Pricing options

Payments include Ugly Duckling Student Kit. See kit contents and what needs to be purchased separately below.

Ugly Duckling Kit

Nothing but the best quality products for our nail students!

Halo Nail Academy courses are taught using award-winning Ugly Duckling Nails Products. Ugly Duckling is a Canadian, female owned company based out of Victoria, BC. The kit items have been hand selected by Keesha for your success in this course, but are not mandatory.
View Kit Contents

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to Halo!

    2. About this Online Course

    3. Ugly Duckling Nails

    4. Navigating your Online Portal

    5. Using Canva for Homework Submissions

    6. Student Kit Checklist

    7. Getting Started

    8. Downloadable Student Handbook

    1. Salon Safety

    2. Disinfection and Sanitation

    3. Salon Safety Mini Quiz

    1. All About Gel

    2. Understanding Gel Viscosities

    3. Gel Cure Times

    1. Filing 101

    2. All About Filing

    3. Hand File Grips, Grits & Motions

    4. All About the Electric File

    5. E-file Bits

    6. Filing

    1. Manicure Theory

    2. Nail Anatomy Mini Quiz

    3. E-file Manicure

    1. Natural Nail Preparation

    2. Working with Gel - Builder Base

    3. Natural Nail Overlay (Full Service)

    4. Natural Nail Overlay on Yourself!

About this course

  • $999.00
  • 65 lessons
  • 4.5 hours of video content
  • Ugly Duckling Kit included in cost
  • Mentorship and ongoing feedback for duration of course
  • Nail Certificate mailed out once student graduates!

How It Works

Before you sign up, understand how this course is structured and what processes you will complete to earn your certificate!

Upon purchase, you will be granted immediate access to the course. You can start working though the theoretical course study material immediately upon enrolment, while you await the arrival of your student kit items.  Once your kit items arrive, you can start working on the training hand with your new products and supplies for the hands-on gel nail training!

Throughout the program there will be detailed video instruction preparing you to complete homework assignments, which will be submitted and graded by your instructor, Keesha.  She will offer you detailed, visual and verbal feedback on your homework submissions, and if the submission passes the requirements, she will unlock access to next your course modules. 

Keesha wants you to be a confident, skillful gel manicurist after completing this course, so to make sure that you have fully grasped the concepts of each assignment before being allowed to move on to the next one is very important to her. She will be working with you to shape and develop the skills necessary to succeed!

The entire course includes a total of 11 detailed modules which will include a mixture of readings and infographics from our carefully constructed manual, as well as high quality videos filmed at multiple different angles! These modules are broken down into lessons, all listed in the curriculum section above.

We promise you won’t leave my program with unanswered questions.  It is our mission to ensure you always feel supported as you grow and flourish in this industry. 

Certification is awarded upon completion of the course, allowing you to shop professional use only products from beauty distributors. If you enrol in this course and decide you want to further your education by learning how to do sculpted gel extensions, you can transfer into the Online Gel Nail Technician Certification Program for the price difference of $2200.

See what all the buzz is about

Here are reviews from students who have take this courses!

5 star rating

online courses

Kersten Hill

I have always struggled with online courses. I have a harder time understanding the material when it is online, but Keesha does such an amazing job at explai...

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I have always struggled with online courses. I have a harder time understanding the material when it is online, but Keesha does such an amazing job at explaining things and keeping your focus. They also have a great response time whether its for help with assignments or just reviewing assignments.

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5 star rating

Best online course you will ever take

Lynnette Oon

Keesha is amazing. She is patient, understanding and very responsive. Not only does she take the time to grade the assignments properly, she also provides de...

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Keesha is amazing. She is patient, understanding and very responsive. Not only does she take the time to grade the assignments properly, she also provides detailed feedback. Using the constructive criticism provided by her, you can definitely work on your craft a lot better. The course is easy to follow with detailed videos with voiceovers. Keesha also never makes you feel bad for emailing and asking a lot of questions. I appreciate her guidance and her sharing her knowledge with me. This course is well worth every penny you spend. The ugly duckling product that comes in the kit is also top notch. Especially since it's a local product, just makes it all that much better!

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5 star rating

Best online course

Devon Myers

I have taken a lot of different online courses and this one is the best! so simple to follow along and the instruction videos are awesome! feedback is constr...

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I have taken a lot of different online courses and this one is the best! so simple to follow along and the instruction videos are awesome! feedback is constructive and quick. I would recommend this to anyone looking into a nail tech program!

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5 star rating

Best online course you will ever take

Lynnette Oon

Keesha is amazing. She is patient, understanding and very responsive. Not only does she take the time to grade the assignments properly, she also provides de...

Read More

Keesha is amazing. She is patient, understanding and very responsive. Not only does she take the time to grade the assignments properly, she also provides detailed feedback. Using the constructive criticism provided by her, you can definitely work on your craft a lot better. The course is easy to follow with detailed videos with voiceovers. Keesha also never makes you feel bad for emailing and asking a lot of questions. I appreciate her guidance and her sharing her knowledge with me. This course is well worth every penny you spend. The ugly duckling product that comes in the kit is also top notch. Especially since it's a local product, just makes it all that much better!

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5 star rating

Amazing Course!!

Katie Andrews

I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to learn about gel nails! The videos are so thorough and jammed packed with lots of informative...

