Tennessee Nail Technician Licensing: Rules
Last reviewed 26 September 2026Tennessee's cosmetology board sets a 600-hour route for manicurists, sourced here from the board's own rules. City guide and where online training fits follow.
How to Become a Nail Technician in Tennessee
Tennessee licenses manicurists through the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. The requirement is 600 clock hours (18 credit hours) of manicuring instruction, followed by the state's licensing exam (confirm its format with the board). Full detail: the TN Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.
| Requirement | Tennessee rule |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 600 clock hours / 18 credit hours |
| Exam | Not re-confirmed as of 26 Sep 2026 -- confirm with the board |
| Renewal | Not re-confirmed as of 26 Sep 2026 |
| Application/exam fees | Not listed on this page -- confirm with the board |
| Governing body | TN Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners |
Source: Rules of the TN Board, ch. 0440-01 Licensing (July 2024 rev.), publications.tnsosfiles.com, p.7: "the six hundred (600) clock hours/18 credit hours of instruction required of an applicant for a license to practice manicuring." Read 2026-09-24. Confirm directly with the board before you rely on it.
Nail Tech Training by City in Tennessee
Sublime Professional currently covers one Tennessee metro in depth:
Finding a Licensed Nail School in Tennessee
Use the board's licence-verification tool directly, or ask a prospective school for its licence number before you pay.
Where Online Training Fits
Our course does not count toward Tennessee's 600-hour requirement; only training on the route the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners sets, described above, does. From home, you can start on gel, acrylic and Russian-manicure technique now, with Darya Shevchenko's feedback on photos of your practice work. It ends in a Sublime Professional diploma, not a Tennessee licence.
Next Steps in Tennessee
Build technique alongside the board's own route -- $597, or 3 interest-free payments of $199.
See the Full Program - $597Not Ready Yet? Read the Free Theory Class FirstNot accredited. Not approved by any state.
