Virginia Law

A. Any individual wishing to engage in barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing must obtain a license in compliance with § 54.1-703 of the Code of Virginia and 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 in Virginia and all other jurisdictions where licensed, certified, or registered. The applicant must provide a copy of any disciplinary action taken in Virginia and all other jurisdictions to the board at the time of application for licensure. This includes monetary penalties, fines, probation, suspensions, revocations, surrender of a license in connection with a disciplinary action, or voluntary termination of a license.

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

2. The applicant must disclose the applicant's physical address. A post office box may be provided as a secondary address.

3. The applicant must sign, as part of the application, a statement certifying that the applicant has read and understands the Virginia barber and cosmetology license laws and this chapter.

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 within 10 years of the date of application.

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

5. The applicant must provide evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant has passed the board-approved examination, administered either by the board or by independent examiners.

B. Eligibility to sit for board-approved examination.

1. Training in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Any person completing one of the following programs is eligible for examination:

a. An approved barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician training program in a Virginia licensed barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician school.

b. A Virginia public school's barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician program approved by the Virginia Department of Education.

c. A registered apprenticeship.

d. Training as a barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician in any Virginia state institution.

2. Training outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

a. Any person completing a barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing training or apprenticeship program that is substantially equivalent to the Virginia program but is outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia must submit to the board documentation of the substantially equivalent training to be eligible for examination. Applicants who have earned a degree from an institution outside the United States must have their degree translated, authenticated, and evaluated by an education evaluation service if credit is sought for the education. The board in its discretion may decline to accept any evaluation submitted by an applicant.

b. Applicants who completed a training or apprenticeship program that is not substantially equivalent to Virginia's training must submit documentation acceptable to the board verifying three years of work experience. Applicants should provide their work history demonstrating three years of experience as a licensed barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician in any other state or jurisdiction of the United States on a form provided by the board.

3. Any barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician applicant having a minimum of two years of experience in barbering, master barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing in the United States Armed Forces and having provided documentation satisfactory to the board of that experience is eligible for the respective examination.

4. A Virginia licensed cosmetologist with a minimum of two years of work experience is eligible for the master barber examination; likewise, a Virginia licensed master barber with a minimum of two years of work experience is eligible for the cosmetology examination.