Nail Technician is a Certificate program offered by Graduate America College in Garland, TX. The program takes 600 clock hours — 5 months to complete, with a total tuition of $7,500.
Program Overview
The Nail Technician program is a 600-hour TDLR-approved certificate providing comprehensive nail care training. Students master manicures, pedicures, gel and acrylic nail enhancements, and nail art techniques. Training covers nail anatomy, disorders, sanitation, and client consultation. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) manicurist examination.
Program description. The Nail Technician Course offers basic to intermediate theory and clinic practices in all phases of Nail Technology.
Licensure. Upon successful completion of this program, graduates are eligible to sit for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) Manicurist examination.
Required textbooks. Milady Standard Foundations & Nail Technology eBooks; Texas Barbering and Cosmetology Laws & Rules Handbook.
What you'll learn.
- Perform professional manicure and pedicure services
- Apply gel and acrylic nail enhancement systems
- Create nail art designs using current techniques
- Identify nail anatomy, disorders, and contraindications
- Practice sanitation and infection control protocols
- Prepare for TDLR Texas state manicurist examination
What sets this Program apart
A Garland beauty and barbering campus. The school is housed in a modern shopping center in Northeast Garland, reached by three major freeways, with bus routes within walking distance. The 5,850 square foot school has separate classrooms, clinic floors with beginning and advanced sections, a dispensary, offices for counseling, and a student library with books, films and reference material. The school was remodeled in November 2022.
Since 1969. The institution was originally founded in October 1969 as National Beauty School #5. In 2022 it was acquired by Graduate America, Inc., and the name was officially changed to Graduate America College in November 2023. Graduate America College operates independently and is not part of a chain or franchise.
Career services from day 1. Resume development, interview preparation, state licensure exam guidance, and employer connections for cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, nail technology, and eyelash extension graduates in the Dallas–Fort Worth market.
Admission Requirements and Process
To be eligible for admission, applicants must be at least 17 years of age; have a valid ID such as a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport; have a correct Social Security number or ITIN number; and have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent.
Proof of education. A copy of a high school diploma or transcript showing date of graduation; a copy of an associate's degree; a diploma from a foreign school along with a completed General Statement of Equivalency; a notarized English translation of a diploma; or a home-schooled certificate by the state or General Education Diploma (GED). The Admissions Policy also lists completing an ability-to-benefit (ATB) alternative; the catalog's Ability-to-Benefit Policy states that the Garland campus does not admit students under the ATB provision.
Enrollment process. Fill out the application for enrollment, have an interview with an admissions representative, submit a completed Enrollment Contract with a $150.00 registration fee, and document proof of age (driver's license, birth certificate, or passport) and of immigration status. Students are not required to provide proof of up-to-date vaccinations.
English proficiency. All instruction is conducted in English. Students should possess sufficient English language skills to understand instruction, read materials, communicate with instructors and clients, and complete examinations.
Transfer students. Graduate America College may accept transfer hours on a case-by-case basis; hours from another school are evaluated on official transcripts.
General Requirements
- At least 17 years of ageBe at least 17 years of age, documented by a driver's license, birth certificate, or passport.
- Valid photo IDHave a valid ID such as a driver's license, state-issued ID, or passport.
- Social Security number or ITINHave a correct Social Security number or ITIN number.
- High school diploma or equivalentProvide a high school diploma or transcript showing the graduation date, a GED, an associate's degree, a state home-school certificate, or a foreign diploma with a General…
- Proof of immigration statusDocument proof of immigration status as part of enrollment.
- Enrollment contractSubmit a completed Enrollment Contract with the $150.00 registration fee.
Application Process
- 1Campus tourContact the Admissions Office to schedule a campus tour and receive program information; tour the facilities, meet instructors and students, and review equipment and classrooms.
- 2Submit your applicationFill out the application for enrollment and submit the required documents: valid government-issued photo ID, high school diploma or GED certificate, Social Security card, and proof of residency.
- 3Admissions interviewMeet with an Admissions Representative to discuss program options and career goals.
- 4Financial planningMeet with Financial Aid (if applicable), complete FAFSA, and review payment options.
- 5Enrollment agreementReview and sign the Enrollment Agreement. A three-day cancellation period begins upon signing.
- 6Orientation and class startAttend mandatory orientation, receive your student kit, review school policies, and begin classes on the scheduled start date.