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I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is looking to learn about gel nails! The videos are so thorough and jammed packed with lots of informative tips and tricks. I love how you can go back and rewatch a video at anytime to refresh your knowledge and keep learning. Keesha is an incredible teacher with a great eye for detail which makes me feel confident in creating high quality nails. Her feedback has helped me grow so much in my skill from the beginning of the course till now. Keesha is always there with a cheerful bright attitude to help with any questions I have along the way making me always feel heard and encouraged. I am so thankful for Keesha and the Halo Nail Academy for setting me up for success in my exciting new nail career! Thank you!! 💖💖💖

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5 star rating

Best class ever

Shannon Holmes

This was the best nail class i ever been in online she was so detail and hand on with everything i will be looking forward to another class with her soon

This was the best nail class i ever been in online she was so detail and hand on with everything i will be looking forward to another class with her soon

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Meet your Instructor

Halo Owner & Educator Keesha Carpenter

With over a decade of hard work and experience in the nail industry, Keesha has become a well-known nail artist and educator here in Canada. She continually brings her passion for nails into everything she does - and it shows! Her students share that they truly feel the love and support that she pours into her education, creating an unforgettable experience for them as they grow their own business and artistry! Check out her vibrant art on her nail account @electriknailz.

Certification Program FAQ

  • Is there a kit included?

    The Ugly Duckling Student Kit is included in the tuition cost if you are looking at any of the certification programs! The online programs (Soak Off Gel Manicurist Certification Program, and Online Gel Extension Certification Program) will require you to purchase a few additional items linked within the course. These items are from Amazon and total around $250-400 depending on your location.

  • Will I be a licensed nail tech after taking your courses?

    Halo is a private nail academy in Canada. We are not an accredited school. Completion of our certification programs will award you with a Certificate, NOT a license. If you require a license to work in your region but still want to learn from Halo, all of our courses are available for you to take in addition to your required training to help you maximize your skills and understanding of gel nail services.

  • How many hours is the Online Gel Nail Extension Technician Certification Course

    This program totals about 400 hours total, but depends on how long each individual takes to successfully complete each module. Completing the course isn’t a race. You have one full year to complete it! We encourage all of our students to take the time they need to understand the material and assignments so they can finish the program with a solid foundation of gel nails!

  • How do I sign up for your upcoming In-Person Programs?

    To secure a spot in an upcoming class, select any payment option and complete the payment. Whether you pay in full, pay the deposit, or pay the first payment of your payment plan, this first payment is all you need in order to have your seat saved in an upcoming class - we email shortly after to confirm which class dates you want to enrol in!

  • What if my course expires, can I extend it?

    We expect our students in our Certification Programs (both in person and online) to complete the course within one year of enrolment. This is plenty of time to complete the course. If you are unable to complete the course or your practicum within that year, you will have to make arrangements to extend your program for an agreed upon fee depending on the length of the term. You can extend it 6 months for $555 CAD or one month at $100 CAD, two months at $200 CAD, etc.

  • Do I need to purchase the Student Kit if I already have the supplies for the Certification Program?

    Because our certification is taught using Ugly Duckling, you will have to purchase the Ugly Duckling kit, which is already worked into the tuition price. For any of the kit items that are not in the Ugly Duckling Kit, you can certainly use what you already have! These items are all listed within the course in a checklist, as well as on the website in the “student kit list” button, so you can go through and check off what you already have and order what you don’t.

  • Do you have any other payment plan options?

    There are not any other payment plan options aside from those listed on the website.

General FAQ

  • Do you teach acrylic?

    No, Halo Nail Academy courses ONLY use gel nail products.

  • How do the payment plans work?

    Your first payment will come out immediately and grant you immediate access to your course. The next payments will come out on the same day of the month as your initial transaction, for as the number of months you chose for you payment plan. If you miss a payment, your course will be locked until the payment is successful. Once the payment goes through, you will regain access to your course.

  • Why isn't my discount code isn't working?

    Discount codes only apply to our art and shaping courses, and not valid on the In-Person or Online Certification Programs. They also cannot be used on payment plans.

  • My local guidelines require me to have a license to do nails in my city/province/state. Will I be a licensed nail tech after taking your courses?

    Halo is a private nail academy in Canada. We are not an accredited school. Completion of our certification programs will award you with a Certificate, not a license. If you require a license to work in your region but still want to learn from Halo, all of our courses are available for you to take in addition to your required training to help you maximize your skills and understanding of gel nail services.

  • What is the benefit of becoming Certified over just doing nails on my own?

    A certification is a professional recognition of achievement, meaning you have completed theoretical and practical training in the industry, giving you confidence having learned from someone with experience and expertise. Most beauty suppliers also require proof of certification before they allow you to shop with them, which means your certificate will grant you wholesale pricing and access to professional use only products.

  • Do your courses expire?

    Most of our courses never expire. The only ones that do expire are the Certification Programs, including the Soak Off Gel Manicurist Certification Program, Online Gel Extension Certification Program, and the In-Person Gel Extension Certification Program. These programs expire one year after enrolment.

  • What if I enrol in an online course and then change my mind?

    We encourage all potential students to ask lots of questions before making the investment to purchase education. Unfortunately, all courses are non-refundable.

  • Do I have to have a computer to take this course?

    Simple answer, no! You can absolutely use your phone for all training, but having a computer or something with a larger screen (ie: iPad, tablet, laptop) will really help you to be able to watch all the videos on a larger scale so you can study all of the details.

  • Is there financial aid available for your nail certification course?

    There is no financial aid, however, there are payment plan options available to make the tuition more affordable by breaking it up into monthly instalments.