GA Nail Technician study guide
GA Nail Technician · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
A Georgia nail technician license is the credential that legally allows you to perform manicures, pedicures, nail tipping and wrapping, and artificial nail enhancement services for paying clients in a licensed Georgia salon. It is issued by the state's professional licensing authority - the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, administered through the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Secretary of State's office - and it is intended for students graduating from an approved nail technology program, for out-of-state technicians seeking to transfer credentials, and for anyone moving into salon work from an unrelated field. The GA Nail Technician study guide has 7 sections and about 2,056 words.
01Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety Practices
Cleaning with soap and water removes visible debris and must come first; a disinfectant cannot penetrate soil. Disinfection uses an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant with a tuberculocidal claim, diluted and timed exactly as the label states (often 10 minutes).
289 words, about 1 min02Manicuring and Pedicuring Fundamentals
Consult and record allergies, medications, and skin conditions; wash your hands and the client's; shape the free edge; soften the cuticle; clean under the free edge; massage; then base coat, two thin color coats, and top coat. A pedicure adds a foot soak, exfoliation, callus reduction, and leg and foot massage, and requires the basin to be cleaned and disinfected between clients.
281 words, about 1 min03Nail Tips, Wraps, and Artificial Nail Enhancements
Tips and forms are foundations. Wraps use fabric (silk, linen, fiberglass) or paper with a resin or glue - thin and good for mending, but less durable.
292 words, about 1 min04Nail Structure, Disorders, and Diseases
Matrix → nail plate → nail bed → lunula (visible matrix) → eponychium/cuticle → sidewalls (lateral folds) → hyponychium (the seal under the free edge) → free edge. The matrix makes the plate, the bed supports it, and the hyponychium keeps pathogens out.
271 words, about 1 min05Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Nail
Cells → tissues → organs → systems. The skin has three layers: epidermis (stratum corneum, granulosum, spinosum, basale), dermis (nerves, vessels, glands, follicles), and subcutaneous tissue (fat).
273 words, about 1 min06Chemistry and Product Knowledge
Matter runs elements → atoms → molecules → compounds. A solution is uniform, a suspension has particles that settle, and an emulsion blends oil and water with a surfactant.
311 words, about 2 min07Georgia Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Salon Business Practices
Nail technicians, salons, and schools in Georgia fall under the Georgia Board of Cosmetology and Barbers within the Professional Licensing Boards Division of the Office of the Secretary of State. Know the license types (individual nail technician, salon, school, instructor), that licenses must be current and posted as the Board requires, and that practicing on an expired license or in an unlicensed salon is a violation.
339 words, about 2 min