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Nail technician courses

13 Courses Available

Nail technician courses

Become a certified nail technician with our range of flexible courses that can be studied alongside work commitments.

A nail technician is a rewarding career, allowing you to be your own boss and express creative freedom every day. In our course collection, you’ll find everything from manicure and pedicure courses to nail art and acrylics specialisms.

Know which course you're interested in?

Working in nails offers a huge amount of flexibility, with the potential to work for yourself and choose your own hours to fit your lifestyle. If you like the idea of exercising your creativity and building skills, all while chatting to clients all day, a nail technician could just be the role for you.

What is a nail technician?

A nail technician offers manicures, pedicures, and a range of nail treatments tailored to clients' nail care requirements and preferences. More than just painting nails, it’s a role combining precision, artistry, and nail health expertise. It requires a thorough understanding of nail aesthetics to provide the best possible experience for clients.

Services offered by a nail technician might include:

  • Applying acrylic and gel false nails
  • Grooming cuticles
  • Cleaning, trimming and filing nails
  • Removing calluses and dead skin
  • Removing shellac nail polish
  • Advising customers on nail care and products
  • Decorating nails with intricate designs
Nail technician presenting nail options

Nail technician careers

Working in a professional salon or spa is a popular choice, particularly for newly qualified technicians - offering stability and structure. While weekend and evening shifts are common, these positions provide consistent income, professional networking, and the chance to build your skills in a supportive environment.

Other workplaces for nail technicians can include photoshoots, fashion shoots, hotels, and resorts. These environments may have higher earning potential, and the possibility to work on exciting, high-profile clients.

Many nail technicians choose chair rental or work fully independently as a freelance or mobile technician. This approach offers a number of advantages; you have full control over your schedule, can set your own pricing, and potentially make higher earnings.

You may also choose to specialise in nail art after completing a nail technician qualification. With this, you’ll focus on providing clients with intricate nail designs and may have the opportunity to work in high-end salons, or as an independent artist.

Whichever path you choose to go down, by developing strong marketing skills and creating a loyal client base, a nail technician career can be highly flexible and financially rewarding.

Our nail courses

We offer a range of nail technician diplomas to help you to secure your first nail technician position.

Our qualifications cover the whole spectrum of nail specialisms; whether you’re hoping to train in acrylic nails, builder in a bottle, gel extensions, pedicures, or a bit of everything.

We also offer packages where you can make savings on a combination of two qualifications. For instance, our nail technician and starting your own business package deal is a great choice for those hoping to go freelance.

Studying a nail technician course will cover areas such as:

  • Nail anatomy and physiology
  • Manicure preparation
  • Tip application
  • Nail art design and application
  • Nail and skin healthcare
Nail tech learner studying on laptop

Frequently asked questions

While the UK doesn't require a specific government-issued license to practice as a nail technician, you must:

  • Hold a recognised qualification
  • Have professional insurance
  • Register with your local council for hygiene and safety compliance
  • Maintain health and safety certifications and keep up to date with professional training and industry standards

According to National Careers Service, the starting wage for a nail technician is £15,500 per year, going up to £25,000 for a more experienced technician.

The average hourly base salary is currently £11.29p/h, making the average annual salary £22,015 p/y.

If you’re setting up your own nail technician business independently, it’s a good idea to invest in a few essentials. You can use the following as a checklist:

  • Professional nail clippers
  • Nail tips and forms for extensions
  • Nail file set
  • High-quality nail glue and primers
  • Professional buffers and buffer blocks
  • Sanitisers and disinfectants
  • Cuticle clippers
  • Cuticle oils and nail treatments
  • LED lamp
  • Professional manicure and pedicure tool kit
  • Comfortable chair for your workstation

Looking to speak to an adviser?

We are delighted that you are considering joining us to study and take pleasure in welcoming you to our family.

Open Study College is one of the UK’s leading distance-learning colleges. We provide professionally-recognised nail technician courses that enable you to study at your own pace, in your own environment either online or via printed materials sent to your home.

We understand that choosing a course is a big decision. That’s why we have a team of friendly, knowledgeable education specialists who can help you choose the right nail technician qualification for you.

Over the past 17 years, we’ve enrolled over 130,000 people on courses that have improved their education and their career prospects!

Our education specialists can answer any questions you may have, talk you through our finance options and get you enrolled over the telephone.

As a family-founded college, we think of our learners as extended members of our family. We’re all here to help you achieve your goals in life, whatever they may be.

If you’d like to speak to an education specialist about our online nail technician courses, simply complete the form here and you’ll get a call back at the requested time.

Get in touch

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