Nail School and Nail Technician Courses & Classes Information

Where can I locate, compare, and contact nail schools?

What is a Nail School and what will I learn?
If you're looking to join an industry which has over 400,000 specialists and growing (according to Nails Magazine), consider nail school. Most cosmetology and beauty schools offer courses dedicated to nail technician courses and training; however, there are also independent nail schools or nail academies dedicated exclusively to learning the art of nails and esthetics. A nail school offers students specifically focused nail tech classes and students train to become nail technologists (also known as manicurists and pedicurists) who specialize in nail art and design, as well as nail extensions, wraps and gels.

In the world of cosmetology, not every nail school is the same. Most nail schools usually employ nail technicians to provide the nail tech classes and training to their students, as will some cosmetology and beauty schools. Although a licensed cosmetologist must be proficient in the basics of nail technology, a trained nail technician can provide more comprehensive instruction to students. When looking for the right nail school for you, you may want to consider if the program features nail technician teachers in their training courses.

What are the requirements for nail school programs?
Schools teaching nail technology usually offer a combination of nail tech classes and hands-on learning in their nail technician courses, which can take between 200 and 600 hours to complete. After completing nail school, students must pass a state license exam to become a licensed nail technician.

Take a look at our state license requirements page to find out more. We recommend you contact the licensing department for the state you're interested in to verify if there have been any changes in programs or required hours.

How much does a Nail School cost to attend?
Most nail technician courses taught at nails schools are offered on a full-time or part-time basis, and tuitions can vary, depending on the types of nail technician courses offered by the nail school, hours of instruction needed at the nail school, and the location of the nail school. Some nail schools may cost several hundred dollars, while others may charge in the thousands.

What can I expect to earn after graduating from a Nail School?
Once the nail tech classes are complete and a licensing exam is passed, a manicurist can expect to make about $20,000 per year, according to salary.com, but this can vary, based on location, experience and clientele.

What are some of the career opportunities for a Nail School graduate?
After graduating from a nail school, most students find careers in the field of cosmetology at nail salons or spas, while others move into the field of skin care and massage treatments. These types of programs can also train for a career in esthetics, or the art and science of skin care, by learning about facials, hair removal methods, waxing, make up application, lash and eyebrow tinting, and massage techniques.

This page should have answered the following questions:

What is nail school like?

What will I learn in nail technician courses?

What is the cost of nail school?

After nail tech classes are completed, what are career opportunities I can look into?

What is the average salary for a nail technician who went to nail school?