Foundation Certificate in Nail Technology

Foundation Certificate in Nail Technology(from
$4,499.00
)

37 students

Are you ready to level up your skills and start a career that fits around your life? Our Foundation Certificate in Nail Technology is the perfect launchpad for building your dream nail business – training from home, on your schedule, and with all the support you need.

Click here to test drive the course for $99.
We’ll credit it back if you go ahead and enrol!

This course is our most popular and comprehensive qualification, and it’s designed to be flexible and self-paced. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refresh your skills, we’ve got you covered with pre-recorded demos, live lessons, and 24/7 access to our amazing community of fellow students and mentors.

Need a Payment Plan?!
We offer easy, flexible payment options starting from just $59/week.
Custom options are available if you’re enrolling early for 2026!
Scroll to the very bottom of this page where it says ‘Payment Plan Info’ for more information.

Why choose the Foundation Certificate?

Our graduates consistently go on to build successful salons or work in renowned salons—and you can be next!

Complete Beginner? No worries! We take you through every step, from learning the basics to mastering advanced techniques. If you’re already a nail tech, this course is a great way to sharpen your skills, learn the latest trends, or pivot into new services.

Click to read our article ‘Top 5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Course’

Course Info

You’ll be learning hands-on with over 80 hours of live online lessons where our expert mentors will guide you every step of the way. Plus, you’ll have access to over 130 hours of in-depth video content, so you can review demos and techniques anytime you need a refresher!

Prefer in-person learning? Explore this page to see what this course covers, then click here to enrol directly with an educator near you.

Not keen on Acrylic? Try our Natural Nail Specialist course!

  • 12 months in an Accountability Group with a dedicated mentor, working alongside a group of like-minded learners.
  • 80+ hours of live online group lessons with a dedicated Mentor, covering 32 topics and 6 exams. You’ll join live lessons every second week, working alongside fellow students to share insights, stay on track, and graduate together by the end of the year (Watch a recorded live lesson below!)
  • 130+ hours of in-depth video content, featuring pre-recorded demos that show every step from multiple angles and close-ups – so you can pause, rewind, and rewatch as many times as you need (Watch a preview below!)

You’re not expected to memorise everything on the first watch – that’s the beauty of online learning. You can revisit lessons anytime, even once you’re working with real clients.

  • A Starter Kit with everything you need to complete your training. Don’t need a kit? We do require you to use professional-only products during lessons and assessments, but if you already have these, that’s ok! Use Coupon Code NOFULLKIT at Check Out and we’ll remove the kit from your enrolment. We recommend having these items for your course.
  • Unlimited attempts at assessments, so you can get it right on your terms. Theory and IBX are online written assessments and resits are free. In all other cases the first attempt is included in your course fees and all others are $49/hour.
  • Access to 7-day support via our private Facebook group.

No need for live lessons? Try our Introduction to Nail Technology course!

Monaco courses are available both online and in-person.

The online version, which you enrol in via this page, is 100% online including pre-recorded, live and exam components. Complete from your home or salon, no matter where you are.

Prefer in-person learning? You can still use this page to learn all about the module. Then, click here to find an Accredited Training Partner near you and enrol in the course directly with them.

Within 2 business days of enrolling, you will receive access to the online components of your course, which you can access by logging into this website. You can work through the content at your leisure, but need to complete it before attending live lessons.

Our live lessons run every second week (watch a recording of one here!), giving you the chance to practice what you’ve learned and get personalised feedback from mentors. It's like having a coach in your corner, cheering you on!

You can choose the intake that works best for your schedule -

  • Tuesday evenings 6-9pm - start anytime!
  • Monday evenings 6-9pm - start anytime!

You will still get the pre-recorded content now so that you can immerse yourself in the nail world before live lessons start.

Sure!

We know that flexibility matters, especially when balancing family, work, and studies. That’s why we offer easy, flexible payment options. Standard options start from just $59/week** with no kit, or $109/week*** with a kit included but we can also work out custom options if you need! Just email learn@monaco.ac.nz to find out what’s possible.

Scroll to the very bottom of this page where it says ‘Payment Plan Info’ for more information.

You can also pay using a credit card, bank transfer or Afterpay.

 

FAQS

Then you learn, and you try again, and you ask for help, and you keep going.

We hear this a lot, and let us tell you – it’s totally normal to feel nervous. Starting something new can be intimidating, but that’s what our live lessons and Accountability Groups are for. You’ll practice together with real-time feedback, support, and encouragement. Your mentors are here to help, not to judge.