Program Schedule
600 clock hours. The program page lists a program length of 5 months.
Clock hours. A clock hour is a period of 60 minutes, including a minimum of 50 minutes of supervised instruction and a maximum of 10 minutes of break time. Students must complete their program within 150% of the published program length in calendar time; for example, a 1,000-hour program scheduled over 10 months must be completed within 15 months.
Campus hours. The Garland campus is open Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Required Courses
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Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Graduate America College is accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) and is licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR); it is approved and regulated by the Texas Workforce Commission.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition and fees. Tuition is $7,500. One-time fees are a $150 registration fee, a $50 application fee and a $50 graduation fee. Books and supplies amounts are pending in the catalog, so no total program cost is published.
Registration fee note. The same schedule notes that the registration fee is non-refundable and "not to exceed $100.00 as per TWC §807.262", while it lists $150.
Federal financial aid. Graduate America College is an eligible institution under the Higher Education Act (HEA) §487. Students may apply for federal financial aid, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans; to determine eligibility, students complete the FAFSA. Federal School Code: 016987. Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas WIOA grants, GI Bill® benefits, employer tuition reimbursement and Graduate America payment plans are also listed for Garland students.
Cancellation and refunds. Students may cancel enrollment prior to midnight of the third business day after signing the enrollment agreement, and all monies paid are refunded if requested within three business days. After that, refunds are based on clock hours completed: 80% of tuition for 0.01–4.9%, 70% for 5.0–9.9%, 45% for 10.0–24.9%, 25% for 25.0–49.9%, and no refund at 50% or more. Books, supplies, and kits are non-refundable once issued.
Curriculum
600 clock hours. The Garland catalog breaks the Nail Technician program into the subject areas and clock hours listed below.
Required Courses
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Career Outcomes
Career opportunities. Occupations a graduate is qualified for: Nail Technician, Salon Owner, Platform Demonstrator, Manufacturer Rep.
Earnings. Graduates are considered to be prepared to enter at or about entry level with compensation based on the national average. After two to five years a graduate can reasonably expect to be at or slightly above the national average income level.
Profile of graduates. Graduates of Graduate America College are skilled beauty professionals equipped with technical expertise, professionalism, and business acumen, prepared for roles as licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, nail technicians, salon managers, or entrepreneurs.
Placement assistance. Counseling is available to all students upon request and all graduates on professional responsibilities, resume writing, and job placement; placement assistance is provided on a continual basis. No promise of employment is made or expressed at any time.
What to expect as a Graduate America College student
Attendance. Students must attend all scheduled classes, labs, and clinical rotations; attendance is recorded daily, and students must maintain a minimum cumulative attendance rate of 80% to remain in good standing. An absence is missing more than 15 minutes of a scheduled class period; arriving more than 10 minutes late or leaving more than 10 minutes early is a tardy, and three documented tardies equal one unexcused absence.
Probation and termination. A student whose cumulative attendance falls below 80% is placed on attendance probation for 30 days. The school will terminate an enrollment after ten consecutive absent school days or failure to meet the terms of probation. Make-up work must be completed within 14 days of the absence and does not remove the absence from the record.
Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students must maintain a cumulative grade average of 70% and a minimum C letter grade in their theory and practical exams, and complete the program within 150% of the published program length.
Leave of absence. A leave of absence must be requested in writing, signed, with reasons, before or on its effective dates; the minimum is one week, and total leave may not exceed 180 calendar days in a 12-month period.
Graduation. To graduate and receive a certificate, students complete the clock hours required by TDLR, hold a cumulative grade average of at least 70% on theory examinations and at least a C on practical examinations, and satisfy all financial obligations to the school.
Other Programs at Garland
Graduate America College in Garland, TX also offers these 7 programs at 1225 Beltline Rd, Suite 7, Garland, TX 75040.
- Barber CrossoverCertificate · 300 clock hours — 9 months
- Class A BarberCertificate · 1,000 clock hours — 8 months
- CosmetologyCertificate · 1,000 clock hours — 8 months
- Cosmetology CrossoverCertificate · 300 clock hours — 9 months
- EstheticianCertificate · 750 clock hours — 6 months
- Esthetician-Nail TechnicianCertificate · 800 clock hours — 6 months
- Eyelash Extension SpecialistCertificate · 320 clock hours — 8 weeks