Hi Cat! I also took one of the Essential Nail courses initially as I too was off sick and homebound after a major op, not only did it give me something to occupy my mind but it also gave me a great grounding for entering into the nail world, because you can do it at your own pace and when you feel up to it it is a great way to learn the basics, I do however believe you need to go on to further training if you are serious about a career in the nail industry, I for instance did some with Ezflow, Light Elegance and Tennails and this last month have taken the Creative Foundation course which in my opinion gives you the best info and advice and practical work to feel confident in the work place. Gina Wallace is a wonderful tutor and she is almost always available for advice on her website. As for L&P and Gel, I have trained in both and my personal preference is L&P but some techs absolutely love to work with gel, it's what you find the most comfortable to work with and what gives the best results,and of course what your clients want! I was rubbish at gels despite getting a distinction on the EN course and I get much better results with L&P but for instance Ruth (NailsinLondon1) does amazing work with Fabric# which is a wrap system. I always find it's worth trying all three systems to find which one suits you best. Anyway I'll stop rambling now! Good luck with the course! Jx