Your live lessons are where, after watching the pre-recorded demonstrations, a Mentor can help you in real-time. There’s a misconception that you need to be good before you join a lesson but this is definitely false! A lesson is where your Mentor guides you through practicing for the first time – you’re not supposed to be a master.

You can also re-sit all Assessments and rewatch all pre-recorded content for the duration of your 12-month Study Period (although only the first Assessment attempt is free)

This is your safe space to learn and grow at your own pace.

The time commitment for the Foundation Certificate in Nail Technology averages at around 5 hours per week for 12 months including videos, live lessons, supporting texts and assessments. Practice time would be additional.
If you want to complete it faster, you can enrol in each module one at a time and control the pace at which you do so.

This course is 100% online including pre-recorded, live and exam components. Complete from your home or salon, no matter where you are.

Prefer in-person learning? Explore this page to see what this course covers, then click here to enrol directly with an educator near you.

We know that unforeseen circumstances may prevent you from attending a live lesson. If that happens, we may be able to offer you the opportunity to join a different group. Alternatively, you can book a one-on-one catch up session at a cost of $49/hour.

It's a common misconception that our online courses are just pre-recorded videos, however they actually include in depth live lessons done via Zoom.

Your Mentor can see your desk as you work. You can see their desk incase they need to demonstrate something for you.

You can watch a recording of a real, live lesson here.

We genuinely find that students get better results from online training as they can see closer and across multiple angles, even recording their lessons to rewatch.

We get it - learning online can feel like a big change. But our mentors are pros at making it interactive and fun. Plus, you can book a one-on-one mentor session for just $49/hour if you need extra guidance.

Absolutely! Once you complete the course, you’ll be awarded the Foundation Certificate in Nail Technology, which is a recognised qualification in the industry.

Ready to start your nail tech journey?

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our supportive, inclusive community and build a career you love – on your own terms. Spaces are limited, so enrol today and grab your spot!

Important Note Regarding the Builder in a Bottle Module – 

A few of the videos in this module (all shorter ones, thankfully) have an audio echo. We must have bumped a setting or something, because they’re all from one particular filming session and the audio is fine in videos shot before and after that session.

We have discussed re-shooting them, but, as a team, have come to the conclusion that as the majority of these were adlibbed and we are proud of the information they contain, we don’t want to re-shoot and end up with an inferior level of information in the new video. It’s always hard to make the same adlib magic twice! We have discovered that the echo varies in effect between listening devices, so if it is significant for you, try with and without headphones or on a different device if you can.

The way we price our courses is based on the hours of live classes, not the hours of pre-recorded content, and you do still get 12 hours of live education with a mentor, no matter what. Using the same formula that we always use to cost out and price our courses, this Builder in a Bottle module should be $349. In light of the audio defect and our decision to leave it in the module, we have reduced the price, and hope you still enjoy the course.

Payment Plan Info – 

Email learn@monaco.ac.nz to discuss custom payment plan options.

**To enrol with a Payment Plan and NO KIT –

Use Coupon Code 59PERWEEKNOKIT at Check Out and enrol as normal. We’ll remove the kit from your enrolment and ask you to click here to finish setting up your automatic payments.

By completing both, you agree to 52 weekly payments of $59. Content will be released in installments. If payments default, access to further lessons will be rescinded.

It’s important to note that this is a way to pay off a total obligation of $3068, not a subscription that you can stop at any time.

Full Terms can be viewed here.

***To enrol with a Payment Plan and A FULL KIT –

Use Coupon Code 109PERWEEKWITHKIT at Check Out and enrol as normal. We’ll ask you to click here to finish setting up your automatic payments.

By completing both, you agree to 52 weekly payments of $109. Content and product will be released in installments. If payments default, access to further lessons will be rescinded.

It’s important to note that this is a way to pay off a total obligation of $5668, not a subscription that you can stop at any time.

Full Terms can be viewed here.

Terms and Conditions of Payment Plans

  1. Payment Plans – If you agree to a payment plan, you must complete all payments even if you decide not to complete the course, and failure to make these payments will result in the balance of all payments being invoiced and later, referred to a debt collection agency if still unpaid.
  2. Debt Collection – If you receive an invoice from Monaco Nail Academy, it is due within 7 days, will have overdue fees added after 7 days, will have Debt Collection fees added after 30 days and will be referred to Debt Collection at the same time. By clicking ‘I Accept’ on these Terms and Conditions, they apply to all invoices from now on unless you click ‘I Accept’ on revised Terms and Conditions, in which case they will apply instead.
  3. Full Terms can be viewed here.

Instructor

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Penny