Virginia Law

Part V. Barber Cosmetology, Nail, and Waxing Schools

18VAC41-20-190. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 9, eff. February 1, 2017.

18VAC41-20-200. General requirements.

A. A barber, cosmetology, nail, or waxing school must:

1. Hold a school license for each and every location. Any suites or classrooms that are located in a different building or are further than 500 feet from the main office are considered a separate location, and require the school hold an additional license.

2. Hold a salon or shop license if the school receives compensation for services provided in its clinic.

3. Employ and ensure all training is conducted under the direct supervision of a licensed and certified barber, master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician instructor, respectively. A list of all certified instructors must be provided with the application for licensure.

a. Licensed and certified cosmetology instructors may also instruct in nail and waxing programs.

b. Licensed and certified esthetics instructors and master esthetics instructors may also instruct in waxing programs.

c. Any change in instructors must be reported to the board within 30 days of the change.

4. Develop individuals for entry-level competency in barbering, master barbering, cosmetology, nail care, or waxing.

5. Submit its curricula for board approval. All changes to curricula must be resubmitted and approved by the board.

a. Barber curricula must be based on a minimum of 750 clock hours and must include performances in accordance with 18VAC41-20-220 A.

b. Master barber curricula must be based on a minimum of 250 clock hours and must include performances in accordance with 18VAC41-20-220 B.

c. Dual barber/master barber program curricula must be based on a minimum of 1,000 clock hours and must include performances in accordance with 18VAC41-20-220 C.

d. Cosmetology curricula must be based on a minimum of 1,000 clock hours and must include performances in accordance with 18VAC41-20-220 D.

e. Nail technician curricula must be based on a minimum of 150 clock hours and must include performances in accordance with 18VAC41-20-220 E.

f. Wax technician curricula must be based on a minimum of 115 clock hours and must include performances in accordance with 18VAC41-20-220 F.

6. Inform the public that all services are performed by students if the school receives compensation for services provided in its clinic by posting a notice in the reception area of the shop or salon in plain view of the public.

7. Conduct classroom instruction in an area separate from the clinic area where practical instruction is conducted and services are provided. A sketch of the school floor plan must be included in the application for licensure.

B. The theory portions of the curriculum may be offered online. Practical instruction must be obtained in a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom setting. Theory and practical training must be conducted in the same building, unless the school has board approval to offer the theory training online. Schools must utilize technologies and practices that are effective in verifying the identity of distance-learning students who participate in class or coursework (e.g., a secure login and passcode) while protecting student privacy. Educational technologies must be capable of monitoring a student's time and activities. The school must utilize a measure of competency (e.g., an examination) of the information the student is taught online, which must be completed in a traditional brick-and-mortar classroom.

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 34, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2018; Volume 35, Issue 12, eff. April 1, 2019; Volume 40, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2025.

18VAC41-20-210. Curriculum requirements.

A. Each barber, cosmetology, nail, and waxing school must submit with its application a curriculum, including a course syllabus, a detailed course content outline, a copy of any course text, a sample of five lesson plans, a sample of evaluation methods to be used, days and hours of instruction, program length, a sample of a final transcript, a breakdown of hours and performances for all courses to be taught that will lead to licensure, and a sample test of at least 25 questions that will be administered to students, including answer key.

B. The outline for barbering must include the following:

1. Orientation and business topics - minimum of 25 hours of instruction:

a. School policies;

b. Business and shop management; and

c. Professional ethics and personal hygiene.

2. State law and regulations - minimum of 10 hours of instruction.

3. Shampooing, cutting, thinning, tapering the hair with razor, clippers, and shears - minimum of 270 hours of instruction:

a. Client consultation; and

b. Styling hair with a hand hair dryer.

4. Shaving and trimming a moustache or beard - minimum of 100 hours of instruction, to include client consultation.

5. Applying hair color - minimum of 50 hours of instruction, to include client consultation.

6. Applied sciences - minimum of 100 hours of instruction:

a. Anatomy and physiology;

b. Skin structure and function;

c. Skin types;

d. Skin conditions;

e. Diseases and disorders of the skin;

f. Analyzing skin or scalp conditions; and

g. Giving scalp treatments.

