Medical Nail Technician (MNT) is a certification acquired by a licensed nail technician to become specialty trained to perform safe cosmetic care on clients/patients who are chronically ill. This technician is certified through the MNT to perform services which are tailored to the important precautions for clients/patients with health conditions.
These specialty trained nail technicians perform manicures and pedicures on clients who prefer safe services on not only those who are ill. These specialists also gain two additional opportunities through MNT certification: accepting referrals in their salon from physicians and podiatrists to perform safe hand and foot care on their chronically ill patients, and working in a podiatry or physician’s office or clinic performing safe routine foot care and pedicures.
Contact Janet McCormick
- Website: Nailcareacademy.com
- Email: [email protected]
Obtaining Certification at Nailcare Academy
The Medical Nail Technician certificate is achieved at the end of a track of programs specially written to develop licensed nail technicians toward a higher level of safe care for their clients. The core NCA MNT track is three courses online at nailcareacademy.com: the ANT is 10 modules focusing on safety and specially written for salon-based nail technicians leading to the ANT Certificate; the WNT is 10 modules focusing on prevention and building MNT skills leading to the WNT Certificate; and the MNT Internship Preparation Program is one module preparing the graduate for the internship. The capstone internship is 40 hours of observation by the nail technician graduates in a local podiatry office to support the internalization of the information, and to allow them to know exactly what their clients experience when going to a podiatrist for treatment. Each program builds upon the prior one, to culminate in the MNT certification.
Why Should I Become a Medical Nail Technician?
- The population of chronically ill people is going up every year due to the improvements in treatments, and the more successful their chronic care treatments, the longer these patients live and thrive. During this extended life they need careful care of their feet to prevent the complications their illnesses cause to them. In 2023, the CDC said 51% of Americans over 20 years old have at least one chronic illness and 85%+ of Americans over 65 years old. Sixty-five to seventy-five percent of the elderly suffering from chronic illness have two or more (termed, “MCD,” multiple chronic diseases).
- Schools do not have time nor vetted curriculums to adequately provide the education towards the performance of this targeted safe foot care, so NTs must get the detailed training post licensure.
- These certificates are a needed signal to clients that these nail professionals have taken advanced courses and passed exams to become specialists in the care of their feet. These certificates support the confidence vulnerable chronically ill clients need in the safe care of their feet.
- The NCA Medical Nail Technician certificate supports an upgrade in professional respect from clients, medical providers and the community, as well as a significant increase in income for those who follow the suggestions in the courses closely.
Taking the First Step
The attendee must be a licensed nail technician or cosmetologist prior to taking the courses.
The course track is self-paced, meaning every attendee proceeds at their own pace toward finish. No end date is set, though the future MNT is encouraged to make steady progress to improve retention. The average time for a working technician for taking the Advanced Nail Technician Program is six weeks; the Wellness Nail Technician usually adds another four weeks. The MNT Internship Preparation course is usually taken in just a few hours, though putting together the suggested presentation for approaching the podiatry offices takes time. Getting the internship set up with a local podiatrist varies from immediately to longer.
Each individual program leading to the NCA MNT is on the Nail Care Academy website and is individually priced, though we suggest taking advantage of the 20%+ reduction in total price by purchasing the ANT+WNT+MNT Internship Bundle available on the site. The $885 total cost of the courses is reduced to $699 with the discount, and we find purchasing the bundle usually sets the purchaser up mentally for finishing faster. Payment plans are also available.
Misconceptions About Medical Nail Technicians
MNTs are not trained to and cannot legally perform any care that includes infection, inflammation, injury or invasion of the tissue as that is outside every state’s scope of practice for nail technicians. The NCA MNT care is considered cosmetic, not medical and is trained per the state scope of practice.
The question is often asked, “Is this course approved by my state board?” The state boards approve licensing programs for nail technicians, but not certifications. Certifications are considered continuing education by the states and are judged for their quality by the professionals taking them. The courses at NCA are Certificates of Completion, programs supported by license requirements of the attendees and the exams that evaluate learnings at completion. No need for approval by state boards exists.
Elevating Your Career
These nail technicians see almost immediately that there can be much more to being a nail technician than beautification. By the end of the NCA ANT, their pride in their profession is obvious and their clients have attained a higher level of respect for them than ever before. After the courses/certifications, the nail technicians become highly respected by their medical referral partners and become an important part of their team. They are different professionals than when they began the courses.
These courses take an NCA MNT to earnings never thought to have been possible before, and to a level of professional respect and loyalty from clients never thought to be achievable. A successful MNT follows the NCA philosophy of “success through safety,” develops several collaborative podiatry and physician relationships in their area, nurtures the wellness of their clients and follows suggested business practices.
NCA MNTs who follow the precepts of the programs closely can experience earning more than $100,000 per year.
NCA MNTs stand tall in exhibiting pride in their career and in knowing their contributions towards the health and wellness as well as beautification of their clients are a result of their stepping up to a higher educational plane. Their pride is exhibited by the certificates on their wall for all to see.
What Happens Next?
Every graduate has access to the modules for their lifetime. The Nail Care Academy website has a search function to look up any particular topic. NCA suggests every graduate return yearly to click through the information for a refresher and to acquire the new information that has been added. Review is free. Forever.
Janet McCormick, author and owner of NCA is an active mentor for NCA program students, new graduates and past graduates who have questions or are ready to further step up in the development of their careers. She encourages graduates to always stay in touch and share their career milestones. Nothing makes her job more worth it than hearing of graduates earning more than $100,000, $120,000, $150,000 and more a year.
“This news lights me up,” says McCormick. “I love remembering the first time we talked back-when as compared to their now highly accomplished and confident selves.”
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