Thank you, I’ll keep trying and if not I’ll show Dr. Spalding my progress and she what he advises. I appreciate your suggestions.

I recommend persistently trying to get an audience with any and every podiatrist in your area. I was lucky because I already had access to one, but it can be hard to establish those relationships. Dr. S should be able to help you also. I’d also highlight the fact that you can refer people to their practice exclusively as a benefit.

One of our salons is in a podiatry practice and I can say it’s the smartest move you (or any other nail technician) could possibly make. It’s a great relationship to have, one that benefits both businesses. Good luck out there! 🙂

Thanks for the names of the schools, I will definitely look into that. If anything, once I become a nail tech, I might find myself in a podiatry office (not preferred, but a possibility).

Who knows, with all these home health agencies popping up, one of them just might want to jump through the regulatory hoops to get a competitive edge.

I would love to work “unvarnished” ( l love that name) but the boonies are my retirement place.

Thanks again.

Hi Evelyn! I live in Florida also and, while I could explain how similar my career is and has been to what you’re pursuing, I’ll just leave a link to my salon right here so you can take a look. Basically: there is a HUGE market for medically necessary routine foot care, particularly in towns like Venice where the average resident is 55+. There are a few people out there doing what we do, but not nearly enough to meet the demand. I would consider it entirely worth it to pursue a nail specialist license in the state and start serving those clients, because it really is desperately needed here.

You can obtain a nail specialist license, but it can be hard to find schools that just offer the nail specialty program. I don’t know what part of the state you’re in, but Sunstate Academy offers the program, as does Fashion Focus in Sarasota.

In Florida, it is legal to perform services in the homes and facilities of clients who are mobility impaired or homebound by medical necessity, but there’s a protocol to follow outlined by the State Board. (This post can help a little, but the Board’s regulations are linked within it too, so follow those links.)

If you have any further questions, I’d love to help you in any way I can. You can email me at letstalk@thisuglybeautybusiness.com. There’s a good possibility your agency won’t want to deal with including the services, as there are some regulatory hoops to jump through and some liability complications, but if you’re in the Sarasota/Venice area and are really passionate about providing quality foot care to the elderly, we’re hiring and you’re exactly the type of professional we look for.

I am a retired RN, 60 yrs of age. I am currently working part time as a home health aide. In the past i worked in Canada as a visiting nurse, i took a college course for “foot care” which allowed me to do home pedicures for the agency (Victorian Order of Nurses)

Here in the US I am unable to even cut toenails! (I got pretty good at it!)

There are MANY elderly people here who just need basic footcare and pedicures, not medical, but they do have medical and age conditions which keep them pretty much homebound. I KNOW I am capable and willing to do this, but of course I am not a “nail tech”.

I have this idea to become a certified nail tech, but I do not want to do the entire cosmetology course (hair and facials… not for me!)

So, my question is, is it possible to become a certified nail tech in the state of Florida without all the other?

My idea is to continue to work for my agency (it is in my estimation a very good one), but to somehow have them enhance services provided to clients with home pedicures (provided by me of course!).

I don’t know if anyone out there does this, and I have not approached the agency with this idea that is running around my head, and wouldn’t know where to begin.

This idea keeps coming to me, especially when yesterday, a very elderly lady, wife of my client, barely able to walk with her walker, got in her van and drove to her pedicure appointment… a risky and likely expensive adventure… And I know I could have done it much better and much more comfortably in her own home.

What do you think about all of this? Is anyone out there doing such? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

For you, I would highly recommend it. You’re exactly the type of professional who could benefit from the education. The program I took was through MediNail Learning Center, back with Dr. Spalding and Janet McCormick were partnered. The ANT and MNT programs were the result of the two of them collaborating on the curriculum. They’ve since separated into two different entities. I’m unfamiliar with how the programs have evolved since then, but I know both of them personally and I can vouch for their passion for the content. I’d recommend contacting both of them for more information on their individual programs before making a decision on which to take.

Thanks in advance

Sincerely,

Mickala Stark
Licensed nail technician
State of Nebraska LIC#1855