NAIL COURSES
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✓ ABT, IPHM and IGCT accredited · ★ 1,345 reviews · Teaching since 2008 · Pay in 3 with Klarna
Browse by course type, or skip straight to advice and FAQs.
Train as a nail technician from home with our accredited Nail Courses. Learn gel, acrylic, Builder in a Bottle and nail art through step-by-step video lessons and tutor-marked case studies, with tutor feedback on your practical work as you progress.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Pick the option that sounds most like you.
I'm a Complete Beginner
The Complete Nail Technician Course brings together manicure, gel polish, gel extensions, acrylic and Builder in a Bottle in one package: a comprehensive starting point for beginners.
I Want Every Nail Skill
The Ultimate Nail Course is 11 courses in one, from manicure and pedicure to sculpting, fibreglass and nail art.
I'm Already Qualified
Add a single skill such as acrylic, builder gel, eFile or nail art to widen the treatments you offer.
Nail Course Packages
Learn several techniques together in one package. A comprehensive starting point if you want to work towards offering professional nail treatments.
- Lifetime Course Access
- Tutor Feedback & Support
- Accredited Diploma Certificates
- Private Student Group Access
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Start with gel: learn polish, extensions and builder gel, with tutor feedback until you feel ready for your first clients.
5 courses in one package.
Free Bonus 10-book Beauty Business eBook Bundle
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Start from scratch and build the core nail skills, with tutor feedback until you feel ready for your first clients.
5 courses in one package.
Free Bonus 10-book Beauty Business eBook Bundle
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Learn every nail skill we teach, from manicure to sculpting, with tutor feedback as you build towards working with clients.
- Manicure
- Pedicure
- Gel Polish
- Builder (Hard) Gel
- Gel Extensions
- Nail Art
- Gel Polish Nail Art
- Quick Dip Acrylics
- Fibreglass & Silk Extensions
- Nail Sculpting
- Acrylic Extensions
11 courses in one package.
Free Bonus 10-book Beauty Business eBook Bundle
- Instant access: start as soon as you enrol
- A separate accredited certificate for each course
- Unlimited resubmissions if an assessment needs another try
- Business training included to help you launch
- Optional professional kits from £84, or use your own products
- 14 days to cancel before you access your course materials (see terms)
Most students finish their training in a few weeks to a few months.
After doing so much research on how to get started to becoming a nail tech after 23 years nursing and counting.. I found next step. You can learn in your own time and its very easy to follow along. Its informative and the support is next level. I am committed to doing this and have found it so much fun. Its very reasonable cost wise. Don’t wait, just do it.. absolutely over the moon with next step 💅
I recently enrolled in a nail course with next step beauty and it exceeded my expectations. The course is well structured easy to follow and packed with valuable knowledge. Victoria explains every technique clearly and attention to detail in all areas. I would highly recommend the next step beauty courses it’s a worthwhile investment that delivers real skills, knowledge and confidence.
Purchased the nail tech course, there’s a lot to learn & I am slowly working my way through I can learn at my own pace & time & this fits in with my current job & kids etc. The videos are full of information, I have learnt so much already. There is always someone to help if needed. So far I am very pleased & would recommend.
I have just passed the gel nail course on next step beauty, the course was great because I could take my time and go at my own pace. It’s easy to get in touch if you need any help and your problem is solved straight away.
I decided to sign up to complete my gel nail courses through next step due to a friend recommending it! I would not look back! Everything you need to get started is all available to you when you sign up, endless workbooks, step by step guides and videos! The team are also so incredibly helpful
I have recently completed the E file course with Next Step Beauty and this is the 4th course I have studied with them. I am a nail tech of 17 years and find the courses great for expanding my knowledge and keeping up with new techniques. Victoria’s videos are enjoyable to watch and informative. I would highly recommend.
I really enjoyed this course. I did my nail technician one with next step. I loved learning new things and if I needed to speak with anyone they got back to be right away. I like I can look back over my workbooks and any training material if I need to.
Meet Your Tutor
Victoria Arpels BA (Hons), Cert Ed
Victoria trained in beauty therapy, worked in a busy spa and lectured in further education colleges before founding Next Step Beauty in 2008. Since then, Next Step Beauty has taught more than 100,000 students, with learners in 65 countries and territories across six continents. Victoria demonstrates the techniques in our nail course videos and, with our tutor team, supports students through personal feedback on their case studies and our private student groups.
Beginner Nail Courses
Core skills every nail technician needs, from a classic manicure to long-lasting gel polish.
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Nail Extension & Enhancement Courses
Popular salon treatments including acrylic, gel and builder gel.
