Professional Nail Technician

Level 2 Award as a Nail Technician by Home Study

Great Opportunity to begin a New Career in the Beauty Business!
Are you interested in the latest fashion trends? Do you enjoy working with people? Are you creative and artistic? If so, then why not think about becoming a Nail Technician? Now, thanks to our Nail Techician distance learning course, you can take that first exciting step to a whole new career in the beauty industry.

Fancy a really interesting job in the beauty industry?
Working in the beauty industry is both interesting and varied. Job satisfaction is high. As a Nail Technician, you would usually work in a salon with other beauticians, hairdressers etc. Or you can, if you wish, decide to be your own boss and run a ‘mobile’ business, visiting your clients in their own homes. Whatever path you choose, it’s a job you’ll love doing and you’ll make new friends too!

The great thing about our Nail Technician course is that you can study in your own time, at your own pace, from home or from work. You will also have your own professional personal tutor offering tutor support by e-mail and post for a full 12 months from the day you receive the course.

What will I learn on the course?
On the course you’ll learn all about manicuring nails; decorating nails with coloured varnish, glitter, gems or special designs; applying false nails or nail extensions; cleaning nails and also discussing with your clients what would be most suitable for them. You’ll also learn to check for signs of nail disease and the importance of following careful hygiene procedures.

Who can take the Nail Technician course?
This course is from UK Open Learning, one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers. You don’t need any special qualifications to sign up for the course; it is open to anyone.The course has been mapped against the National Occupational Standards for the Beauty industry set by habia.

Qualification
Level 2 Award as a Nail Technician. Plus a certificate on successful completion so you can obtain insurance.

At the end of this course successful learners will receive a Level 2 NCFE Award certificate of achievement. That means that it is independently accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 2 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland"

Awarding Body Information
NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.

Further information
www.ncfe.org.uk

Will I be able to become a Nail Technician after taking the course?
Yes, After completing your course and taking the one day practical training course you will be able to apply for employment or start your own business.

How do I gain my practical experience while I am taking the course?
You should practice your skills on friends and family and keep a photographic record of all your work to put with your assessments to take along to your one day practical assessment.

Can I gain Insurance once I have completed the course?
Yes as long as you take the practical assessment at one of our centres you can you get insurance through the Guild of Beauty Therapists.

List of Centres
?Aberdeen
?Glasgow
?Newcastle upon Tyne
?Cumbria
?Chester
?Coventry
?Birmingham
?Herfordshire
?Milton Keynes
?Wickford Essex
?Loughton Essex
?Swansea
?Bishops Stortford
?Bristol
?Lincoln
?Yorkshire
?London
?Northumberland
?Bournemouth
?Southampton

Do I get a nail kit with the course and will I need to buy anything else?
Yes, we provide some of the kit which we have listed below but you may will need to purchase further items for your final assessment day and we will provide you with all the information closer to the time.

Contents
Acrylic Kit
?60ml Acrylic Liquid
?3 x 7g Powders (pink, white and clear)
?Dappen Dish
?10ml Acid Primer
?3g Glue
?Acrylic Brush
?125ml Sanitiser Spray
?100 Assorted French Tips
?100 Assorted Ultraform Tips
?100/180 Grit File
?240 Grit File
?White Block
?3 Way Buffer
?10ml Tip Blender
?10 x Birchwood Sticks
?14ml Cuticle Oil
?100 Lint Free Pads
?50 Sculpting Forms
?60ml Acetone Gel Kit
?14g Pink UV Gel
?14g Brilliant White Gel
?14g Thin UV Gel
?60ml Finishing Wipe
?14ml Extreme Gloss Gel
?10ml Acid Primer
?3g Glue
?Gel Brush
?125ml Sanitiser Spray
?100 Assorted French Tips
?100 Assorted Ultraform Tips
?100/180 Grit File
?240 Grit File
?White Block
?3 Way Buffer
?Tip Blender
?10 x Birchwood Sticks
?Cuticle oil
?60ml Acetone
UV Lamp

What are the advantages of being self-employed?
After successful completion of the course, you may choose to start your own mobile Nail Technician business. The advantages of being self-employed are superb: being your own boss, not having to answer to anyone but yourself, choosing your hours, working from home…the list is endless! Just think, no more tedious commuting to work…the world is your oyster. Starting up your own business is less daunting than you think, and once you’ve started, you’ll never look back.

How long do I have to complete the course?
You can complete the course in your own time. However, you must get the full course completed within 12 months. If we update the course, the information will either be posted on our supporting website or sent to you free of charge. To complete this course it will take in the region of 60 study hours which can be spread over the 12 month period to suit the student.

