Certified Nail Technician Training
If you’re interested in becoming a certified nail technician, you might wonder what training is involved. How do you learn to apply artificial nails, create beautiful nail art, and work successfully in a nail salon? If you’re thinking about entering the nail industry, you’re going to need to learn a variety of skills, and those skills are best learned through a nail technology program. Here’s what you should know about certified nail technician training.
Lots of people who visit salons wonder what training is involved in becoming a certified nail technician. The requisite skills to eliminate calluses and apply acrylic sets have to be mastered thoroughly. Budding nail technology students ought to visit their closest technology center to obtain the training they require to enter this rewarding profession.
How to become a certified nail technician
First of all, to become a certified nail technician, you’ll want to take a nail technician course from a cosmetology school or technology center that’s recognized by the cosmetology board of a specific region. With the successful completion of this course, you’ll be prepared to obtain your license and practice your profession legally in the future.
As part of your nail tech program, you’ll likely have to have a nail tech kit. These nail kits can cost upwards of $100 and can include items like hand and foot mannequins, acrylic nails and application tools, various nail treatment products, and other tools. Your beauty college may also expect you to purchase registration to an appropriate cosmetology board and a nail technician’s handbook.
The scholarly demands
Different states and regions may have different requirements for you to attain a nail technician license. They may also have different titles that can have different requirements; a nail care technician may be a specific type of beauty professional in some locations, for example. However, there are often similarities between regions. Here are a few of the requirements that you can expect.
- Get a passing score on a written test and/or practical exam
- Study for a specific number of hours, usually 400 or 600
- Be at least 16–17, depending on the location
- Have a high school diploma or GED
- Pay your licensing fee
There are many different ways you can start turning your passion for nails into a career as early as possible. High school students, for example, may be permitted to visit a beauty college during normal school hours as part of a district partnership, and you may learn business skills, nail art techniques, client communication, and additional training as part of this partnership. In many cases, you’ll need at least a 10th-grade education to start working within these partnerships.
As part of a beauty school, you’ll also likely need to meet specific entry requirements for that school. While there may be specific requirements for your education credit when it comes to your specific nail career, you’ll also need to meet entry requirements for the school you’re attending. They can also help with concerns like financial aid and concerns regarding schedules; many beauty schools offer night classes, so people can pursue this rewarding career while working.
Certified nail technician careers
This kind of training can often end in quite a successful career. Not only is it a program that typically takes no longer than 12 months to finish, but there are a number of places nail techs can work in the beauty industry. In some cases, it can be a bit of a challenging career, but the community of nail technicians is full of people who love creative nail design and client guidance in nail concerns.
If you’re interested in becoming a nail tech, you may want to check out the courses at Evergreen Beauty College. We don’t just provide you the minimum education to receive a certificate of completion; we actually help you succeed, with beauty business training included alongside the typical beauty school courses. If you’re interested, consider scheduling a tour today to learn more about your options.
FAQs: Certified nail technician training
Do you need professional training to be a nail technician?
In almost all cases, you need a specific number of hours of instructor training in order to get a completion certificate that you can use for a license. Even if a specific region allows for options like an apprenticeship rather than direct cosmetology school instruction, it’s still better to go through the process of learning under a licensed instructor. Getting those clock hours of training will teach you customer service skills and give you a leg up in the nail industry as a whole.
Can I get additional certifications as a licensed nail technician?
Once you have your nail tech license, you may be able to get additional certifications that will allow you to provide more services. For example, you could get certifications in foot massage, applying false nails, artificial nail enhancements, or identifying nail conditions. If nail art is in your future, you could get nail artistry certification or certifications regarding nail polish. However, these additional certifications usually require you to have your basic nail tech school education.
What qualities should I have to be a nail technician?
If you want to be a nail technician, you obviously need to have a passion for nail tech as a field. You’ll also need to be interested in an array of nail forms and structures, like shellac nails, jelly nails, and chrome nails. It’s important that you’re knowledgeable and a fast learner and that you have great customer service skills. Finally, it’s always important to stay humble and let your client consultation guide you.