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Certificate III · national qualification

Certificate III in Nail Technology

This qualification trains you to work as a nail technician, either in a salon or running your own station as a self-employed operator.

Compare 10 providers
Illustration of a person working as nail Technician
How long it takes
4 to 6 months
full time at TAFE NSW
What it costs
From $880
Subsidised at TAFE NSW, full fee up to $10,118
How you can study
Online or on campus
Main job
Nail Technician
$49,400 (estimate) median pay, In demand
Taught by
10 providers
Every state and territory

Is this course right for you?

What the Certificate III in Nail Technology asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in nail care and beauty trends
  • good communication skills for client consultations
  • a careful approach to hygiene and safe work practices
  • attention to detail when applying nail enhancements

Before you start

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Where this course can take you

Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Nail Technician

    Nail technicians look after clients' hands and feet, shaping, painting and enhancing nails in salons, spas and mobile settings.

    What else you need

    The Certificate III is a common way in and has no entry requirements. Employers and salons may also expect practical experience; check the provider's version.

    Median pay$49,400 (estimate)

    In demand

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

What it costs

Subsidised place

From $880

at TAFE NSW. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.

Paying the full fee

$5,280 to $10,118

across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.

  • TAFE NSWNSW

    Subsidised
    $880
    Concession
    $240
    Full fee
    $8,600
    How long
    4 to 6 months

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Subsidised
    $6,413
    Concession
    $1,283
    Full fee
    $10,118

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Subsidised
    $2,490
    Concession
    $1,560
    Full fee
    $5,280

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.

Where you can study this course

There are 10 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

15 units: 10 that everyone takes and 5 you choose.

  • Manicures and pedicures
  • Acrylic nail enhancements
  • Nail art
  • Electric file equipment
  • Product advice for clients
  • Hygiene and safe work practices
See all 10 core units

Core units

Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Who is this qualification for?

It prepares you to work as a nail technician in a salon or as a self-employed operator managing your own nail station. You learn manicures, pedicures, acrylic and gel enhancements, nail art and electric file use, plus client consultation and salon business skills. The role involves discretion and judgement, and you are responsible for your own outputs.

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

This qualification has no entry requirements. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.

Related courses

The national training register, training.gov.au. TAFE course pages, read 20 September 2026. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.