Nail Services Technician

On a nail services technician apprenticeship course, you’ll offer a range of services for clients’ nails. Customers may get a range of nail services from a nail services expert. You will work alone or as part of a team in this job, with the help of a salon or nail bar manager.

You’ll show a want to learn, a curious mind, and a desire to learn about your chosen career. You’ll have a strong work ethic and a strong drive to learn and develop professionally.

You’ll be responsible for providing one-on-one nail treatments to individual clients while following company schedules. The work is fast-paced and customer-focused, requiring you to offer a range of customised nail treatments, guidance, and product suggestions while following legal, industry, and organisational standards and codes of practice.

Your workplace’s size, style, and atmosphere may vary from a cruise ship to small nail bars or stations, retail settings, luxury high-end beauty salons or spas.

What you’ll learn

On a nail services technician apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

• Carry out and uphold the nail service industry’s professionalism requirements while also showing a passion for the industry: show creativity; meet organisational and industry appearance standards working under pressure, time management, and self-management; demonstrate respect for equality and diversity; providing services in a fiscally viable time frame and of high-quality information and recommendations on nail treatments, aftercare, and appointments safeguard the confidentiality and consumer rights while enabling a pleasant client journey and experience, show excellent verbal and nonverbal communication skills; address problems within the job’s scope and responsibilities as quickly as feasible, seeking assistance from a senior member of staff as needed.
• Maintain effective, hygienic, and safe working methods; meet health and safety considerations; follow workplace, supplier, or manufacturer instructions for the safe use of equipment, materials, and products; respect the customer’s modesty, privacy, and comfort; and reduce the risk of cross-infection, injury, or fatigue. Encourage environmentally friendly, and sustainable working practises, ensuring personal hygiene and protection fulfils standards.
• Assess the customer’s or client’s requirements and provide manicure services using nail supplies and equipment.
• Assess customers’/clients’ needs and offer pedicure treatments using nail supplies and equipment.
• Advise, demonstrate, and propose methods and products for enhancing the appearance of the nails and hands to customers/clients; create and advise on reservations.
• Consult with customers/clients before planning, arranging, and performing gel polish services on them. Gel polish services for customers/clients should be maintained and removed regularly.
• Consult, plan, arrange, and provide nail enhancement services to customers/clients, such as natural nail overlays, tips and overlays, and nail enhancement maintenance and removal.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Depending on the employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience.
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises two distinct assessment methods: 

• Knowledge Test 
• Observation 

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 2 Nail Services Technician Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.