How Many Hours are Needed to Become an Nail Tech?
If you are considering a career change in the near future, but you want to break into a field that does not require years of training, the nail technician industry may be worth looking into. In a matter of months, you can train to become a professional nail tech in which you will work in an atmosphere that makes others look their best.
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Finding Training
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Training classes to become a nail technician are generally found in state-licensed cosmetology schools. The programs consist of both classroom studies and practicum work in which you will practice your skills on actual people, usually customers who patron the beauty school for services. Depending on which particular state you live in, the number of hours needed to complete the program may vary, but most programs can be completed in about 3 to 6 months.
Clock Hours
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Prospective nail techs can expect to put in anywhere from 300 to 600 hours of training to qualify for a license. Students studying the trade in South Carolina will average 300 hours of study time, while those attending classes in Illinois will have 350 hours to complete. The state of California requires nail technician students to clock in 400 hours of training. Both Tennessee and Georgia state laws require nail technician students to complete 600 hours of classroom and on-the-job training before qualifying for licensing.
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Weekly Hours
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Most cosmetology schools that offer nail technician training programs also offer some flexibility to students. Students can generally attend the programs either full-time or part-time, depending on their personal needs. Those in a position to attend full-time can expect to put in around 30 hours a week. For those needing more flexibility, part-time hours are usually about 20 hours weekly. Some schools also offer evening hours, and most all programs can be attended on Saturdays because this is a busy day with beauty patrons.
Areas of Study
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Students enrolled in nail tech programs will learn the basics of taking care of nails, including filing, cutting and shaping. Classroom courses also include sterilization and sanitation, bacteriology, introduction to manicures and pedicures and ethics. Most states do regular inspections in salons and are fairly strict when it comes to nail services in terms of cleanliness and infection control. Special emphasis is put on these areas throughout both classroom time and practicum work.
Pay and Job Outlook
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According to an August 2009 survey by Payscale.com, the average starting salary for a nail tech is between $7.86 an hour and $9.17 an hour. After a year of experience, nail technicians are reporting earnings of between $8.07 and $12.67 an hour or up to $26,312 a year. Those with at least 5 years of experience are earning up to $13.48 an hour, and after 10 years on the job, nail technicians can expect to earn up to $22.50 an hour or nearly $47,000 annually. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the nail technician industry are expected to grow by about 28 percent through the year 2016.
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