What qualifications do you need to become a nail technician?
To become a nail technician, it isn’t a requirement to have a qualification, however, it will be very desirable to employers. Studying for a nail technician course will certainly help you stand out against other candidates, particularly if you have a qualification in a specialist nail service such as acrylic nails for example. If you take a qualification, it will improve your chances of landing a job in a high-end salon or spa.
You will also need to have gained professional insurance in order to carry out your services legally to clients.
There are many level 2 and 3 courses in nail technology or nail treatments that you can take. You can seek out local college courses or apprenticeships that offer this course. You can also take these qualifications through distance learning and study alongside other commitments.
Our Complete Nail Technician Diploma will give you a strong basis for both the business side of becoming a nail technician and also the key skills.
Specialist nail technician courses
The more skills and specialisms you have as a nail technician the better as you will in turn, be able to offer more services. This is very desirable especially to salons and spas as it will mean they have more to offer on their treatment menu.
You don’t need to have them all, but it’s always recommended you choose a specialist route as opposed to just applying standard French manicures for clients.
You can choose to specialise in a variety of different treatments including:
What to expect as a nail technician?
An attractive aspect to this job role is the flexibility it can bring. If you are a freelance nail technician and work for yourself, you can pick and choose your own hours to fit around your lifestyle.
If you work in a salon or spa, your hours are often set. Most of the time you will be required to work weekends as Saturday tends to be a salon or spas busiest day, so you must be prepared to give up some of your weekends. You should also be aware that you will be required to work in the afternoons or evenings, as this is when people book most of their treatments.
Some nail bars offer chair rental, so you are working in a salon meaning you may only receive a percentage of each clients’ money paid and will need to pay the salon a monthly or daily fee.
If you market yourself well and get yourself a loyal client base, being a nail technician can be a very flexible and rewarding career choice.
Can I become a qualified nail technician through distance learning?
Although most people would prefer to attend a college, you can actually become a qualified nail technician through distance learning, meaning you can study alongside your current job or life commitments.
Many distance courses will not only offer the theory side, but you are also able to attend a practical day to put the theory you have learnt to practice.
A number of courses offered by Open Study College enable you to become fully qualified and obtain professional insurance without having to attend a practical day, meaning you are able to upload evidence of your work for it to be marked. This is perfect if you want to retrain or study alongside your other life and work commitments.
