Texas Nail Tech License: Hours, Exams & Steps (2026)

To do nails for pay in Texas, you need a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). For nail techs, that license is called the Manicurist license, and it covers manicures, pedicures and artificial nails. This guide walks through the steps, what the license lets you do and what it doesn't, and what to think about when you are ready to work for yourself.

Everything below comes from TDLR’s own pages. Fees and forms change, so confirm the current details on TDLR’s Manicurist license page before you apply.

Texas nail tech license at a glance

License: Manicurist, issued by TDLR. (In everyday speech this is the "nail tech license.")
Age: at least 17 years old.
Training: a 600-hour Manicurist course at a Texas-licensed barbering or cosmetology school.
Exams: a written exam and a practical exam, both run by TDLR’s testing vendor, PSI. You must pass the written exam before you can take the practical.
Application: submitted to TDLR with a non-refundable application fee ($50 at the time of writing).
License term: two years from the date of issue.

Step 1: Complete 600 hours at a TDLR-licensed school

Your hours have to come from a school licensed in Texas, so check a school’s TDLR license before you enroll. You hold a student permit while you train. When comparing schools, ask:

How the schedule works (full-time, part-time, evenings) and how long the program actually takes on the schedule you plan to keep.
How much time you spend on live clients versus mannequin hands.
Which systems you will learn: acrylic, gel, dip, e-file work and nail art.
How its students do on the state exams.

Trained outside Texas? TDLR handles that through its license by equivalence process instead.

Step 2: Apply to TDLR

You can apply as soon as you are notified that you are eligible for the exams, and TDLR recommends applying online. Applying before your written exam matters: it is what lets TDLR issue you a temporary license the moment you pass the practical. If you have a criminal conviction other than a minor traffic violation, include TDLR’s Criminal History Questionnaire with your application. That review can take one to six weeks, so file early.

Step 3: Pass the written and practical exams

Once your hours are complete and your background check clears, TDLR sends your eligibility to PSI, and PSI emails you instructions to schedule your exams.

Written exam: theory, sanitation and safety, and Texas laws and rules. You must pass it before the practical.
Practical exam: you perform procedures in front of an examiner. Most lost points come from sanitation and procedure order, so rehearse your full setup, disinfection and cleanup until it is automatic.

If you applied before the written exam, you can start working right after you pass the practical, on a temporary license valid for 60 days while your two-year license is processed.

What the Manicurist license covers

According to TDLR’s scope of practice for manicurists, the license covers:

Nail treatments: cutting, trimming, polishing, tinting, coloring, cleansing, manicuring and pedicuring, and attaching false nails.
Hands and feet: massaging, cleansing, treating or beautifying a client’s hands or feet.

It does not cover massage or beautifying treatments for the arms, shoulders, neck, scalp or face, facials, or body hair removal. That matters when you build your menu: a long arm massage or a brow wax add-on falls outside the Manicurist license. If you want to offer skin and waxing services too, TDLR also issues a combined Manicurist/Esthetician license, earned through an 800-hour combined course or through the separate 600-hour Manicurist and 750-hour Esthetician programs. Our guide to the Texas esthetician license covers that side.

Keeping your license

Your license is valid for two years. To renew, TDLR requires continuing education from approved providers. For renewals from September 1, 2025, that is 4 hours, including one hour of sanitation and one hour of human trafficking prevention. Licensees with 15 or more years of licensure need only those two hours. The rules have changed recently, so check TDLR’s renewal page before each cycle.

Where to work after you’re licensed

New nail techs usually start in one of three places:

A nail salon on commission or hourly pay. Walk-in traffic and a chance to build speed, but the salon sets your prices, your products and your share.
Renting a station. More control over your schedule, but you are still on an open floor with shared ventilation and someone else’s brand.
Your own private suite. You set your hours, your prices and your product line, and you build a brand clients follow. A private room also means a quieter, more personal appointment, which is part of why regulars rebook.

If you are on commission now, our commission vs. lease comparison shows what changes when you keep everything you earn.

Licensing your own suite

When you work from a private suite inside a licensed salon-suite building, TDLR treats your suite as its own small business, called a mini-establishment. A mini-establishment license is separate from your personal Manicurist license, and it must be displayed inside the suite. We explain how it works in Do you need a license to rent a salon suite in Texas? TDLR’s rules for mini-establishments have specific requirements, so confirm what applies to you with TDLR before you sign a lease.

Image Salon Studios offers nail tech suites for rent at Royal Oaks on Westheimer in Houston and at two locations in Sugar Land. Every suite is private and lockable, with utilities, Wi-Fi, 24/7 access and free parking included. Schedule a free tour to see which rooms suit your setup.

Why Image Salon Studios is the best fit

Nail techs need good lighting, ventilation and a calm space clients want to come back to. Here is what you get with a suite here:

Locally owned since 2011. Fifteen years in Sugar Land and Houston, run by local owners and managers, not a franchise.
100+ private suites at 3 locations: Royal Oaks on Westheimer in Houston, Sugar Land (First Colony) and Sugar Land Studio 2, so you can choose the address that suits your clients.
Full-time on-site management, including Saturdays. Someone in the building handles maintenance and questions while you focus on clients.
One all-inclusive lease. Utilities, Wi-Fi, 24/7 access, free parking and complimentary washers and dryers, in 6- or 12-month terms. See everything included.
Your suite, your brand. A private, lockable room. You set your prices, hours and products and keep 100% of what you earn, with no commission.
Clients can find you. Tenants can be listed in our stylist directory, and our team shares start-up advice when you are new to running your own business.
A community of every trade. You work alongside other independent pros from many specialties, and our nail tech suites page shows what a nail setup looks like. See suites by profession.
Proven: 4.6 stars across 289 Google reviews for our locations.

See the rooms in our photo gallery, check the leasing FAQ, then schedule a free tour and ask about current availability and move-in specials.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a license to do nails in Texas?

Yes. Doing manicures, pedicures or artificial nails for pay requires a TDLR license: the Manicurist license, the combined Manicurist/Esthetician license or a Cosmetology Operator license.

How many hours is nail tech school in Texas?

The Manicurist course is 600 hours at a Texas-licensed barbering or cosmetology school.

Is there a practical exam for the Texas manicurist license?

Yes. You must pass a written exam first, then a practical exam. Both are scheduled through PSI.

Can a nail tech do waxing in Texas?

Not on a Manicurist license alone. Body hair removal is outside its scope. A combined Manicurist/Esthetician or a Cosmetology Operator license covers more services; check TDLR’s scope guide for any service before adding it to your menu.

How long is a Texas manicurist license valid?

Two years from the date of issue. You renew with TDLR after completing the required continuing education.

How to Get a Nail Tech License in Texas (2026 Guide)