60 questions · 60 min · 75% to pass
Question 1
Which category of nail enhancement implements must be discarded after a single use, and which can be disinfected for reuse between clients?
Answer: Porous single-use items such as emery boards, foam buffers, wooden orangewood sticks, and cotton must be discarded after one client; non-porous multi-use implements such as metal nippers, pushers, and files with metal cores must be cleaned then fully immersed in EPA-registered disinfectant for 10 minutes between clients.
Question 2
What wavelength does an LED nail lamp emit?
Answer: Approximately 405 nm
Question 3
Why is methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer banned for nail use, and what is the approved alternative?
Answer: MMA is banned because it bonds too rigidly to the nail plate, causing severe nail bed damage or avulsion when the enhancement is hit or pried off; ethyl methacrylate (EMA) is the safe and legal approved alternative.
Question 4
Why is it critical for a nail technician to avoid damaging the nail matrix during nail enhancement prep?
Answer: The matrix is the growth origin of the nail plate located beneath the proximal nail fold, and damage to it — such as from aggressive filing or pressure — can cause permanent nail deformity, irregular growth, or scarring that no enhancement product can correct.
Question 5
What is the correct way to remove acrylic nail enhancements?
Answer: Soak in pure acetone
Question 6
After curing a gel coat under a lamp, a sticky layer remains on the nail surface. What causes this, and how is it removed?
Answer: The sticky residue is the inhibition layer, caused by oxygen in the air reacting with and preventing the top surface of the gel from fully curing; it is removed by wiping with isopropyl alcohol or a dedicated gel cleanser between and after coats.
Question 7
What special precautions must a nail technician take when performing nail enhancement services on a diabetic client?
Answer: Diabetic clients may have poor circulation, slower wound healing, and peripheral neuropathy reducing sensation in the feet and hands; the technician must avoid all cuts or nicks, skip sharp cuticle tools, carefully check water or implement temperature, and refer any wounds or infections to a physician immediately.
Question 8
What is the difference between the eponychium and the true cuticle, and how should each be treated during nail enhancement prep?
Answer: The eponychium is living skin at the base of the nail plate and must never be cut aggressively; the true cuticle is dead, colorless tissue adhering to the nail plate surface, and it must be gently removed during prep because product will not bond properly over dead tissue.
Question 9
What most likely causes gel polish to lift within days of application?
Answer: Inadequate nail prep
Question 10
What is the correct acrylic bead consistency for nail enhancements?
Answer: Medium-wet bead