New nail technology program coming to Studio RLC in August

MT. VERNON – A new Nail Technology program will kick off this August at Rend Lake College’s cosmetology school, Studio RLC.

Nail Technology is a program designed to teach students the skills of manicures, pedicures, nail tips and wraps, gel nails, acrylics and nail art. The program begins Monday, Aug. 19, and results in an occupational certificate. Successful graduates are then eligible to sit for the Illinois Nail Technician Examination.

“Nail Technology is a growing field,” said Daphne Mitchell, Director of Studio RLC. “As more nail salons open and as more cosmetology businesses expand their services to include nails, we dedicated ourselves to creating a quality training program to fill that need.”

The program will be available in both full-time and part-time formats. The full-time program lasts 16 weeks, and students will attend class from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every other Saturday. The part-time option runs two semesters, and students will attend 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The Nail Technology program consists of four courses, Nail Technology Theory I and II and Nail Technology Clinical I and II. Classes are held at Studio RLC at the Rend Lake College MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon, which also houses the college’s Cosmetology program. The Nail Technology program can serve as a stackable credential for cosmetologists looking to add to their skills.

“This is going to be a fun program for our students,” said Mitchell. “We know from watching our Cosmetology students at Studio RLC. They work hard but they’re always having a good time while they’re at it.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website reports that job opportunities for manicurists and pedicurists “should be very good overall. The growing number of nail salons and the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations will result in many job openings.”

For more information or to register, contact Mitchell at 618-242-8459, or at mitchelld@rlc.edu.