Apprentice Program at Soleil Nail Studio
Soleil Nail Studio provides an in-depth, hands-on learning experience for aspiring beauty professionals. We customize and adapt to every learning style with 1:1 mentorship, daily schedules, and working closely with instructors on real clients.
Apply to be an ApprenticeCompetitive program
- Our apprenticeship program exceeds Utah state requirements.
- Receive a comprehensive professional kit with all salon-grade products to take clients immediately after graduation.
- Soleil pays for all state board testing up front — your completion and success is our biggest priority.
- Receive branded headshots and a photoshoot to launch your professional career with confidence and content.
- Scheduled social media classes, highly advanced nail art courses, opportunity to attend networking events, and much more.
Soleil apprenticeship vs. other programs
See why Soleil stands out
Comprehensive Kit
Soleil Nail Studio provides a comprehensive kit valued at over $1,500. During your program you will work with and own high quality nail art brushes, a brand new Medicool Pro Power 35K e-file (including bits), an Aprés complete starter Gel-X kit, brand new cuticle nippers and all related implements, and we provide all listed required items for your state board exams — and more.
Earn While You Learn
Our apprentices gain real-world experience by earning commission and tips on services throughout their program — because hands-on learning is just as valuable as mastering the fundamentals. You will learn how to manage appointments in a real salon setting with real paying clients.
Flexible Payment Plans
We know life doesn't pause for school, which is why we offer flexible payment options and even more flexible schedules — making our exceptional apprenticeship program accessible, manageable, and within reach for everyone. Send in an application for our Spring 2027 waitlist and we will follow up with you in August of 2026.
Nail technician curriculum
- Sanitation
- Natural nail prep
- Manicuring
- E-file techniques
- Balancing and shaping
- Pedicuring
- Aprés Gel-X
- Builder Gel
- Hard gel
- Acrylic
- Nail art
- Business
- Social media
- State testing
- + more!
Professional kit
- Storage cases
- Practice hands
- E-file
- Professional e-file bits
- Professional brushes
- Acrylic system
- Professional implements
- Hard and soft gel systems
- Aprés Gel-X system
- Full state board kit
- Sanitation supplies
- Nail art supplies
- Textbooks
- Study material
- + more!
How to become a nail tech in Utah
If you are searching for nail tech school in Salt Lake City, an apprenticeship is the other way in — and for a lot of people, the better one.
1.Register as an apprentice with the state
Utah licenses nail technicians through the Division of Professional Licensing, and an approved apprenticeship is one of the accepted routes. Apprentices register with the state and train under direct one-on-one instructor supervision. We walk you through the paperwork — you are not figuring it out alone.
2.Train on the floor, not in a lecture hall
Our program exceeds Utah's requirements for an approved nail technician apprenticeship. You work through sanitation, natural nail prep, e-file technique, shaping, pedicuring, Aprés Gel-X, builder gel, hard gel, acrylic and nail art — then do them on real clients with your instructor beside you.
3.Earn while you learn
Traditional nail school costs tuition and gives you classroom hours. Here you earn commission and tips on services during the program, learn to manage a real book of appointments, and keep the $1,500+ kit you trained on.
4.Test, license and launch
The state board exam has a written portion and a practical portion, and every listed required item is in the kit we give you. Soleil pays for your testing up front, and you finish with branded headshots and content to launch with.
Apply to be an apprentice
Tell us a little about yourself. We review every application personally.
Questions about the apprenticeship
- Do I need experience to start?
- No. We start at the beginning — sanitation, natural nail prep and manicuring — and adapt to your learning style with 1:1 mentorship.
- Is an apprenticeship the same as nail school?
- It leads to the same Utah nail technician license, but you learn on the floor of a working studio with an instructor beside you and real paying clients, instead of in a classroom.
- Do I get paid during the program?
- Yes. Apprentices earn commission and tips on the services they perform throughout the program.
- What is included in the kit?
- A professional kit valued at over $1,500 — a Medicool Pro Power 35K e-file and bits, an Aprés Gel-X starter kit, hard and soft gel systems, an acrylic system, brushes, implements, practice hands, textbooks and the full state board kit.
- Can I do this around a job or family?
- That is why we build daily schedules around each apprentice and offer flexible payment options. Tell us your situation on the application and we will be straight with you about whether it works.
- Who pays for the state board exam?
- Soleil pays for all state board testing up front. Your completion and success is our biggest priority.
- What happens after I finish?
- You graduate owning your full kit, with branded headshots and a photoshoot, ready to take clients immediately — and many of our apprentices are hired onto the Soleil floor.
- How much can I earn as a licensed nail tech?
- It depends on the path you choose — commission salon, booth rental, private suite or home salon. Each has different product costs, overhead and tax realities, and pricing varies from county to county across Utah, with your experience level and social media presence. In our business class we walk through every route with real numbers, so you know how to price your services for profit and choose the path that fits you.
- When does the next group start?
- We are taking applications for the Spring 2027 waitlist and will follow up with applicants in August of 2026.
Curious what we actually do on the floor? Read about Aprés Gel-X, builder gel and the studio itself.
Apprentice testimonials
"My apprenticeship with Vayanna has been such a special and unforgettable experience. She not only taught me the skills and techniques I need for nails, but also shared her knowledge about the business side of the industry — like time management, client care, and how to build a career with confidence. What meant the most was the environment that Vayanna and all the techs created. Working alongside them truly felt like being part of a family."
"I've been doing my apprenticeship for five weeks now, and I can confidently say that this is the best apprenticeship you can find. To start my nail journey, I was greeted with a full kit of goodies. Every single member of the team has been incredibly kind to me, and I couldn't think of a better introduction to the beauty industry. This apprenticeship has given me more than just training; it's given me a family away from home."
"Going the apprenticeship route was the best decision I could've made in my nail career. I've talked to many people who have taken other paths in acquiring their education, and it became clear that I made the right choice. There's just so much more you can learn in an apprenticeship that you can't get in traditional schooling."
"I chose the apprenticeship program as I needed something flexible, as I have other responsibilities that traditional schools aren't able to work with. It allows for a catered instructional setting, as we work one-on-one with each other. It gives real life salon experience, and opens up the possibilities to work with real customers while still in training."
"Her expertise and passion for nail technology were evident throughout my apprenticeship. She not only shared her extensive knowledge but also fostered an environment of creativity and encouragement, allowing me to fully thrive as I navigate the nail industry. She also taught me the importance of providing exceptional, professional, and luxury services to all of our clients."
Questions about the program? Call (801) 970-8100 or email hello@soleilnailstudio.com.