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Nail Tech Schools in Illinois

A career as a professional nail technician can be both personally and financially rewarding. As a nail technician, you will have the opportunity to help people relax and feel good about themselves. You will also be able to build relationships with your clients and become an important part of their lives. In addition, a career as a professional nail technician can be quite lucrative. In Illinois, the average annual salary for a nail technician is over $32,000. With experience and training, you can easily earn significantly more than this amount. If you are interested in a career that is both personally and financially rewarding, then working as a professional nail technician in Illinois may be the right choice for you.

Check out our listings to find a nail tech school near you in Illinois.

Nail Tech Schools in Illinois

State Requirements for Nail Technician Licensing in Illinois

  • Three hundred fifty (350) hours of education from an accredited training program.
  • Mandatory license renewal every two (2) years.

How Much Do Illinois Nail Tech Programs Cost?

The cost of education varies from school to school but you can typically expect to pay between $3,500 and $5,000 after you factor in your nail kit, books, and tuition. As an example, the A+ Nail School in Chicago costs $3,900 once all costs are factored in.

Required Skills and Classes

In the state of Illinois, a licensed nail tech program will contain the following courses

  • Nail care history
  • Ethics
  • Bacteriology and sanitation
  • Body systems
  • Massage theory
  • Client communication
  • Sculpting procedures
  • Light-cured gels
  • Machines and apparatus
  • Manicuring
  • Pedicuring
  • Massaging the hands, arms, feet, and legs
  • Product knowledge
  • Salon management

State Licensing Exam

Continental Testing Services (CTS) will be providing the exams for Illinois.

To be eligible, the following requirements must be met:

  • Submit an examination application
  • Read and understand the nail technician study guide
  • Approval letter from CTS
  • Schedule and take the exam within 60 days of approval

The theoretical exam will contain the following topics:

  • Health and Safety
  • Infection Control
  • Handling and Storing Materials
  • Following Sanitation Procedures
  • Nail Care
  • Understanding Nail Composition and Structure
  • Analyzing and Caring for Nails
  • Nail Tech Services
  • Preparing for Manicures and Pedicures
  • Using Manicuring Tools
  • Applying Manicuring Techniques

For those that want to apply for a license via endorsement, the following requirements must be met:

  • Current holder of a license from a different jurisdiction
  • For those that have acquired education from a 350-hour program or less, added training from a 50-hour course from a licensed cosmetology school in Illinois will be needed.

The requirements must be submitted to

Continental Testing Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 100
LaGrange, IL 60252

How Much Do Nail Techs Get Paid in Illinois?

The nail art/care industry has been steadily growing within the last few years. It is estimated that by 2024, this industry will grow by as much as 10%. The average salary for this profession is $32,980 per year or $15.86 per hour.

Does Illinois Have Continuing Education Requirements for Nail Technicians?

A minimum of 14 hours of continued education is required for every license renewal period.

Contact Information for Licensing Board

For up to the date information or licensing questions, you can contact the governing body for nail techs in Illinois at:

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Address: 100 West Randolph, 9th Floor Chicago, IL 60601
Website: https://www.idfpr.com/profs/cosmo.asp
Call: 888-473-4858