Virginia State Board of Cosmetology
Information verified:About the Virginia State Board of Cosmetology
The Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology is one of the regulatory boards housed inside the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). DPOR's offices sit in the Perimeter Center complex at 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, in western Henrico County just outside Richmond. The board licenses cosmetologists, barbers, master barbers, estheticians and master estheticians, nail technicians, wax technicians, tattooers, body-piercers, ear-piercers, instructors, salons, and schools — a noticeably broader portfolio than most state cosmetology boards.
Authority for the board sits in Title 54.1, Chapter 7 of the Code of Virginia, with practitioner regulations published as 18VAC41-20 (Barbering and Cosmetology Regulations) and 18VAC41-70 (Esthetics Regulations). The board membership is appointed by the Governor and includes licensed practitioners alongside public representatives. The board approves school curricula, sets fees, hears disciplinary cases, and ratifies consent orders. Day-to-day licensing work — applications, renewals, school approvals, complaint intake — is handled by DPOR staff in the BarberCosmo licensing section.
Several recent changes directly affect Virginia practitioners. House Bill 2669, effective July 1, 2025, narrowed the cosmetology scope of practice: cosmetologists may no longer perform straight-razor shaving, body treatments, or machine facials, and facial work is limited to a basic cleanse, tone, and application of a mask or moisturizer. On December 1, 2025, the board adopted updated curriculum and performance requirements for cosmetology, barber, master barber, dual barber/master barber, nail, and waxing programs to align coursework with the revised scope.
Virginia is also one of the first ten states to enact the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission is targeting an early 2026 activation, after which compact-eligible Virginia cosmetologists will be able to practice in other compact states under a multistate license rather than applying for endorsement state-by-state.
Licenses Regulated
The Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology issues the following individual practitioner credentials, all set out in 18VAC41-20 (barbering and cosmetology), 18VAC41-70 (esthetics), and the related tattooing and piercing regulations:
- Cosmetologist — 1,000 hours at a licensed Virginia cosmetology school, a Virginia Works registered apprenticeship, a Virginia high school cosmetology program, or an equivalent out-of-state or out-of-country program. Pass the written and practical exam.
- Barber — 750 hours at a licensed Virginia barber school (reduced from 1,100 hours on December 1, 2025), a registered apprenticeship, or an equivalent program. Pass the written and practical exam.
- Master Barber — 250 hours of master barber training on top of a barber license, or 1,000 hours of dual barber/master barber training. Master barbers may perform chemical texture services in addition to standard barbering.
- Esthetician — 600 hours at a licensed Virginia school or registered apprenticeship. Skin care services within the regulatory scope.
- Master Esthetician — Active Virginia esthetician license plus 600 additional hours of master esthetics training. Pass the written and practical exam.
- Nail Technician — 150 hours at a licensed Virginia school, a registered apprenticeship, a Virginia high school nail program, or an equivalent program. Pass the written and practical exam.
- Wax Technician — 115 hours at a licensed Virginia school. Authorizes waxing services only — a standalone credential that is unusual nationally.
- Tattooer / Permanent Cosmetic Tattooer / Master Permanent Cosmetic Tattooer — Separate credentials with their own training-hour and bloodborne-pathogen requirements (750 hours for tattooer; 200 hours for permanent cosmetic tattooer).
- Body-Piercer and Ear-Piercer — Body-piercing requires a 1,500-hour licensed apprenticeship. Ear-piercing salons, schools, and ear-piercers are now licensed separately following 2025 legislation (HB 2680 / SB 1419).
- Instructor Certificate — Required to teach in a licensed school. As of December 1, 2025, the standalone instructor program is being phased out and instructor candidates qualify through the alternative pathways set out in the regulations.
- Salon / Shop / Spa / Parlor License — Required for any establishment offering regulated services.
- School License — Required for any institution offering board-approved training.
Out-of-state license holders apply by endorsement (or by Universal License Recognition) rather than retraining. Cosmetology, barber, nail, and wax schools must submit updated curriculum packets reflecting the December 1, 2025 changes to the board no later than March 1, 2026.