See All Nail Extension Courses → Acrylic Courses → Gel Courses →
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Nail Art & Finishing Courses
Add designs, ombre and perfect French smile lines to stand out from other nail technicians.
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Request a Free Callback
Not sure which course is right for you? Leave your number and our friendly team will call you back to help you choose.
What's Included with Every Nail Course
Lifetime Access
Study at your own pace with no deadlines and keep your course materials for life.
Tutor Feedback
Submit case studies and get personal feedback from our tutors.
Accredited Diploma
Receive a certificate accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT when you complete your course.
Recognised by Insurers
Recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. Check cover with your chosen provider.
Optional Kit
Add a professional nail kit to your course, or use your own products.
Private Student Groups
Join our private student groups to ask questions, share your work and learn alongside other students.
After Your Course: From Diploma to Your First Clients
Finishing your course is the start of the next step. Here’s how students go from learning to working with clients.
1. Get Your Diploma
Pass your assessed case studies and receive your accredited diploma certificate. If an assessment needs another try, you can resubmit as many times as you need.
2. Get Insured
Our accreditations are recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. Choose cover that fits how you plan to work, from home, mobile or in a salon.
3. Plan Your Business
Business training is included with every course to help you launch and grow your own nail business, from setting your prices to finding your first clients.
4. Build Your Confidence
Keep practising on friends and family to build speed and consistency, then take your first paying clients when you feel ready. Your course materials are yours for life, and our private student groups are there for support.
5. Keep Growing
Add new treatments such as nail art, ombre or eFile as your client list grows, so you can offer more to the clients you have.
Why Choose a Career in Nails?
Nails is one of the fastest-growing parts of the UK beauty industry, and it’s a career you can shape around your life.
- Creative work: every client is a chance to try new designs, shapes and trends.
- Flexible: fit appointments around family, another job or study.
- Repeat clients: gel and extension infills bring clients back every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Low start-up costs: you can start from home with a kit and a table, then grow.
Salon growth figures: National Hair & Beauty Federation industry statistics (2024).
Popular Nail Techniques Explained
Not sure what the difference is? Here are the techniques clients ask for most, and the course that teaches each one.
Gel Polish
A glossy colour that’s cured under a UV/LED lamp and lasts up to 3 to 4 weeks without chipping. The treatment most new nail techs learn first.
Builder in a Bottle (BIAB)
A thicker builder gel brushed on straight from the bottle to strengthen natural nails or add a little length. One of the most requested salon treatments.
Acrylic Nails
A liquid and powder mix that hardens into strong, long-lasting extensions. Ideal for length, shape and bold designs.
Ombre Nails
Two or more colours blended into a soft gradient, including the popular French ombre and milky ombre looks.
Nail Courses UK: Train as an Accredited Nail Technician
Our accredited online nail courses let you train as a nail technician from home, at your own pace. Every course combines step-by-step video tutorials, downloadable workbooks and practical case studies, so you build real salon skills rather than just theory. Whether you are completely new to nails or already qualified and adding a new treatment, there is a course to suit you.
How Our Online Nail Technician Courses Work
Once you enrol, you get instant access to your course through our online learning portal. You watch each technique demonstrated, practise it yourself, then submit case studies for personal tutor feedback. There are no deadlines and you keep lifetime access to your materials, so you can fit your training around work and family. If an assessment needs another try, you can resubmit as many times as you need.
Which Nail Course Should You Choose?
If you are starting from scratch, the Complete Nail Technician Course is a comprehensive starting point for beginners. It brings together manicure, gel polish, gel extensions, acrylic extensions and Builder in a Bottle, covering core salon nail treatments. For the widest range of skills, the Ultimate Nail Course includes 11 courses, from pedicure and sculpting to fibreglass and nail art.
Already qualified? Choose a single course to add a new service, such as an acrylic nail course, gel extensions course, Builder in a Bottle course, gel polish course or nail art course.
You can also browse our courses by type: beginner nail courses, nail extension courses, gel nail courses, acrylic nail courses, nail art courses and advanced nail courses for qualified technicians.
Accredited Courses Recognised by Insurers
All of our nail courses are accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT. When you complete your course you receive an accredited diploma certificate. These accreditations are recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. Always check cover requirements with your chosen insurer before working on clients, whether you plan to work in a salon, go mobile or set up your own nail business.
Why Train With Next Step Beauty?
Next Step Beauty was founded in 2008 by Victoria Arpels and has students across 65 countries and territories. Our GLAM 70-20-10 learning model focuses on practical skills first, backed by tutor support and business training to help you launch and grow your own nail business. You can add an optional professional nail kit, spread the cost with Klarna or EziPay, and join our private student groups for support and connection.
