Nail Technician License Requirements
Each state has a separate board of cosmetology that sets the nail technician license requirements in that state. While the exact rules vary from state to state, most of them include a minimum age, a number of hours in classroom instruction, hands-on experience and passing an exam.
While many states have reciprocity agreements with neighboring states, it is important to make sure before you begin your training at an out-of-state school.
Age Requirement
Most state cosmetology boards set a minimum age for students. In many states, the minimum age is 16. Students who will be between 16 and 18 years of age at the time they complete their training and are scheduled to take the licensing test should check with their state board to make sure they are old enough to take the test.
Training and Experience
Education and training is perhaps the area where requirements differ the most from state to state. Some states stipulate that nail tech candidates must attend beauty school, while others accept apprenticeships in lieu of formal education. In almost every case, though, the hours required by a student in an apprenticeship are almost double the number of hours of required training at a cosmetology school. This means that attending formal training is a much quicker path to your license. If you attend a beauty school in Washington, you are required to complete a minimum of 600 hours of coursework and hands-on training before you can test for your license.
Nail Technician License Exam
The final step in earning your nail technician license is to sit for your state licensing exam. Each state has its own exam, and your instructors will cover what is on the exam in your state during your schooling. While they do vary, the material on most of these exams is very similar. Many states have a two-part exam, which tests both the candidates grasp of the concepts and their hands-on application of the methods learned.
Many of these tests focus primarily on sanitation and safety, although some technique is tested as well.
Topics you can expect to see on the test include infectious agents, bacteria, tools, nail disorders and product chemistry. Some states also have legal sections on their licensing tests. In Washington, there is a two-part exam. This includes a written exam and a practical test.
If you are interested in becoming a nail tech in Washington, Evergreen Beauty College may be the beauty school for you.
