Section 1175.1135  Curriculum Requirements – Nail Technology

a)         Each licensed cosmetology school teaching a nail technology curriculum and each licensed nail technology school shall provide a program consisting of a minimum of 350 clock hours or a 12 credit hour equivalency (1 credit hour equals 30 clock hours) of instruction.  Instruction shall be a combination of classroom instruction and hands on (practical and technical) experience.  The licensed nail technology school may provide online hours in theory, but online hours shall not exceed 10% of the hours required in each of subsections (a)(1), (2), (3) and (4).  The minimum subjects and number of hours shall be as follows for each category of training:

1)         Basic Training – 50 hours:

A)        History of nail care;

B)        Personal hygiene and public health;

C)        Professional ethics;

D)        Sterilization and disinfection;

E)        Bacteriology;

F)         Disorders of the nails;

G)        OSHA standards relating to safety data sheets (SDS) on chemicals;

H)        Chemicals and their use; and

I)         Technical applications of chemicals.

2)         Related Concepts – 15 hours:

A)        Cells, metabolism and body systems;

B)        Theory of massage; and

C)        People skills.

3)         Practices and Procedures – 255 hours:

A)        Fabric procedures;

B)        Sculpting procedures;

C)        Light cured gels;

D)        Machines or apparatus used in nail technology;

E)        Manicures;

F)         Pedicures;

G)        Hand, arm and foot massage;

H)        Other procedures as they relate to nail technology; and

I)         Product knowledge as it relates to nail technology.

4)         Business Practices – 30 hours:

A)        The Act and this Part, including sanitary standards;

B)        Management;

C)        OSHA standards relating to chemical use; and

D)        Workers' Compensation Act.

5)         Internship Program is an optional part of the curriculum.  Each licensed nail technology school may choose to set up an internship program and shall follow the guidelines set forth in this subsection (a)(5).

A)        An internship program:

i)          May be substituted for 35 hours of the 350 hours set forth in this subsection (a).

ii)         May be part of the curriculum of a licensed nail technology school and shall be an organized preplanned training program designed to allow a student to learn nail technology under the direct supervision of a licensed cosmetologist or licensed nail technician in a registered salon.

B)        A student in the internship program:

i)          May participate in an internship only after completing 175 hours of training and have a minimum average grade of 80.  A school may set the average grade higher and set other standards that a student must meet to participate in the internship program.

ii)         May not spend more than 35 hours in an internship program.

iii)        May not be paid while participating in the internship program as it is a part of the nail technology curriculum of the school.

iv)        May work a maximum of 8 hours a day and shall be required to spend 1 day a week at the school.

v)         Shall be under the direct on-site supervision of a licensed cosmetologist or licensed nail technologist.  Only 1 student shall be supervised by 1 licensed cosmetologist or licensed nail technologist.

C)        A licensed nail technology school shall state clearly in the enrollment agreement that the school offers an internship program.

D)        The licensed nail technology school shall enter into a contract with the student, the registered salon and licensed cosmetologist or licensed nail technologist that contains all of the provisions set forth in this sbsection (a)(5) and any other requirements of the internship established by the school.  The contract shall be signed by the student, the school and the licensed cosmetologist or licensed technologist.  Any party to the contract may terminate the contract at any point.

b)         A nail technology student is not permitted to practice on the public until he/she has successfully completed the 50 hours of general theory and practical application specified in subsection (a)(1).

c)         A school may, as part of its educational program and on school premises, offer nail technology services to the public, through a student clinic, as a means of providing students with practical experience.  Services shall be provided by students working under the supervision of one or more teachers.  Students shall receive no compensation, including tips, but shall receive credit for hours worked towards the 350-hour education requirement.  The school may provide those services under the authority of its school license and is not required to obtain a salon registration.  The school shall post a sign visible to the public advising that all services are provided by students.  Except as provided in this subsection, a school and a salon shall not operate in the same premises.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 15159, effective August 10, 2018)