Renew Your Virginia Cosmetology License
Virginia cosmetology licenses renew on a two-year cycle. Per 18VAC41-20-140, the renewal fee is $120 for cosmetologists, barbers, master barbers, nail technicians, and wax technicians. Virginia does not require continuing education for cosmetology renewal — meeting the renewal deadline and paying the fee is enough to keep the license active.
License Expiration Date
A Virginia cosmetology license expires on the last day of the month in which it was originally issued, two years from the issuance date. A license issued on March 14 expires on March 31 of the renewal year. Confirm your exact expiration date inside your DPOR online account before renewing.
Renewing Through DPOR Online Services
Renew through the DPOR online services portal at dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Guest_Renewal_Payment. You will need your license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Pay by credit card. After processing, the renewed license is mailed to your address of record. If your address has changed, update it before renewing — license cards are mailed to the address on file and DPOR does not forward them.
Late Renewals and Reinstatement
An expired license cannot be used to practice in Virginia. Reinstatement under 18VAC41-20-140 costs $240 total — a $120 renewal fee plus a $120 reinstatement fee. Submit the Reinstatement Application (form A450-1213REI) along with the fee. Licenses that have been expired beyond the reinstatement window must apply as new applicants. For questions, call (804) 367-8509 or email bchoplicensing@dpor.virginia.gov.
File a Complaint
Complaints against Virginia cosmetologists, barbers, salons, schools, and other regulated practitioners are handled by DPOR's Compliance and Investigations Division. Complaints must be made in writing and received within three years of the act or omission, with a separate two-year discovery extension if a licensee has materially misrepresented or concealed information.
Use the DPOR Complaint Form (F701-COMPFRM, interactive or static PDF) downloadable from dpor.virginia.gov/Report-Licensee. Identify the licensee, license number, establishment, date and location of the incident, and a clear description of the alleged violation. Attach photos, receipts, or written statements if available. Email submissions over 20 MB or any submissions with USB or flash drives are not accepted — request a secure upload link from complaintanalysis@dpor.virginia.gov for large attachments.
The Complaint Analysis & Resolution (CAR) section reviews each complaint to confirm jurisdiction. Cases that suggest a probable violation can be referred to Alternative Dispute Resolution, sent to the Investigations section for a Report of Findings, or resolved through a consent order. Disciplinary outcomes can include monetary penalties, remedial education, probation, suspension, or revocation. DPOR cannot order refunds, force a service to be redone, or provide legal advice — for those remedies, civil action may be the only option.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many training hours are required for a Virginia cosmetology license?
- 1,000 hours at a licensed Virginia cosmetology school. The 1,500-hour cosmetology program was retired on September 1, 2024; legacy 1,500-hour students must finish by August 31, 2026. The December 1, 2025 update changed curriculum topics and performance counts, not the 1,000-hour total.
- What did the December 1, 2025 cosmetology change actually do?
- It rewrote the curriculum to match the narrower scope of practice that took effect on July 1, 2025 — straight-razor shaving, body treatments, and machine facials are no longer in the cosmetology scope, and hours that had been allocated to those topics moved to chemical services, hair coloring, and lash and brow work.
- Does Virginia require CE to renew a cosmetology license?
- No. Virginia does not require continuing education for cosmetologists, barbers, master barbers, nail technicians, or wax technicians. Renew every two years through DPOR online services and pay the $120 renewal fee.
- What does it cost to reinstate an expired Virginia cosmetology license?
- $240 — a $120 renewal fee plus a $120 reinstatement fee under 18VAC41-20-140. Submit the Reinstatement Application (A450-1213REI). Licenses expired past the reinstatement window must reapply as a new applicant.
- Is Virginia in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
- Yes. Virginia is one of the first ten states to enact the compact. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission is targeting an early 2026 activation, after which eligible Virginia cosmetologists will be able to practice in other compact states under a multistate license.
- How do I file a complaint against a Virginia cosmetologist or salon?
- Submit the DPOR Complaint Form (F701-COMPFRM) — interactive or static PDF — at dpor.virginia.gov/Report-Licensee, or call DPOR at (804) 367-8509. Complaints must be received within three years of the alleged act or omission.