Nail Technician Schools in Florida

If you want to become a nail technician—also called a nail specialist, manicurist and pedicurist, and nail tech—in Florida, now may be the perfect time to begin. The state is experiencing growth in the field. With the number of tourists visiting each year, you could have ample opportunity to perform services for residents and visitors alike.

Browse our directory of nail technician schools in Florida, or skip ahead to learn about the state's nail technician licensing requirements and job outlook.

Browse All Nail Technician Schools in Florida

For School Owners

Don't see your school listed? Want to discuss becoming a featured school in the directory? Contact us to learn more.

3665 East Bay Drive Suite 164
Largo, FL 33771

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Makeup Artistry

2800 34th Street North
St Petersburg, FL 33713

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Makeup Artistry, Barbering

985 East Memorial Boulevard
Lakeland, FL 33801

(863) 682-4247
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Barbering

4951-A Adamo Drive
Tampa, FL 33605

(813) 654-4529
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Barbering

744 Northeast 125th Street
Biscayne Park, FL 33161

Programs:
Barbering, Cosmetology, Nail Technology
Boca Beauty Academy – Accredited

7820 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33434

Programs:
Cosmetology, Hair Design, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Makeup Artistry, Electrology, Barbering
Boca Beauty Academy – Accredited

7329 North State Road 7
Parkland, FL 33073

Programs:
Cosmetology, Hair Design, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Makeup Artistry, Electrology, Barbering

5090 West 12th Avenue
Hialeah, FL 33012

(305) 639-8726
Programs:
Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Makeup Artistry, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology

8478 Southwest 8th Street
Miami, FL 33144

(305) 267-7277
Programs:
Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Makeup Artistry, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology
Florida Academy – Accredited

4387 Colonial Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33966

(239) 489-2282
Programs:
Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Massage Therapy, Nail Technology

51 North State Road 7
Plantation, FL 33317

(954) 791-1792
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Barbering

1271 Semoran Boulevard
Casselberry, FL 32707

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Electrology, Barbering

420 South State Road 7
Hollywood, FL 33023

(954) 922-5505
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Electrology, Barbering

5000 Coconut Creek Parkway C
Margate, FL 33063

(954) 781-2468
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Electrology, Barbering

7587-7599 South Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33405

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Electrology, Barbering

2620 Southwest 17th Road #700
Ocala, FL 34471

(954) 972-0635
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology

1901 North Federal Highway Unit 201
Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Barbering

2601 South Military Trail Suite 13
West Palm Beach, FL 33415

(561) 845-1400
Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Massage Therapy, Barbering

552 East Woolbright Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33435

(561) 733-2223
Programs:
Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Makeup Artistry, Nail Technology

3679 West Waters Avenue
Tampa, FL 33614

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Barbering

3244 Lithia Pinecrest Road
Valrico, FL 33594

Programs:
Cosmetology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, Barbering
Ad