Accreditation & Insurance
Accredited by leading industry bodies and recognised by UK insurers
Mastering Your Beauty Business Launch
Training gives you the skills. This free guide shows you what comes next, so you can take on your first paying clients with confidence and do it properly from day one.
- Getting set up properly – registering as self-employed and choosing the right business structure
- Protecting yourself and your clients – the insurance, hygiene standards and licences you may need
- Deciding where you’ll work – mobile, from home or renting salon space, compared side by side
- Pricing your treatments – working out your start-up costs and setting prices you can sustain
- Winning clients who come back – consultations, trust and turning first bookings into regulars
- Workbook exercises after every chapter – so you finish with a plan, not just notes
Nail Course FAQs
Do I Need a Qualification to Work as a Nail Technician?
Every Next Step Beauty nail course is accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT, and you receive a diploma certificate when you complete it. Requirements vary between insurers, salons and employers, so check what they need before you start working with clients.
Are Your Nail Courses the Same as a Level 2 or Level 3 Qualification?
Our nail courses are accredited diplomas, recognised by ABT, IPHM and IGCT. They are not Ofqual-regulated Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications, which are usually taken at college over a longer period. For most people starting out, what matters is being able to get insured, and our accreditations are recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. Some salons or employers ask for a regulated qualification, so check what they need if you plan to apply for salon jobs.
Do I Need a Licence to Do Nails in the UK?
There’s no national licence to work as a nail technician in the UK, but some councils license the premises where treatments take place. In London, for example, salons offering manicures, pedicures and nail extensions need a special treatment licence under the London Local Authorities Act 1991, while fully mobile services in clients’ homes are usually exempt. Rules vary between areas, so check with your local council before you start and make sure you’re insured.
Can I Get Insured After an Online Nail Course?
Our accreditations are recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. Each insurer sets its own requirements, so check cover with your chosen provider once you complete your course.
How Long Does It Take to Qualify?
Courses are self-paced with no deadline and lifetime access. Most students complete their training within a few weeks to a few months.
What Can a Nail Technician Earn?
The National Careers Service puts typical employed salaries at around £19,000 for new nail technicians, rising to around £23,000 with experience. Many nail techs work freelance, mobile or from home, where earnings depend on the prices you set, the treatments you offer and how many clients you see each week. Adding skills like extensions and nail art lets you offer higher-value treatments.
Is There Demand for Nail Technicians?
Yes. According to the National Hair & Beauty Federation, 1,680 new nail salons opened in the UK over five years, an 8% increase. Treatments like gel polish, BIAB and extensions need regular appointments, so a loyal client list brings you repeat work every few weeks.
Are Your Nail Courses Suitable for Complete Beginners?
Yes. Our courses are designed for beginners and experienced nail technicians alike. If you are new to nails, the Complete Nail Technician Course is the best place to start.
How Does Practical Training Work Online?
You learn through step-by-step video tutorials and guided assignments, then submit case studies for tutor feedback. You can retake assessments as many times as you need.
Are Online Nail Courses as Good as In-Person Training?
Online courses let you learn at your own pace, with step-by-step videos you can rewatch as often as you need. On our courses you practise on models and submit case studies, and our tutors give you personal feedback on your work. Every course is accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT and recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. In-person training suits people who prefer hands-on correction in a classroom, so choose the format that fits the way you learn.
Are There Nail Courses Near Me?
Our nail courses are online, so you can train from home anywhere in the UK. There is no need to travel to a training centre or fit around set class dates. You learn from step-by-step video lessons, practise on your own schedule and send in case studies for personal tutor feedback.
What Equipment Does a Nail Technician Need?
The basics are nail files and buffers, a cuticle pusher and nippers, sanitiser and nail prep products, towels and a comfortable workstation. Depending on the treatments you offer, you’ll also need gel polishes and a UV/LED lamp, builder gel or Builder in a Bottle, or acrylic liquid, powder, brushes and tips. You can add a matching professional kit to your course, or use your own products.
Do I Need to Buy a Nail Kit?
No, kits are optional. You can add a professional kit to your course or use your own products.
How Much Does a Nail Course Cost?
In our current sale, nail art courses start from £35 and core technique courses such as manicure, gel polish and acrylic are £75. The Complete Nail Technician Course, which includes manicure, gel polish, gel extensions, acrylic and Builder in a Bottle, is £245, five courses worth £375 if bought separately. You can spread the cost over 3 interest-free payments with Klarna or EziPay, and every course includes lifetime access and tutor feedback.
Can I Pay Monthly?
Yes. You can spread the cost over 3 months with Klarna or EziPay, with no interest.