soap/water, then
disinfect with a tuberculocidal disinfectant, dispose of contaminated materials in a
biohazard bag.
21. Q: What is the term for an item that cannot be disinfected?
A: Porous or single-use item.
, 22. Q: Which organization provides guidelines for infection control that nail technicians must
follow?
A: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
23. Q: What does MSDS/SDS stand for?
A: Material Safety Data Sheet / Safety Data Sheet.
24. Q: What is the purpose of an autoclave?
A: To sterilize tools using steam, heat, and pressure.
25. Q: Can isopropyl alcohol be used as a disinfectant for tools?
A: No, it is an antiseptic for skin, not an EPA-registered disinfectant for tools.
SECTION 3: NAIL ANATOMY & DISORDERS
26. Q: What is the living skin at the base of the nail plate that produces new nail cells?
A: The matrix.
27. Q: What is the cuticle?
A: The non-living, translucent tissue that adheres to the nail plate.
28. Q: What is the lunula?
A: The visible half-moon area at the base of the nail plate.
29. Q: What is the hyponychium?
A: The skin under the free edge where the nail plate separates from the nail bed.
30. Q: What is the technical term for the nail?
A: Onyx.
31. Q: Which nail disorder is characterized by white spots or lines on the nail plate?
A: Leukonychia.
32. Q: What is the term for brittle, splitting, or soft nails?
A: Onychorrhexis (splitting) or Hapalonychia (softness).
33. Q: What is onycholysis?
A: Separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, often starting at the free edge.
34. Q: What fungal infection appears as white, yellow, or brown discoloration under the nail
plate?
A: Onychomycosis.
