Nail Technician

Students will acquire a broad knowledge of both the science and art of nail technology and be able to use the knowledge as a foundation to become a professional nail technician. For the student to develop his/her physical dexterity and manipulative skills and develop loyalty and enthusiasm for the profession. For the student to acquire ethical standards and work to achieve ability through diligent practice, continuous study, hard work and perseverance, and be able to use his or her initiative to produce professional results. To prepare students for the Maryland State Board of Examination and entry-level employment. The program holds 250 hours of instruction.

Nail technician is the cosmetic treatment of the hands, feet, legs, arms, and nails. The purpose of the cosmetic treatment is to improve the appearance of the hands, legs, arms, feet, and nails. The actual performance of the many techniques employed by the nail technician is referred to as the art of manicuring/pedicuring. Practical performance demonstration and practice are employed in conjunction with the study of theory.

Program objectives. Upon completion of the Nail Technician program, the student will be able to:

• Analyze nail and foot problems and administer corrective treatments.
• Recognize nail and skin disorders, irregularities and diseases of the foot and hand.
• Identify the anatomy and physiology of the arm, hand, foot, leg, and nail structure.
• Select and use the correct equipment, implements, materials and cosmetics for a manicure/pedicure, and prepare a manicure/pedicure table for the service.
• Administer the physical techniques of massage.
• Perform a plain and oil manicure/pedicure and men's manicures.
• Perform full nail, half-moon nail and free edge nail polish applications.
• Perform nail wraps, nail repairs, and nail extensions (tips, caps, press-on artificial nails), nail sculpturing and fill-ins.
• Practice and employ the rules, regulations, and laws of the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists.
• Practice good salesmanship and seek and obtain employment.

Licensing examination. To be eligible for examination to receive a Manicurist's license, the applicant shall be at least 17 years old, have a minimum ninth (9th) grade education, and have completed 250 hours of fundamental training according to the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists mandatory minimum standard curriculum. Criminal convictions may affect a student's ability to be licensed.

Award Beauty School has been training students in Hagerstown, Maryland, and the tri-state area for over fifty (50) years. The facility features modern beauty equipment, separate theory classrooms, and a modern laboratory where advanced students receive practical and clinical training. Award Beauty School is approved for financial aid programs and offers job placement assistance upon graduation.

Facilities. The school is located at 26 East Antietam Street, Hagerstown, Maryland, and has been in operation since 1963. The building has two floors of classrooms, is equipped with modern equipment and is approximately 5,476 square feet. In 2010 Award Beauty School expanded its campus to a building directly across the street at 29-33 East Antietam Street, approximately 4,000 square feet, which teaches the Cosmetology Program. The school maintains a student/instructor ratio of 25/1, and students have access to all services at both facilities.

A personal interview and visit to the school are required of all prospective students. An applicant may enroll in Award Beauty School after the successful completion of the following criteria: meet all admission requirements, sign an enrollment agreement with the school, and obtain a class start date. All requirements must be met prior to beginning class.

Applicants who possess a cosmetology, barber or esthetician diploma and request credit for 750 cosmetology hours, 600 barber hours or 150 esthetician hours must present a copy of their cosmetology/barber/esthetician diploma prior to enrollment and request this credit. Students who withdraw prior to completion of the program and wish to re-enroll will return in the same Satisfactory Academic Progress status as at the time of withdrawal.

20 hours per week, day or evening (12.5 weeks); day 8:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Monday through Friday, or evening 5:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Saturday.

Start dates. Students may enroll during business hours at Award Beauty School. Day classes begin the first Monday of each month; evening classes begin the first Tuesday evening of each month. Upcoming day-class starts: November 2, 2026; December 7, 2026; January 4, 2027; February 1, 2027; March 1, 2027; April 5, 2027; May 3, 2027; June 7, 2027. Training days missed due to inclement weather may be made up at the end of the program.

Day attendance schedules (Cosmetology, Barbering, Nail Technician, Esthetics). 40 hours: 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. 30 hours: 8:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. 25 hours: 8:30 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Monday through Friday. 20 hours: 8:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Monday through Friday (Cosmetology and Nail Technician) or 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.

Evening attendance schedules (Cosmetology, Barbering, Nail Technician and Esthetics). 30 hours: 1:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (students may begin one day of attendance at 1:30 P.M.) and 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Saturday. 25 hours: 2:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (students may begin one day of attendance at 3:30 P.M.) and 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Saturday. 20 hours: 5:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Saturday.

Cost of attendance. Nail Technician Program - 250 hours of instruction: Tuition $3,300; Enrollment Fee $150; Kit/Books/Uniform $795; Total Cost $4,245. The fees for tuition, student kit and book represent the total funds to be paid by the student.

Financial aid. The Nail Technician Program is NOT approved for Title IV Funds. Award Beauty School also offers private funding sources to fulfill your educational needs.

Methods of payment. Cash, Check, Credit Card, or Money Order. If a student chooses to pay their tuition in increments, a monthly in-school payment plan may be set up, contingent upon approval by the school Director.

Kit, books and uniform. Each student shall be supplied with a student kit on the first day of class. As an additional expense, each student shall be required to purchase, by the first day of school, a white uniform/black pants (approximately $25.00), white closed toe professional shoes or white leather sneakers, notebook, and pen and pencils. In lieu of kit and books fee, students may purchase their own kit and books on the open market. Not included in the total cost would be the cost for supplies and/or equipment for personal use.

Refunds. Refunds follow the Maryland Higher Education Commission Refund Policy published in the catalog; the cost of the Kit/Books/Uniform becomes the property of the student when issued on the first day of class.

Once the student has completed the program and passed the Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists examination for licensure, he or she will be qualified to obtain employment as a nail technician in a salon, a demonstrator for a cosmetic firm, or a manicurist/pedicurist in a department store salon as well as other opportunities.

Career opportunities in the nail technician industry. Nail Wrap Technician, Manufacturer's Representative, Nail Stylist, Nail Salon Assistant, Pedicuring Technician, Nail Artist, Artificial Nail Specialist, Nail Bonding Technician.

Nail Technician program outcome rates (2023). According to the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences: Graduation Rate 86.96%, Licensure Rate 100.00%, Placement Rate 86.75%.

Institutional outcome rates (2023). According to the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences, the 2023 institutional outcome rates are: Graduation Rate 67.95%, License Exam Pass Rate 100.00%, Placement Rate 79.07%.

Placement assistance. The school offers job placement services to help graduates' efforts to secure employment in the field represented by the program the graduate completed, or in a related field, including a professional appearance guideline, job referral and follow-up. The school will assist students with resume writing and scheduling interviews with prospective employers; the school does not guarantee employment. Award Beauty School maintains a job placement resource for which prospective jobs are posted and updated on a frequent basis.

The Ultimate Educational Experience. Award Beauty School provides a solid foundation of disciplines to support your career growth. In addition to a full curriculum of classroom instruction, Award Beauty School also provides the ultimate educational experience—hands-on training in the classroom salon/clinic. The on-site, active salon/clinic is a real salon environment where students who have achieved a set number of classroom hours can work on paying clients under teacher supervision. Although no school or college can guarantee a job for its graduates, at Award Beauty School we do our best to provide lifetime placement assistance to our graduates.

Getting here. Public transportation is readily available to and from Award Beauty School, and parking is adjacent to the school. Monthly discounted parking passes are available to purchase directly from the city of Hagerstown for the city-parking garage.