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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
Agency 41. Board For Barbers And Cosmetology
Chapter 20. Barbering and Cosmetology Regulations
12/24/2025

18VAC41-20-100. General requirements for  an instructor certificate.

A. Any individual wishing to engage in instruction in barbering, master barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing must meet the following qualifications:

1. The applicant must be in good standing as a licensed barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician and instructor, respectively, in every jurisdiction where licensed, certified, or registered. The applicant must provide a copy to the board of any disciplinary action taken in Virginia and all other jurisdictions at the time of application for certification since being previously licensed as a barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician. This includes monetary penalties, fines, probation, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license or certification in connection with a disciplinary action, or voluntary termination of a license or certification.

Upon review of the applicant's prior disciplinary action, the board, in its discretion, may deny certification to any applicant that the board deems unfit or unsuited to engage in the instruction of barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing;

2. The applicant must hold and maintain a current Virginia barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician license, respectively;

3. The applicant must complete one of the following qualifications:

a. Pass a course in teaching techniques at the post-secondary educational level; or

b. Pass an instructor examination administered by the board or by a testing service acting on behalf of the board; and

4. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant must disclose all felony convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions since being previously licensed as a barber, master barber, cosmetologist, wax technician, or nail technician within 10 years of the date of application.

The board, in its discretion, may deny certification to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Certified instructors may teach in any profession in which they hold the underlying license.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 9, eff. February 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2019; Volume 38, Issue 4, eff. December 1, 2021; Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2025.

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