What happens if I’ve paid for the course but find it unsuitable?
Not a problem. If you return it within seven days, we’ll give you a refund as long as the course is received back in re-saleable condition with all the security seals intact.

How do I complete the course?
You will receive all the units listed below in a professional course manual. You then start working through the course at your own time completing the assignments throughout the course which you then send to your tutor for marking. Your tutor will then mark your assignments and send them back to you with any comments.

Is there a word count for these assignments?
No, there is no specific word count for these assignments. However, you do have to prove to your tutor that you have fully understood the assignments, and one sentence answers will be rejected and you will have to re-submit it.

Is there an exam at the end of the course?
No, your certificate is awarded on successful completion of your assignments. However in order to to gain insurance you must go to one of our centres and take the one day pratical assessment.

List of topics covered in the Nail Technician course:
1. Your professional image
?Health and safety
?Professional salon conduct towards client and colleagues
?Professional ethics
?Professional ethics towards clients and colleagues
?Your professional appearance

2. Bacteria and other infectious agents
?Bacteria – types
?Nail fungal infections
?Sterilisation
?Sanitation
?Disinfection

3. Safety in the Salon
?Chemicals used by Nail Technicians
?Overexposure to chemicals
?Eye protection
?Cumulative Trauma Disorders
?Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

4. Understanding Chemicals
?Matter and energy
?Properties of matter
?Energy
?Element, atom, compound and molecule
?Vapours
?Chemical reactions
?Catalysts
?Adhesion
?Primers
?Monomers and polymers
?Light and energy

5. Anatomy and Physiology
?Cells, tissues and membranes
?Cell structure and function
?Cell membranes
?Nucleus and nucleolus
?Cytoplasm
?Cell functions
?Cell division
?DNA
?Body tissue
?Epithelial
?Muscle
?Nervous
?Membranes
?Skeletal system
?Muscular system
?Nail Anatomy

6. Nail Anatomy
?Nails and disorders
?Symptoms

7. Skin and its disorders
?Function of the skin
?Skins structure
?Epidermis
?Dermis
?Nourishment
?Nerves
?Skin glands
?Skin disorders

8. Client Consultation
?Clients’ needs
?Clients’ lifestyle
?Client record card

9. Manicuring
?Supplies
?Sanitation of implements
?Materials and containers
?Nail cosmetic supplies
?Table top set up
?Nail shape
?Plain manicure
?Finishing the nails
?Male manicure
?Paraffin wax treatment
?Hand massage

10. Basic Pedicure
?Supplies
?Pre-service
?Performing a pedicure
?Foot massage

11. Advanced Nail Techniques
?Nail Tips
?Application

12. Acrylic Overlay Tips
?Acrylic powers
?Supplies
?Pre-service
?Application
?Refills
?Maintenance
?Removal

13. U.V Gel System
?Preparation
?French manicure
?Gel maintenance
?Gel removal

14. Nail Wraps
?Supplies
?Pre-service
?Application
?Maintaining,
?Removing
?Repairing fabric wraps
?Nail art

15. Areas of Nail Technician Work
?Mobile
?Home-based
?Salon-based

16. Safety at Work
?Control of substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
?Electric files

17. Aromatherapy recipes for Manicures and Pedicures
?Cuticle softening treatment
?Nail strengthening treatment
?Tired, swollen feet
?Cracked and dry feet

In order that we can assess your practical skills we require you to send in a full set of colour photographs for your tutor to check.
This must be your own work and verified by the person you have worked on and we must have a telephone number and signature on the back of each photograph.

· Plain Manicure
· French Manicure
· Full Varnish Manicure
· Manicure with Nail Art
· Pedicure with Clear Varnish
· Pedicure with Varnish colour of your choice.
· Set of Acrylics with white tips

Every student who orders this course will receive an excellent new DVD created by the author of the course.

DVD: Acrylic Nails and Tip Application
?Tips and Techniques from a professional Nail Technician
?Follow the step-by-step instructions contained on this DVD by one of the country’s greatest ever nail technicians
?A leading Nail Technician, will show you step by step how to perform Acrylic Nail Application

The DVD covers:
Getting to know your kit and supplies
?Client consultation
?Nail preparation
?Tip application
?Finishing
?End result- you will have a beautiful set of acrylic nails.

Student Comment:
I found the nail course a lot more interesting and detailed than I initially thought. Qualified nail technicians deserve a lot more credit than they receive and I realised this after I took the course. This is a great course jam packed with information and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in this area. The tutor's support throughout the course couldn't have been better and I couldn't have asked for more. She was quick to reply to any questions I had and provided detailed feedback to each of my assignments that I submitted. I also received the course within days of ordering (and I lived abroad when I first started the course) so you can get started immediately. Good luck to all you future nail technicians out there!  Clare Shirley