To get a cosmetology license in Virginia, you need 1,000 hours of training at a board-approved school, passing scores on both a written and a practical exam, and a $120 application submitted to the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology through DPOR. That is the short version of the Virginia cosmetology license requirements, and several details in the long version changed at the end of 2025.
Training Hours
The classroom route is 1,000 clock hours at a school approved by the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.1Cornell Law School. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-220 – Hours of Instruction and Performances Virginia cut the requirement from 1,500 hours effective December 1, 2025, so older materials still listing 1,500 are out of date.2Virginia Townhall. December 1, 2025 Implementation of Cosmetology, Barber, Master Barber Curriculum Requirements The curriculum covers haircutting, coloring, chemical treatments, skincare, nail care, sanitation, and Virginia rules on client safety and professional conduct.
You must be at least 16 to start training. Virginia does not require a high school diploma or GED to apply for the license.
If a classroom program isn’t the right fit, Virginia also recognizes a 3,000-hour apprenticeship under a licensed cosmetologist. You’ll cover the same skills, but it takes longer because you’re learning inside a working salon. Apprentices need to keep detailed records of hours and services, since the Board can ask to review them.
Specialty Licenses With Fewer Hours
If you only plan to do nails or waxing, you don’t need the full cosmetology license. Virginia offers narrower credentials with much shorter training requirements:
- Nail care: 150 clock hours
- Waxing: 115 clock hours
Each specialty has its own exam and its own lower fee schedule.1Cornell Law School. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-220 – Hours of Instruction and Performances
Passing the Exams
After training, you have to pass a written exam and a practical exam. Virginia uses National-Interstate Council (NIC) exams, which have been administered by Prov, Inc. since January 1, 2025.3Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Board for Barbers and Cosmetology
The written test is multiple-choice and covers infection control, chemical treatments, anatomy, and state regulations. The practical tests hands-on work in haircutting, styling, chemical services, and nail application.
The written exam costs $99 and the practical costs $95.4Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. Candidate Information Bulletin VA DPOR Licensing Exams CIB 2025.04.21 Fail one section and you only retake that section. There’s no waiting period between attempts and no cap on how many times you can try. One deadline does apply: you must apply for your initial license within five years of passing both exams, or you’ll have to test again.5Cornell Law School. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-60 – Examination Requirements and Fees
Submitting Your Application
Applications go through DPOR’s online services portal.6Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. DPOR Online License Services You’ll provide personal information, proof of your training or apprenticeship hours, and verification that you passed both exams. The application fee is $120 and is nonrefundable.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-140 – Fees
The application asks about prior criminal convictions. A conviction is not an automatic disqualification. The Board reviews each case individually and may ask for court records, a personal statement, or a hearing before deciding, so gather those documents before you file if they might apply to you.
Most complete applications are processed in about 30 days. Incomplete applications trigger a deficiency notice with a deadline; miss it and you’ll restart and pay again. Once approved, your license is valid for two years.
If You’re Already Licensed in Another State
If you already hold a cosmetology license somewhere else in the United States or a U.S. territory, you can apply by endorsement instead of retraining. Virginia looks at whether your training and exams were substantially equivalent to its own.8Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. How to Transfer a License from Another State – Board for Barbers and Cosmetology
The threshold is 80% of Virginia’s training hours, or at least 800 hours for cosmetology, plus passing scores on a state-administered written and practical exam. If your original program was shorter, you may still qualify by documenting five years of licensed work experience in the United States. The endorsement fee is $120 and nonrefundable.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-140 – Fees Your home state’s board must send Virginia a certification of licensure directly.
One point trips people up: exams given by your cosmetology school do not count. Only exams administered by a state licensing agency or its designated testing service qualify, and the Board can require you to sit for Virginia’s exams if it decides your original testing wasn’t equivalent.
Renewing the License
Virginia cosmetology licenses expire every two years. Renewal is $120 through the DPOR portal.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-140 – Fees DPOR sends a renewal notice by email or mail before expiration, but tracking the date is your responsibility. If your license lapses, you cannot legally practice until it is reinstated.
Virginia does not require continuing education for cosmetology renewal. Pay the fee, confirm your information, and you’re set for another two years.
Reinstatement After a Lapse
To bring an expired license back, you’ll pay $240, which is the $120 renewal fee plus a $120 reinstatement fee.7Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC41-20-140 – Fees The Board can also require you to meet current entry requirements, which may include retaking one or both exams. If you’ve been actively licensed and practicing in another state during the gap, submit proof; it can help, but the Board decides whether extra testing or training is needed. The longer the lapse, the more likely those extra requirements become.
Penalties for Practicing Without a License
Working as a cosmetologist in Virginia without a valid license is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.9Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 54.1-111 – Unlawful Acts; Civil Penalty10Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 18.2-11 – Punishment for Conviction of Misdemeanor A third conviction within 36 months is a Class 6 felony.
The Board can also issue cease-and-desist orders and impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation.11Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 54.1-402.2 – Cease and Desist Orders for Unlicensed Activity Salons that employ unlicensed cosmetologists face their own discipline, up to suspension or revocation of the salon’s license. DPOR investigators can inspect at any time, and anyone can file a complaint with the Board.