Virginia Law

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

1. The applicant shall be in good standing as a licensed barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician, and instructor, respectively, in Virginia and all other jurisdictions where licensed. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure any disciplinary action taken in Virginia and all other jurisdictions in connection with the applicant's practice as a barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician, or in the practice of teaching any of those professions. This includes monetary penalties, fines, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action, or voluntary termination of a license. The applicant shall disclose to the board at the time of application for licensure if the applicant has been previously licensed in Virginia as a barber instructor, master barber instructor, cosmetology instructor, nail technician instructor, or wax technician instructor.

Upon review of the applicant's prior disciplinary action, the board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant wherein the board deems the applicant is unfit or unsuited to engage in the instruction of barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing. The board will decide each case by taking into account the totality of the circumstances. Any plea of nolo contendere or comparable plea shall be considered a disciplinary action for the purposes of this section. The applicant shall provide a certified copy of a final order, decree, or case decision by a court, regulatory agency, or board with the lawful authority to issue such order, decree, or case decision, and such copy shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such disciplinary action;

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

3. The applicant shall:

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

b. Complete an instructor training course approved by the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology under the supervision of a certified barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician instructor in a barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician school, respectively; or

c. Pass an examination in barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician instruction respectively, 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 shall disclose the following information regarding criminal convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions:

a. All misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, non-marijuana drug distribution, or physical injury within two years of the date of the application; and

b. All felony convictions within 20 years of the date of application.

Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subsection. The record of a conviction received from a court shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of a conviction or finding of guilt. The board, in its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.

B. Instructors shall be required to maintain a barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician license, respectively.