I Nailed It Academy

I Nailed It Academy was founded in 2019 by Shenika Blanding and operates in Raleigh. The school describes itself as an innovative, full-service manicure school, and says its team has more than 25 years of combined experience between them.

The nail technician program is a 300-hour course that combines classroom theory with hands-on practical work. Training covers basic manicures and pedicures, nail tips, acrylic overlays, sculptured nails, gel overlays, and Gel-X application and removal. Students must pass each class with a score of 75 percent or higher to graduate, and every performance is carried out under a 100 percent infection control blood exposure procedure.

The school is a state board approved nails-only school and certifies students once they finish the 300 hours and all course requirements. Licenses themselves are issued by the NC Cosmetic Arts Board Examiners rather than by the school. The school states it has a 100 percent passing rate.

Students can choose a nine-week day program, held Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 4:00pm and Friday from 8:00am to 1:00pm, or a twelve-week night program held Monday through Friday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Enrolling means creating an account, paying the retainer or full tuition, and emailing an application along with a copy of a driver's license and a Social Security card.

Tuition for the full-day or night course is $4,000 and includes the application and registration fee, two school T-shirts, the written and practical state board exam, and a nail kit. Payment plans are offered in weekly or biweekly installments, calculated by spreading the $3,500 balance across the weeks of the class. Payments can be made before class starts, and once class begins they start on the first Friday. Tuition and the retainer are non-refundable and non-transferable, and all balances must be settled before transfer hours can be requested. The school does not currently offer financial aid programs.

Beyond class, the school arranges career seminars, off-campus activities and networking meetups for students.