Find Cosmetology Schools Near You

Academy of Beauty and Business – Accredited

3301 3rd Avenue North Street
St. Petersburg, FL 33713

Academy of Career Training – Accredited

3501 West Vine Street Suite 111
Kissimmee, FL 34741

Academy of Cosmetology – Accredited

2909 West New Haven Avenue
Melbourne, FL 32904

Academy of Cosmetology – Accredited

2088 North Courtenay Parkway
Merritt Island, FL 32953

Advantage Beauty Institute

8951 Bonita Beach Road Southeast
Bonita Springs, FL 34135

Affinity Hair Academy – Accredited

12313 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837

Affordable Training

7867 Lakeland Street
Jacksonville, FL 32221

American Academy of Cosmetology – Accredited

1330 Blanding Boulevard Suite 125
Orange Park, FL 32065

American Beauty Schools – Accredited

8150 Southwest 8th Street
Miami, FL 33144

ASM Beauty World Academy

6664 Stirling Road
Hollywood, FL 33020

Beauty Academy of South Florida – Accredited

9800 Northwest 77 Avenue
Hialeah Gardens, FL 33016

Beauty and Massage Institute – Accredited

719 17th Street Vero
Vero Beach, FL 32960

Beauty On Fleek School

1155 South Volusia Avenue Suite 108
Orange City, FL 32763

Bene's Career Academy – Accredited

698 South Broad Street
Brooksville, FL 34601

Bene's Career Academy – Accredited

7027 US-19
Port Richey, FL 34652

Beyond Institute & Career Center

2921 Vineland Road
Kissimmee, FL 34744

Cindy Lee's – Accredited

534 North Peninsula Drive
Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Electrolysis, Laser & Beauty Institute

1713 Foxbower Road
Orlando, FL 32825

Embelezze Beauty School

2239 Southwest 2nd Street
Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Fashion Focus Hair Academy

2184 Gulf Gate Drive
Sarasota, FL 34231

First Coast Technical College – Accredited

2980 Collins Avenue
Saint Augustine, FL 32084

Florida Academy of Beauty

1421 East Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32803

Florida Academy of Health & Beauty – Accredited

2901 West Oakland Park Boulevard B16
Oakland Park, FL 33311

Florida Dermal Institute Beauty School

2290 North Ronald Reagan Boulevard #108
Longwood, FL 32725

Florida Gateway College

149 Southeast College Place
Lake City, FL 32025

Focus 4 Beauty Career Institute

631 East Alexander Street
Plant City, FL 33563

Gadsden Technical Institute – Accredited

201 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Quincy, FL 32351

Hair In Motion Beauty Academy

851 East State Road 434 Suite 164
Longwood, FL 32750

Health and Beauty Institute of America

460 State Road 436 Suite 200
Casselberry, FL 32707

Hollywood Beauty Academy

11348 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837

International Academy – Accredited

2550 South Ridgewood Avenue
South Daytona, FL 32119

International Institute of Education

1507 State Road 7 Suite B
Margate, FL 33063

Jacksonville Health and Beauty School

5161 Beach Boulevard Suite 1&2
Jacksonville, FL 32207

Kaizen Beauty Academy – Accredited

8405 Pines Boulevard
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

KCK Beauty and Barber Academy – Accredited

10592 Balmoral Circle East #1
Jacksonville, FL 32218

La Belle Beauty Academy – Accredited

1495 West 49 Street
Hialeah, FL 33144

Lake Technical College – Accredited

2001 Kurt Street
Eustis, FL 32726

Latin Beauty Academy – Accredited

6348 Forest Hill Boulevard
Greenacres, FL 33415

Lindsey Hopkins Technical College – Accredited

750 Northwest 20 Street
Miami, FL 33127

Loraines Academy & Spa – Accredited

1012 58th Street North
St Petersburg, FL 33710

M-DCPS The English Center – Accredited

3501 Southwest 28 Street
Miami, FL 33133

Manatee Technical College – Accredited

5505 34th Street West
Bradenton, FL 34210

Nailcare Academy

8359 Beacon Boulevard Suite #118
Fort Myers, FL 33907

North Florida Cosmetology Institute – Accredited

2424 Allen Road
Tallahassee, FL 32312

Nouvelle Institute – Accredited

500 West 49 Street Second Floor
Hialeah, FL 33012

Nouvelle Institute – Accredited

3271 Northwest 7th Street Suite #106
Miami, FL 33125

Orange Technical College – Accredited

955 East Story Road
Winter Garden, FL 34787

Parisian Spa Institute – Accredited

1045 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32204

Pensacola State College

1000 College Boulevard
Pensacola, FL 32504

Perfect 10 Nail School

6501 Arlington Expressway Service Road B105 Suite 241
Jacksonville, FL 32211

Pinellas Technical College

901 34th Street South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33711

Prestige Health & Beauty Sciences Academy – Accredited

1250 East Hallandale Beach Boulevard #409
Hallandale Beach, FL 33009

Pro Nails & Beauty School

11631 East Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32817

Riveroak Technical College – Accredited

415 Southwest Pinewood Drive
Live Oak, FL 32064

Robert Morgan Educational Center and Technical College – Accredited

18180 Southwest 122nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33177

Ruben's Five Star Academy – Accredited

104 State Road 60 West
Lake Wales, FL 33853

South Dade Technical College

28300 Southwest 152nd Avenue
Leisure City, FL 33033

The Beauty Institute – Accredited

2215 North Military Trail #1
West Palm Beach, FL 33409

Total Beauty Institute – Accredited

5308 North Pearl Street
Jacksonville, FL 32208

Total Nails and Hair Academy

2716 South Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33405

UR Beauty & Barber Academy – Accredited

3750 Emergency Lane #3
Sebring, FL 33870

USA International Health and Beauty Academy

12218 University Mall Court
Tampa, FL 33612

Withlacoochee Technical College – Accredited

1201 West Main Street
Inverness, FL 34450

World Class Academy of Beauty Careers – Accredited

516 West Orange Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32310

World of Beauty Academy

6111 West Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
Accredited School

You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.

Find a Nail Technician School Near You

How to Become a Nail Technician in Florida

Florida Nail Technician Careers At A Glance
  • 180 education hours are required to become licensed.
  • You must renew your license every 2 years.
  • 10 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
  • The average salary for manicurists in Florida is $31,450. This is higher than the national average of $30,480.
  • There is a predicted 38% job increase between 2020 and 2030 for manicurists.