7. General sciences - minimum of 80 hours of instruction:

a. Bacteriology;

b. Microorganisms;

c. Infection control, sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization;

d. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements;

e. Safety Data Sheet (SDS);

f. General procedures and safety measures;

g. Cosmetic chemistry; and

h. Products and ingredients.

8. Facial hair and skin care services - minimum of 100 hours of instruction:

a. Client skin analysis and consultation;

b. Effleurage and related movements and manipulations of the face ;

c. Cleansing procedures;

d. Masks;

e. Extraction techniques;

f. Machines, equipment, and electricity;

g. Manual facials and treatments; and

h. General procedures and safety measures.

9. Understanding and maintaining implements and equipment (e.g., tools) - minimum of 15 hours of instruction.

C. The outline for a barber school adding a master barber program must include the following:

1. Thermal waving - minimum of 20 hours of instruction;

2. Permanent waving and relaxing the hair with chemicals - minimum of 110 hours of instruction;

3. Lightening or toning the hair - minimum of 100 hours of instruction;

4. Hairpieces and wigs - minimum of 15 hours of instruction; and

5. Waxing limited to the scalp - minimum of five hours of instruction.

D. The outline for a barber school adding a dual barber/master barber program must include the following:

1. Orientation and business topics - minimum of 25 hours of instruction:

a. School policies;

b. Business and shop management; and

c. Professional ethics and personal hygiene.

2. State law and regulations - minimum of 10 hours of instruction.

3. Shampooing, cutting, thinning, tapering the hair with a razor, clippers, and shears - minimum of 270 hours of instruction:

a. Client consultation; and

b. Styling the hair with a hand hair dryer.

4. Shaving and trimming a moustache or beard - minimum of 100 hours of instruction, to include client consultation.

5. Applying hair color - minimum of 50 hours of instruction, to include client consultation.

6. Applied sciences - minimum of 100 hours of instruction:

a. Anatomy and physiology;

b. Skin structure and function;

c. Skin types;

d. Skin conditions;

e. Diseases and disorders of the skin;

f. Analyzing skin or scalp conditions; and

g. Giving scalp treatments.

7. General sciences - minimum of 80 hours of instruction:

a. Bacteriology;

b. Microorganisms;

c. Infection control, sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization;

d. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements;

e. Safety Data Sheet (SDS);

f. General procedures and safety measures;

g. Cosmetic chemistry; and

h. Products and ingredients.

8. Facial hair and skin care services - minimum of 100 hours of instruction:

a. Client skin analysis and consultation;

b. Effleurage and related movements and manipulations of the face ;

c. Cleansing procedures;

d. Masks;

e. Extraction techniques;

f. Machines, equipment, and electricity;

g. Manual facials and treatments; and

h. General procedures and safety measures.

9. Understanding and maintaining implements and equipment (e.g., tools) - minimum of 15 hours of instruction.

10. Thermal waving - minimum of 20 hours of instruction.

11. Permanent waving and relaxing the hair with chemicals - minimum of 110 hours of instruction.

12. Lightening or toning the hair - minimum of 100 hours of instruction.

13. Hairpieces and wigs - minimum of 15 hours of instruction.

14. Waxing limited to the scalp - minimum of five hours of instruction.

E. The outline for cosmetology must include the following:

1. Orientation and business topics - minimum of 45 hours of instruction:

a. School policies;

b. Management;

c. Sales, inventory, and retailing;

d. Taxes and payroll;

e. Insurance;

f. Client records and confidentiality; and

g. Professional ethics and practices.

2. Laws and regulations - minimum of 10 hours of instruction.

3. General sciences - minimum of 55 hours of instruction:

a. Principles and practices of infection control;

b. Safety Data Sheet (SDS); and

c. Chemical usage and safety.

4. Applied sciences - minimum of 40 hours of instruction, to include anatomy, physiology, and histology.

5. Shampooing, rinsing, and scalp treatments for all hair types, including textured hair - minimum of 25 hours of instruction:

a. Client consultation and analysis; and

b. Procedures, manipulations, and treatments.

