Nails Courses

What is a nail technician? 

A nail technician is a trained professional who performs a range of nail care and nail styling services, including nail shaping, grooming, and repair, cuticle care, and the application of nail polish, gels, or acrylics. They may also apply nail enhancements or create meticulous, attractive nail art designs for their clients. 

Nail technicians can work in salons or spas, or run their own business from a clinic or through a mobile service. They might provide everyday nail services or special services for weddings, events, fashion photography, television or runway shows. 

What does a nail technician do? 

The daily duties of a nail technician involve working closely with clients to style, groom, and care for their nails. On a daily basis, their tasks might include:

• Nail services: The main duty of a nail technician is to provide manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements, acrylics, or nail art. This includes buffing, filing, and shaping nails, applying nail polish, gels, or dip powders, creating nail art, and ensuring clients are happy with the results.

• Cleaning & sterilising equipment: It’s important for nail technicians to maintain a hygienic and organised work environment. One of their daily duties is to clean and sterilise equipment between clients and keep their space organised and free of clutter. 

• Advise clients: Clients may seek a nail technician’s advice when it comes to choosing colours, styles, nail art, and nail enhancements. Nail technicians can also advise clients on how to maintain healthy nails and answer questions about their products and services.

• Customer service: Nail technicians work closely with clients and a large part of their job involves customer service, maintaining friendly relationships, scheduling appointments, handling payments, and receiving feedback and suggestions. 

• Maintaining inventory: Nail salons carry various supplies, including nail polish, nail electric file equipment, drills, acrylics, gels, and brushes. They must always keep stock of their inventory and order supplies when needed. 

• Stay up to date with trends: Just like fashion, nail trends continuously evolve. A nail technician must always keep up with the latest trends in nails, including popular colours, styles, products, and techniques. 

What is the best nail technician course? 

The best nail technician courses in Australia are the specialised Certificate III in Nail Technology or the more general Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy. 

Certificate III in Nail Technology

This highly specialised nail course provides all the essential skills and knowledge you need to excel as a nail technician. You’ll learn how to perform exceptional manicures and pedicures, apply acrylic and gel enhancements and nail art, and maintain a clean & safe working environment.

This course also includes foundational knowledge on building and managing your own nail  business. Part of this online nail course is a mandatory 250 hour work placement, which allows you to put your skills into practice.

Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy

This nail tech course equips you with a range of skills beyond just nail technology. You’ll learn how to provide professional manicures and pedicures, apply acrylic nails, gels, and dip powders, as well as various other salon services such as spray tans, eyelash extensions, and massage. The course also includes a mandatory work placement of 350 hours, split into three blocks, to allow you to apply your skills in a real-world setting. 

How much can you earn after nail technician courses? 

According to current resources, the average annual salary for a nail tech in Australia is between $50,000 and $60,000 per year.

How to become a nail technician 

You may be able to find work as a nail technician without completing a qualification, however being a qualified nail technician opens up more career opportunities. 

A typical career pathway for a nail tech in Australia looks like this: 

1. Enrol in a Certificate III in Nail Technology or a Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy to gain the important skills and knowledge to be a professional nail technician. 
2. Complete the mandatory work placement to apply your skills in a practical setting and gain valuable work experience. 
3. Find work in a salon or spa, or start your own business as a freelance nail technician. 

What are the skills you need to be a nail technician?

Nail technicians require a combination of technical skills and soft skills. Technical skills are those learned in nail courses, such as providing manicures and pedicures, nail & cuticle care, and applying nail polish, acrylic nail enhancements, and gels. 

Important soft skills for a nail technician include:

Customer service

Many clients like to build close relationships with their nail technicians. While not every client likes to chat during their appointment, it’s important for nail techs to be able to carry a conversation and make their clients feel valued. Customer service skills can help nail techs build and maintain friendly relationships with their clients and help their business succeed. 

Creativity

Nail technology is not just a service, but an art form that requires creativity and passion. Nail technicians should have an artistic eye that allows them to help clients select flattering colours and create nail art that’s attractive and aesthetically pleasing.

Attention to detail

Combined with patience, attention to detail is essential when providing nail services. Nails are small, and a nail technician must be able to work carefully to trim a client’s nails, provide cuticle care, and apply polish, gels, and acrylics professionally. 

Is it hard to be a nail technician? 

Generally, nail courses aren’t difficult to complete, and many graduates can easily secure jobs even without extensive experience. However, the art of working with nails may not be for everyone. It requires a keen attention to detail, patience, and creativity that not everyone may possess. 

What are the benefits of nail technician courses? 

There are many benefits to enrolling in a nail technology course. As well as gaining all the essential skills you need to thrive in your career as a nail technician or nail artist, nail technician courses also offer the following advantages:

• Gain valuable business skills, such as social media marketing and accounting
• Complete a practical work placement that provides real-world experience
• Advice from experienced teachers to help you start your career with confidence
• Insight into the industry and current trends.

Should you study a nail technician course online?

Absolutely! Enrolling in an online nail technician course is an excellent way to build your skill set while enjoying a flexible study environment. Each online course includes a work placement that allows you to apply the skills you’ve learned online in a practical setting so you can start your career confidently. 

These are some other benefits to online nail courses:

• Start whenever you’re ready
• Complete the course at your own pace, within the specified timeframe
• No commute to classes or lectures
• Study in your own time
• Maintain current work or life commitments.

Is a nail technician a good career? 

If you’re passionate about nails or beauty and want a creative career that allows you to work closely with different people, you will love being a nail technician. The beauty industry is experiencing massive growth and it’s never been a better time to build your skills as a nail technician. Whether you want to work in a spa or salon, or run your own beauty empire, the time to start is now!

Nail technician courses online 

Ready to start your exciting career as a nail tech? You can enrol in an online nail technician course as soon as tomorrow! Whether you want to build specialised skills with a Certificate III in Nail Technology or a diverse skill set with the Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy, your career can start with the click of a button. 

Browse our online courses on this page and enquire about a class pack now!

FAQ

1. How do I become a nail technician in Australia?
   Start with a Certificate III in Nail Technology or a Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy. Both of these courses will equip you with the essential skills to kickstart your career as a nail technician in Australia.

2. How long is a nail technician course?
   Online nail technician courses are usually self-paced. A Certificate III in Nail Technology can be completed in around 12 months and includes a minimum of 250 hours of work placement. The Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy can be finished in around 18 months and includes a minimum of 350 hours of work placement.

3. How much is a nail technician course?
   The cost of a nail technician course will depend on the certificate you enrol in, the institution, and the payment method you use. Many institutions offer payment plans and may even offer a discount for some students. Browse our courses and ask for a free class pack to learn more about pricing.

4. Is being a nail technician a hard job?
   Some people may struggle with the attention to detail, creativity, patience, and customer service required with a nail technician job. However, others find these aspects to be the most rewarding part! Whether or not you consider it difficult to be a nail technician will depend on your skills, interests, and passion for nails.

5. What is the next level after being a nail technician?
   After being a nail technician, you may want to consider a career as a nail artist or starting your own salon or clinic.

6. What is the difference between a nail technician and a nail artist?
   Nail technicians are more focused on providing nail care, manicures, and pedicures, while nail artists create meticulous nail art designs.