Are you ready to start your journey as a Nail Technician? At Wrapture Beauty Academy, your Nail Technician Student Kit is packed with everything you need to master professional nail techniques, while our structured 16-week program sets you on the path to success!
Here’s an inside look at what the next couple of weeks are going to look like for you + what’s in your kit:
What’s in My Nail Technician Student Kit?
Your student kit includes high-quality, professional supplies to help you develop confidence and expertise in nail care and artistry.
- Nail Prep & Application Tools – Cuticle pushers, nippers, clippers, and buffers for precision grooming.
- Enhancement & Sculpting Tools – Acrylic brushes, gel brushes, and nail forms for perfect extensions.
- Electric & Manual Filing Tools – E-file with drill bits and hand files for shaping and refining.
- Sanitation & Safety Essentials – Disposable gloves, disinfectants, and wipes to maintain hygiene.
- Practice & Training Materials – Nail tips, display wheels, and practice fingers to hone your skills.
This kit ensures you have everything needed to practice, perfect, and perform professional services with confidence!
Nail Technician Program Overview
Becoming a licensed Nail Technician in Manitoba is a structured process designed to ensure you gain the skills, experience, and certification required to succeed.
Schedule:
During your program, you will learn theory and practice providing and receiving nail services with your classmates from Tuesday to Thursday. On Fridays—and one Saturday a month—you’ll put your skills to work by offering services to models, including friends, family, or members of the public.
Here’s a breakdown of your week:
Theory: Learning the Science of Beauty
Your week starts on Tuesdays and the day starts with theory—because before you can master hands-on skills, you need to understand the science behind them. You will learn about nail science, product ingredients, and safety protocols, setting a strong foundation for your career.
Hands-On Training
Once you have covered the basics in theory, it is time to put your knowledge into action. Afternoon hands-on training sessions typically begin soon in your program. First, you will practice on your classmates and experience both sides of the service—giving and receiving treatments. This helps you understand not just how to perform the service, but what the client feels.
If a treatment includes precision techniques that require more repetition to master—such as nail extensions —you will also get access to additional practice on mannequins.
Program Overview
During your training, you’ll gain hands-on experience in:
✔ Manicures & Pedicures – Basic, spa, gel polish, hot oil, paraffin treatments.
✔ Artificial Nail Enhancements – Gel, acrylic, fibreglass, sculpting, overlays, and fills.
✔ Nail Art & Customization – Nail design, artificial toenails, fabric wraps.
✔ Sanitation & Safety – Workplace hygiene, sterilization, and client safety.
✔ Business & Client Management – Salon operations, retail, and client services.
Friday: Working with Live Models (+ 1 Saturday a month)
After mastering treatments on classmates, you will start working on models. These can be friends, family, or even members of the public looking for beauty treatments at a fraction of spa prices.
Your first few models might be people you already know, which can help ease first-time nerves. “I find that when we reach this point, it makes it a bit easier the first time if it is a friend or family member,” educator Mel shares. “That being said, you do want to practice what real life will be like by offering services to strangers, too.”
Practicum Breakdown: Everything You'll Do!
To successfully complete your practicum, you’ll need to perform:
✔ 15 Basic Manicures
✔ 2 Spa Manicures
✔ 2 Hot Oil Manicures
✔ 2 Paraffin Treatments
✔ 2 Gel Polish/Shellac Manicures
✔ 10 Hand & Arm Massages (included in manicure time)
✔ 15 Basic Pedicures
✔ 10 Foot Massages (included in pedicure time)
✔ 4 Tip Applications
✔ 2 Gel Overlays
✔ 2 Acrylic Overlays
✔ 2 Fibreglass Overlays
✔ 2 Sculptured Gel Nails
✔ 1 Sculptured French Gel Nails
✔ 1 Sculptured French Acrylic Nails
✔ 1 Fabric Wrap Application
✔ 1 Artificial Toenail Application
✔ 1 Nail Art Design
How to Get Practicum Models and Future Clients
Practicum is the time to start building your personal brand. Posting model calls on your social media beauty student account helps fill your practice appointments and starts attracting potential clients. Educator Mel encourages students to think ahead:
“When you work in a spa, you will experience more success if you have a personal esthetician brand. Even if your spa has a marketing strategy, clients also want to relate to a person, not just a business. Start now with a dedicated account by sharing your student journey and growing your audience.”
Plus, if you tag the school account as a student, we’ll repost your model calls, giving you access to an audience of thousands! This will make it much easier for you to acquire the models you need.
That’s not all: Students who create a dedicated beauty account while still in school find it easier to transition into their career. By the time you graduate, you often have already started to build a client base that follows you wherever you go to eventually apprentice if they know where to find you (aka: if they started following your account while you were in school).
Read More: 5 Reasons Why Personal Branding Matters for Estheticians
Your Pathway to Licensing
- 16-Week Nail Technician Diploma Program – Learn theory and hands-on skills in manicures, pedicures, artificial nails, and salon management.
- Practical Diploma Exam – Complete your diploma and demonstrate your expertise. Congratulations on graduating!
- 1,000 Hours of Apprenticeship – Acquire your first job and work as a registered apprentice to gain real-world experience for about a year.
- Written Licensing Exam – Once you have completed your apprenticeship, pass the provincial exam to earn your Nail Technician license.
Once licensed, you can freelance or work for any beauty business, offering professional nail services in salons, spas, or even your own business!
What to Expect from Your Nail Technician Practical Exam
In the Apprenticeship Manitoba practical exam, candidates are assessed on essential practical skills, including:
- Nail Shaping and Cuticle Work: Pedicures and manicures.
- Callus Removal: Properly addressing foot care needs.
- Massage Techniques: Hand, arm, foot, and leg massage.
- French Polish Application: Mastering the classic look.
- Gel and Acrylic Nail Application: Sculptured nails with overlays.
- Red Polish Application: Precision and neatness.
Recap
The Nail Technician Diploma Program is perfect for individuals passionate about nail art and nail care. You will love it if you enjoy working with intricate technique and want to offer clients routine nail care services they are excited about.
What to Expect: Becoming a Nail Technician takes approximately 4 months of schooling. Once you graduate, expect about 1 year of apprenticeship (to be precise: 1,000 hours). In total, the journey takes just under 1.5 years.
Career Opportunities: Graduates often pursue roles in nail salons, spas, beauty studios, or even start their own businesses specializing in nail care and design once they are licensed. Many go on to advance their education to expand their scope with exciting new services!
This information is accurate on the publication date of this article. Contact us for the most up-to-date information. No matter where you are in Canada, always check with your provincial authorities to ensure compliance with the regulations for offering beauty services professionally.