Do You Need Your GED To Become A Nail Technician?

Last Updated on March 23, 2024.

In order to take nail technician courses, most states require an individual to be at least 16 years old and have completed high school or to have a GED.

Training courses for nail technicians are offered by state-licensed cosmetology and beauty schools all over the country.

Aside from these training schools, nail technician courses may be offered as vocational-technical courses in high school.

Basic courses for nail technicians cover nail care theory and practical applications. Specific topics in the training curriculum include essential basics like manicures, pedicures, nail repair, and nail treatment.

Other courses cover the aesthetic side of the profession, such as decorative nail art, airbrushing, and artificial nail application.

Licensed professionals have an advantage in the hiring process over other prospective applicants.

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In order to get new customers and retain customers, they must transmit the happiness they feel about doing their job to their customers.

Nail Technician – Salary

  • Average Yearly Salary: $52,450

Nail Technician – Education

Most businesses require their potential hires and employees to acquire certification before practicing their profession. Licensure requirements for nail technicians and other personal appearance workers vary from state to state.

Aspiring nail techs can receive their training through a full cosmetology or beauty school program. You can also obtain nail technician career training through a nail school.

This route is much cheaper (average cost around $2000 versus $10k-$30k for beauty school) and also takes less time to complete.

The best type of program for each individual will depend on their career goals. For someone seeking to work solely as a nail artist (manicures and pedicures only), nail school courses are the preferred path.

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Here is a handful of links that will help you to get prepared for the GED® test.

You can be ready to pass the test within a few weeks.

Nail Technician – The Job

Nail technicians offer nail services and are mostly employed in spas, beauty salons, or barbershops. Some nail technicians run their own small businesses, but they all work on cleaning, filing, trimming, polishing, and repairing fingernails or toenails.

Nail technicians usually talk treatments through with their clients. They may be moisturizing hands and feet or applying artificial nails. Often, they will sell other products and additional services to their clients.

Nail technicians are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting their professional tools and their workspaces after all appointments. They must work in a health-conscious way at all times to keep their workstation clean and their instruments sanitized.

They need to be polite, dress appropriately, and be willing to develop their knowledge and learn new techniques at all times. Nail technicians should have excellent client service skills to ensure repeat customer visits.

They must be able to listen to and understand their client’s wishes and needs, be open to their personal problems, and be able to deal with juicy gossip. They really must be “people persons.”

Nail technicians work in the barbering and cosmetology industry mostly as part of a team of beauty specialists and professionals. Most nail technicians are hired in personal care businesses or offer their services as freelance, self-employed professionals.

Regardless of the method of employment, they are required to acquire licensure based on the certification standards set by their state.

Nail Technician – The Workplace

Licensed nail professionals may work in cosmetology-related businesses such as salons, barbershops, beauty shops, spas, and specialized nail care salons. Nail technicians provide a wide range of nail care and nail aesthetic services, including manicures and pedicures.

Other day-to-day job responsibilities include the application of extensions and decorative details and treatment and care of the nails.

Depending on the nature of their employment, nail technicians may be required to do additional tasks like customer service and reception, light clean-up, maintenance of the work area, and marketing new nail products and procedures.

Nail professionals with permanent employment clock in at least 40 hours a week, while those who are self-employed determine their own daily and weekly hours.

Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) offers a positive projection for jobs in the barbering and cosmetology industry, which includes personal appearance workers such as nail technicians. According to the BLS, the demand for personal care workers will increase by 20 percent over the next decade.

With years of professional experience and advanced training, professional nail technicians may move on to managing the salon or opening their own nail care business.

Others with an inclination for teaching and mentoring take additional classes for employment as trainers or instructors in state-licensed institutes and schools. Nail Technician Schools

1. Bay Vista College of Beauty
2. Aveda Institute
3. Bridges Academy of Beauty
4. COBA Academy
5. Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences
6. Blake Austin College
7. Fortis College
8. Miller-Motte Technical College
9. Remington College
10. Virginia College

The GED diploma or certificate (that depends on your state) is issued by your state’s education department. GED testing involves taking and passing four separate modules (subtests) that can be taken one at a time. Scores do not expire in practically all states. The four subject areas of these GED modules cover Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Language Arts (Literacy).