Nail Technician Schools in California

Now may be the perfect time to become a nail technician in California. Not only is it considered the 9 th most beauty-obsessed state in the country, but it's also experiencing more than double the national anticipated growth for manicurist jobs. Read on to learn about becoming a nail specialist in the state, including everything you need to know about getting and maintaining your California nail technician license.

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

Browse All Nail Technician Schools in California

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8823 Garvey Avenue Unit B1
Rosemead, CA 91770

970 Broadway Suite 110
Chula Vista, CA 91911

13266 Poway Road
Poway, CA 92064

1024 East March Lane
Stockton, CA 95210

111 West St. John Street
San Jose, CA 95113

2822 F Street
Bakersfield, CA 93301

731 West Shaw Avenue Suite A
Clovis, CA 93612

780 Loughborough Drive
Merced, CA 95348

75-030 Gerald Ford Drive Suite 203
Palm Desert, CA 92211

6500 South Mooney Boulevard
Visalia, CA 93277

1679 East Monte Vista Avenue Suite 200
Vacaville, CA 95688

3100 McHenry Avenue
Modesto, CA 95350

18442 Sherman Way
Reseda, CA 91335

Find Cosmetology Schools Near You

AAA Beauty College – Accredited

ABA Beauty School – Accredited

Abram Friedman Occupational Center – Accredited

Academy of Esthetics and Cosmetology – Accredited

Adrian's Beauty College – Accredited

Adrian's Beauty College of Turlock – Accredited

Advance Beauty College - Garden Grove – Accredited

Advance Beauty College - Laguna Hills – Accredited

Advance Beauty Techs Academy – Accredited

Allan Hancock College

American Beauty Academy – Accredited

American Beauty College - Palmdale – Accredited

American Beauty College - West Covina – Accredited

American Beauty Institute - San Diego – Accredited

American Empire College – Accredited

Amy Beauty School – Accredited

Asel Beauty College - Garden Grove – Accredited

Asian-American International Beauty College – Accredited

Bamboo Advance Beauty College – Accredited

Barstow Community College – Accredited

Bellflower Beauty College of Lakewood – Accredited

Beyond 21st Century Beauty Academy – Accredited

Bridges Beauty College - Rancho Cucamonga – Accredited

Bridges Beauty College - Victorville – Accredited

Butte College – Accredited

California Beauty Academy – Accredited

California Beauty College – Accredited

California Beauty School – Accredited

California Hair Design Academy – Accredited

Cen Beauty Academy – Accredited

Citrus Heights Beauty College – Accredited

Coachella Valley Beauty College - Hemet – Accredited

Coachella Valley Beauty College - La Quinta – Accredited

Coastline Beauty College - Fountain Valley – Accredited

Coastline Beauty College - Hemet – Accredited

Cosmetica Beauty and Barbering Academy

Cosmo Beauty Academy - Garden Grove – Accredited

Cosmo Beauty Academy - Sacramento – Accredited

Cosmotek College – Accredited

D'Lacreme School of Cosmetology and Barbering – Accredited

Diamond Beauty College – Accredited

Diva Beauty School – Accredited

Estes Institute of Cosmetology – Accredited

Extensions R Us Academy

Fantasy Beauty College – Accredited

Federico College – Accredited

Flair Beauty College – Accredited

Fredrick and Charles Beauty College – Accredited

Fremont Beauty College – Accredited

Georgiykot Academy USA – Accredited

Get Faded Barber College – Accredited

Hilltop Beauty School – Accredited

Inspire Academy of Barbering and Cosmetology – Accredited

Institute of Beauty Culture – Accredited

International Academy of Cosmetology & Barbering – Accredited

International Beauty College

International College of Beauty Arts & Sciences – Accredited

International College of Cosmetology – Accredited

International School of Beauty - Palm Desert – Accredited

Jade Beauty and Barber College – Accredited

Jama's Beauty & Barber College – Accredited

Jasmine Beauty School

JLC Beauty School – Accredited

Katie Skills Center – Accredited

KC Beauty Academy – Accredited

KZ Academy – Accredited

Lancaster Beauty School – Accredited

Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology - Hanford – Accredited

