I have read all above and do agree that this is not down to the course length, but the way the course is presented and who is teaching.
I have been doing nails for 3 years and still keep learning and updating my skills and knowledge. However, I had good experience with short courses and extremely bad with full-time college courses.:twisted:
Here is my rant.
My first course was Natural Nail Care short course with EzFlow (Margarita Belska) and it was great! However, I did understand that this is just a begin and there is so much to learn.
Then my finances were tough and as I wasn't able to afford acrylic or gel course with EzFlow, I decided to go to local college. The college were advertising that in 6 months I would learn all 3 systems. And I thought it is good value for money.
During our first class (after I enrolled and paid), our Tutor told us that were are going to cover just gel nails and ask if there is anyone thinking we are going to cover other systems too. I will not describe the whole argument with her and the college, but at the end the college refused to refund and I decided to complete the course as it is, not to lose money I have already paid for the course and the kit (BioSculpture. The course was horrible - I was feeling like was doing health and safety course or "Marketing Biosculpture Products" course, than a nails. However somehow they made me feel the best and I left full of confidence and ready to work in a salon. At that point I didn't know how long will it take me to retrain.
I finally found a job in a salon and it was really though in the salon, but I appreciate my boss's patience and support while I was re-trainig privately.
Since then I did a lot of courses privately in UK, Holland and Latvia (Nail Creation, CND and Kinetics Nails) and I must admit I had bad experience only one (all the time I was wondering 'what did I pay for?").
Then a year ago I completed Beauty Therapy Level 2 in a public funded college.
I picked different college and was thinking it would be a good addition to my exsisting treatment menu and this time I will be fine.
Well, from all the treatments we were taught I only perform eyelash tinting and perming. I just don't feel confindent enought in others (facial, waxing, make-up, eyelash extensions), however, I have passed exams with higest score in my class. Now I am among those who give up - I just decided to stick to nails and continue training in this area, rather than try to retrain myself in all these beauty treatments too.
I am sure there are good colleges too, but from my experience I believe there must be more internal control about how they teach. For example, our manicure and pedicure Turtor, after watching how I paint French and knowing that I was already qualified in nails, asked me to demonstrate it and explain the procedure to fellow students, as she didn't feel confident enough about it. And it wasn't said 1-2-1, it was in front of all the students!
I just think, that when choosing a privately-run training, the best is to go with reputable product houses and educators with impressive portfolio (salon and session work, placement in competitions, own photographic portfolio, etc.). As from my experience, recognised qualification will not guarantee high skill level.