College of DuPage Offers Nail Technology Certificate Program

Students in the new Nail Technology certificate program at College of DuPage will gain the skills to work as nail technicians, pedicurists, manicurists and sales representatives.

Recently approved by the Illinois Community College Board and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the certificate prepares students to take the state licensing test and then find employment as a nail technician. The 16-credit hour program can be completed in as little as one semester, providing quick entry into the workforce.

"This is an in-demand career field," said Mia Boyd, Instructor for the Cosmetology program at College of DuPage. "There's currently a boom in cosmetology and this is a part of it."

According to Illinois Pathways, the employment outlook for nail technicians is expected to increase 23 percent through 2020, with a growth rate of 31 percent predicted for DuPage County.

"You can work for yourself, in a salon environment or for a company. You can work in fashion or retail. You can even cater to men or to women," Boyd said. "Students can devise their own plans for success."

Students are not required to have prior skills in the field. Classes also cover safety and business skills, including managing and marketing your own business, as well as dealing with the ups and downs of the economy.

"This is an industry that always survives in any economy, and right now there's a high demand for natural nails and nail art, which is making a comeback," Boyd said. "The jobs are there for anyone to take."

College of DuPage is an accredited community college that serves more than 29,000 students each term. The College, which grants nine associate degrees and more than 170 certificates in 100 areas of study, is the second largest provider of public undergraduate education in Illinois.

Information sessions about the Cosmetology program will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 14, at the College of DuPage Addison Center, 310 S. Swift Road, Door 14. Click here for a video on the program.

For more information about the Nail Technology certificate or the Cosmetology program, call (630) 942-2502 or email gayanna@cod.edu.