Lawrence & Company College of Cosmetology - Selma – Accredited

Letty's Barbering and Cosmetology College – Accredited

Los Angeles College of Aesthetics – Accredited

Lu Ross Academy – Accredited

Lyle's College of Beauty - Bakersfield – Accredited

Lyle's College of Beauty - Fresno – Accredited

Maiquela's Cosmetology Academy - South Gate – Accredited

Maiquela's Cosmetology Academy - Upland – Accredited

Maiquela's Cosmetology Academy - Whittier – Accredited

Marmel Beauty Academy – Accredited

Mixed Institute of Cosmetology and Barbering – Accredited

Modern Beauty Academy - Oxnard – Accredited

My Le's Beauty College - Sacramento – Accredited

National Cosmetology Beauty School – Accredited

Neihule Academy of Beauty – Accredited

North Adrian's College of Beauty – Accredited

Palomar Institute of Cosmetology – Accredited

Paris Beauty College – Accredited

Paul Mitchell The School Pasadena – Accredited

Paul Mitchell The School Sacramento – Accredited

Princess Institute of Beauty – Accredited

Professional Schools of Beauty, Fashion and Arts – Accredited

Redondo Beach Beauty College – Accredited

Rosemead Beauty School – Accredited

RTC College – Accredited

SABA Beauty School – Accredited

Saddleback Beauty Academy – Accredited

Salon Success Academy - Corona – Accredited

Salon Success Academy - Fontana – Accredited

Salon Success Academy - Redlands – Accredited

Salon Success Academy - Riverside – Accredited

Salon Success Academy - Upland – Accredited

Salon Success Academy - West Covina – Accredited

San Bernardino Beauty College – Accredited

San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology – Accredited

San Luis Obispo Beauty College – Accredited

Santa Ana Beauty Academy – Accredited

Santa Ana Beauty College – Accredited

Santa Clara Beauty College – Accredited

Santa Monica College – Accredited

Savvy Beauty Academy – Accredited

Shasta School of Cosmetology – Accredited

Sierra College of Beauty – Accredited

Simi Valley Cosmetology School – Accredited

Southern California College of Barber and Beauty – Accredited

Straight Perm Beauty School – Accredited

Thanh Le College School of Cosmetology – Accredited

Universal College of Beauty – Accredited

Untouchable Academy – Accredited

Victory Career College – Accredited

Wayne's College of Beauty – Accredited

West Valley Occupational Center – Accredited

ZMS The Academy – Accredited

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.

Related Beauty Careers

Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:

Find a Nail Technician School Near You

Check out the Nail Technology schools these cities in California have to offer.

• Bakersfield
• Chico / Redding
• Fresno / Visalia
• Los Angeles
• Monterey / Salinas
• Sacramento / Stockton / Modesto
• San Diego
• San Francisco / Oakland / San Jose
• Santa Barbara / Santa Maria / San Luis Obispo

How to Become a Nail Technician in California

• 400 education hours are required to become licensed.
• You must renew your license every 2 years.
• 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
• The average salary for manicurists in California is $26,940 ($12.95/hour). This is higher than the national average of $25,770 ($12.39/hour).
• There is a predicted 21% job increase between 2016–2026 for manicurists. This is higher than the expected national growth of 10%.

To qualify for a California nail technology license, you need to have:

• Reached at least 17 years of age
• Completed the 10 th grade
• Completed a 400-hour training program in an approved training school
• Passed the California State Board written and practical examinations or the National Interstate Council (NIC) written and practical examinations

What to Expect From a Nail Technician Program in California

Time to complete a Nail Technician program in California

A California nail technician program—also called a manicurist or pedicurist training program—must provide at least 400 hours of technical instruction and practical training.

Technical instruction in a nail technician training program includes demonstrations, lectures, class participation, and exams. Nail technician training programs are divided into the following subjects:

• Manicures and pedicures
• Laws and regulations
• Health and safety considerations
• Disinfection and sanitation
• Bacteriology, anatomy, and physiology

Check the accreditation of a training program before enrolling. The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology offers a list of approved schools.

Can You Be Licensed Via a Nail Technician Apprenticeship in California?

California Nail Technician Licensing Requirements

To perform manicures, pedicures, and other nail services for a fee, you need to pass the California State Board examinations or the National Interstate Council (NIC) examinations and receive your state license after completing your training.

The exam is split into two portions: a written part and a practical part, which you'll take on the same day. You'll need to submit an application to take the exam and receive your license. You'll also need to pay the exam and licensing fee. The cost of the exam and your initial license is $110 total.

The California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology has two permanent testing sites. One is in Fairfield (Northern California), and the other is in Glendale (Southern California). The practical portion of the exam must take place at one of these two sites. You may be able to reschedule the written portion of your exam to another location. The California manicurist licensure exam is available in English, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish. If the exam isn't available in your native language, you may be able to bring an interpreter.

When preparing to take the California State Board examination, visit the California state licensure exam website to ensure you have up-to-date guidelines. This is important, as some exam criteria are routinely updated. For example, in 2021, updates to the guidelines meant disinfectant sprays will no longer be allowed at the testing site. Instead, test candidates are expected to bring EPA-registered disinfectant wipes.

California Nail Technician Licensure Reciprocity

If you're licensed as a nail technician in another state and are in good standing, you may be eligible for licensure reciprocity when you move to California. If your out-of-state license was active for three of the last five years and you have no disciplinary action or criminal convictions on your record, you may be granted a California manicurist license without having to take the examinations.