1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Nail technician

Nail technician

Alternative titles for this job include

Nail technicians repair, paint and decorate clients' nails.

Average salary (a year)

£15,500 Starter

to

£25,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

35 to 39 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends flexibly

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a nail technician

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

College

Courses relevant to this role include:

  • level 2 or 3 Certificate in Nail Technology
  • level 1 or 2 Certificate in Nail Treatments
  • level 2 Award in Nail Art

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a nail services technician intermediate apprenticeship.

This typically takes 12 months to complete as a mix of learning in the workplace and off-the-job study.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

Work

If you can show a real interest in nail art, you may be able to get a job as a trainee with a nail salon or beauty spa and learn on the job.

More Information

Career tips

Working part-time in a nail bar or beauty salon will help you learn about different treatments and help you to develop your customer service and salon skills.

If you're thinking about being self-employed it's useful to find out what sort of business skills you'll need. Nail technicians often work freelance in places like people's homes or leisure facilities like gyms, hotels and spas.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a nail technician from the Hair and Beauty Industry Authority.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

Some local authorities request that you are licensed to run a nail business.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day work you may:

  • do treatments, like manicures and pedicures
  • clean and file nails
  • apply false nails or extensions
  • decorate nails with coloured varnish, transfers, gems or glitter
  • repair, look after and remove false nails and extensions
  • check for any signs of skin or nail problems before treatment
  • store chemicals correctly and safely and follow strict hygiene rules

Working environment

You could work in a salon, at a health spa, on a cruise ship, from home or at a client's home.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could manage a salon or start your own business.

You could work with photographers, fashion designers or TV companies, preparing nails for photo shoots or fashion shows.

You could take further training to learn other beauty techniques or to teach nail art. You could move into product sales, selling nail equipment and materials to salons and nail bars.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a nail technician right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Nail Enhancement

  • Provider: HULL COLLEGE
  • Start date: 06 September 2023
  • Location: Hull

Nail Technology - Level 2

  • Provider: BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 31 January 2024
  • Location: Blackpool
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturday and bank holidays

We're closed Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.