18VAC41-20-20. General requirements for a barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician license.
A. Any individual wishing to engage in barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing shall obtain a license in compliance with § 54.1-703 of the Code of Virginia and 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 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. 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 he has been previously licensed in Virginia as a barber, master barber, cosmetologist, nail technician, or wax technician.
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 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 disclose his physical address. A post office box is not acceptable.
3. The applicant shall 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 shall disclose the following information regarding criminal convictions in Virginia and all other jurisdictions:
a. All misdemeanor convictions involving moral turpitude, sexual offense, 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.
5. The applicant shall 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 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, respectively, or a Virginia public school's barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician program approved by the Virginia Department of Education shall be eligible for examination.
2. Training outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia, but within the United States and its territories.
a. Any person completing a barber training 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 successful completion of 1,100 hours of training to be eligible for examination. If less than 1,100 hours of barber training was completed, an applicant must submit a certificate, diploma, or other documentation acceptable to the board verifying the completion of a substantially equivalent barber course and documentation of six months of barber work experience in order to be eligible for examination.
b. Any person completing a master barber or cosmetology training 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 successful completion of 1,500 hours of training to be eligible for examination. If less than 1,500 hours of master barber or cosmetology training was completed, an applicant must submit a certificate, diploma, or other documentation acceptable to the board verifying the completion of a substantially equivalent master barber or cosmetology course and documentation of six months of master barber or cosmetology work experience in order to be eligible for examination.
c. Any person completing a nail technician training 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 successful completion of 150 hours of training to be eligible for examination. If less than 150 hours of nail technician training was completed, an applicant must submit a certificate, diploma, or other documentation acceptable to the board verifying the completion of a substantially equivalent nail technician course and documentation of six months of nail technician work experience in order to be eligible for the nail technician examination.
d. Any person completing a wax technician training 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 successful completion of 115 hours of training to be eligible for examination. If less than 115 hours of wax technician training was completed, an applicant must submit a certificate, diploma, or other documentation acceptable to the board verifying the completion of a substantially equivalent wax technician course and documentation of six months of wax technician work experience in order to be eligible for the wax technician examination.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; amended, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 09, eff. February 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2019.