To become a nail technician in Florida, you must meet certain standards:

  1. Be at least 16 years of age or have received a high school diploma.
  2. Possess a Social Security number.
  3. Have completed 180 school hours in a Florida nail program, leading to licensure.
  4. Have a completed four hour HIV/AIDS course certificate from your school, acquired within the two years before submitting your license application.
  5. Complete the relevant Certification of Eligibility forms.
  6. Pay the required fees.

If you already hold a nail technician license in another state, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico, you may be eligible for endorsement in Florida. There is also a separate application process for military personnel, veterans, and military spouses.

Unfortunately, Florida doesn't allow apprenticeships for nail technician licensure.

What to Expect From a Nail Technician Program in Florida

180 Hours

Time to complete a nail technician program in Florida

Training is an integral part of launching a career as a nail specialist, and it's essential to choose the right program for you. When picking a school, ensure the program offered is approved and accredited by the Florida Board of Cosmetology, part of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Your training must consist of a minimum of 240 credit hours of both theoretical and practical instruction and will cover such topics as:

  • Ethics
  • Florida laws and rules
  • Manicuring techniques
  • Nail fill-ins and repairs
  • Nail theory and practice
  • Nail wraps
  • Pedicuring techniques
  • Polishing and nail art
  • Removal of artificial nails
  • Sanitation
  • Sculpting
  • Tips with overlay

Florida Nail Technician Licensing Requirements

Unlike in some states, you don't need to take an exam to become a nail specialist in Florida to gain licensure. Instead, you'll need to complete 180 hours of study, pass a state-recognized four-hour HIV/AIDS course, pay relevant fees, and apply for licensure with the Florida Board of Cosmetology. The initial licensure application costs $75.

Military veterans, their spouses, and Florida National Guard members may be eligible for a fee waiver, fee reimbursement, or fee discount.

Florida Nail Technician Licensure Reciprocity

The Florida Board of Cosmetology doesn't have reciprocal licensing agreements with other states. However, students from other states with an active license to practice cosmetology (including nail technician qualifications) may still qualify for licensure in Florida via endorsement. To do this, your state's education and requirements must meet or exceed those required in Florida, and your license must be currently active in the other state. To qualify, applicants must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age or have received a high school diploma
  • Possess a Social Security number
  • Be currently licensed to practice cosmetology in another state
  • Complete a four-hour board-approved Initial HIV/AIDS course
  • Pay a $59 fee

Nail Technician License Renewal in Florida

2 Years

License renewal period

10 Hours

Continuing education required

All nail technician licenses in Florida must be renewed every two years. The deadline for renewing your license is October 31st, and you'll be placed into one of two groups: those who renew their license in even years and those who renew in odd years.

To renew your license, you must complete ten hours of continuing education and pay a $45 fee. Your hours must include:

  • Chemical Makeup: 1 hour
  • Environmental Issues: 1 hour
  • HIV/AIDS: 1 hour
  • Laws and Rules: 2 hours
  • OSHA: Half hour
  • Sanitation and Sterilization: 3 hours
  • Workers’ Compensation: Half hour
  • Any Relevant Subject: 1 hour

If you don't renew your nail specialist license in time, it becomes inactive until you do so, and you may not work as a nail technician during that time. After two consecutive missed licensure cycles, a license becomes null and void.

Once considered null and void, your license will not be reinstated unless you can prove to the department that the failure to renew was due to illness or economic hardship. If you can do that, you may renew your license once you meet the following conditions:

  • Complete a board-approved HIV/AIDS course
  • Pay a $75 fee
  • Explain the illness or economic hardship that delayed renewal

Nail Technician Salary in Florida and Projected Job Growth

$31,450

Average yearly salary for nail technicians in Florida

The mean salary for nail specialists in Florida is $31,450 ($15.12/hour) as of 2021. New career opportunities are very likely in the future, with nail technician jobs in the state expected to grow by 38% between 2020 and 2030.

Contact the Florida State Board of Nail Technology

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Resources for Nail Technician in Florida

Florida Board of Cosmetology
The Board of Cosmetology is responsible for licensing and regulating cosmetology in Florida and meets regularly to consider applications for licensure, review disciplinary cases, and conduct informal hearings relating to licensure and discipline.

NAILS
NAILS is an award-winning publication for nail technicians and salon owners. The site has state-specific tags on its articles.

Commercial_Combo_Program-Career-Geo
Nail Technology
Florida

How to Become a Nail Technician in Your State