Arizona Laws, Rules, and Board Regulations
Authority and licenses
Arizona regulates cosmetology under the Board of Cosmetology, with statutes in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 5 and rules in the Arizona Administrative Code, Title 4, Chapter 10. Know the license categories, including nail technician and salon/establishment licensure. A licensed technician may perform manicures, pedicures, and artificial nail services; a salon must hold its own license, and a booth renter still works within a licensed establishment. Licenses must be current and displayed as required.
Scope and sanitation
The Board adopts sanitation standards: clean and disinfect implements, use EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants, discard single-use items, and follow blood-exposure procedures. Inspectors may enter and inspect a salon. Unlicensed practice, allowing an unlicensed person to work, false advertising, and unsanitary conditions can lead to fines, suspension, or revocation.
Professional boundaries
A nail technician does not diagnose or treat disease, prescribe medication, or claim a service is medically safe. Clients with infected, inflamed, or injured tissue are referred. Advertising must be truthful and must not imply medical treatment.
Traps
Questions confuse county health department rules with Board rules, assume a booth renter needs no salon license, or think a nail technician may treat an ingrown nail. Do not rely on memory for renewal dates or hour requirements - verify the current statute and rule.
Worked example
A client asks you to “cut out” an ingrown toenail. Explain that this is outside the nail technician's scope and refer the client to a physician; document the refusal.