6. Hair styling for all hair types, including textured hair - minimum of 65 hours of instruction:

a. Fingerwaving, molding, and pin curling;

b. Roller curling, combing, and brushing; and

c. Heat curling, waving, and pressing.

7. Hair cutting for all hair types, including textured hair - minimum of 125 hours of instruction:

a. Fundamentals, materials, and equipment; and

b. Procedures.

8. Permanent waving and chemical relaxing for all hair types, including textured hair - minimum of 135 hours of instruction:

a. Chemistry;

b. Supplies and equipment; and

c. Procedures and practical application.

9. Hair coloring and bleaching for all hair types, including textured hair - minimum of 190 hours of instruction:

a. Basic color theory;

b. Supplies and equipment; and

c. Procedures and practical application.

10. Wigs, hair pieces, and related theory - minimum of 15 hours of instruction:

a. Types; and

b. Procedures.

11. Manicuring and pedicuring - minimum of 75 hours of instruction:

a. Nail theory, nail structure, and composition;

b. Nail procedures, including manicuring, pedicuring, and nail extensions; and

c. Electric filing.

12. Skin care - minimum of 150 hours of instruction:

a. Client skin analysis and consultation;

b. Effleurage and related movements and manipulations of the face;

c. Cleansing procedures;

d. Masks;

e. Extraction techniques;

f. Machines avoiding direct contact with the skin;

g. Equipment avoiding direct contact with the skin;

h. Electricity avoiding direct contact with the skin;

i. Manual facials and treatments; and

j. General procedures and safety measures.

13. Lashes and brows - minimum of 35 hours of instruction:

a. Setup, supplies, and implements;

b. Consultation;

c. Application of false lashes and lash extensions;

d. Lash and brow tinting;

e. Lash perming;

f. Lightening of the hair on the body except scalp; and

g. General procedures and safety measures.

14. Hair removal - minimum of 35 hours of instruction:

a. Client consultation and analysis;

b. Waxing;

c. Mechanical hair removal;

d. Tweezing and threading; and

e. Chemical hair removal.

F. The outline for nail care must include the following:

1. Orientation - minimum of five hours of instruction:

a. School policies; and

b. State law, regulations, and professional ethics.

2. Sterilization, sanitation, bacteriology, and safety - minimum of 35 hours of instruction.

3. Anatomy and physiology - minimum of 15 hours of instruction.

4. Diseases and disorders of the nail - minimum of 10 hours of instruction.

5. Nail procedures (i.e., manicuring, pedicuring, and nail extensions) - minimum of 75 hours of instruction.

6. Nail theory and nail structure and composition - minimum of 10 hours of instruction.

G. The outline for waxing must include the following:

1. Orientation - minimum of 10 hours of instruction:

a. School policies;

b. State law, regulations, and professional ethics;

c. Personal hygiene;

d. Salon management; and

e. Care of equipment.

2. Skin care theory, structure, composition, and treatment - minimum of 30 hours of instruction:

a. Analysis;

b. Anatomy and physiology;

c. Diseases and disorders of the skin;

d. Health sterilization, sanitation, bacteriology, and safety, including infectious disease control measures; and

e. Temporary removal of hair.

3. Client consultation - minimum of 10 hours of instruction:

a. Health conditions;

b. Skin analysis;

c. Treatments;

d. Client expectations; and

e. Health forms and questionnaires.

4. Waxing procedures for brow, lip, facial, legs, arms, underarm, chest, back, and bikini areas - minimum of 35 hours of instruction:

a. Fundamentals;

b. Safety rules; and

c. Procedures.

5. Wax treatments - minimum of 30 hours of instruction:

a. Analysis;

b. Disorders and diseases;

c. Manipulations; and

d. Treatments.

H. A licensed school with an approved barber, master barber, dual barber/master barber, cosmetology, nail technician, or wax technician program may conduct an assessment of a transfer student's competence in the respective profession and, based on the assessment, give credit toward the hours requirements specified in the respective subsection of this section and 18VAC41-20-220.

The school must make the assessment based on a review of the student's transcript, documentation of hours and performances provided to the student by the school from where the student is transferring, and the successful completion of a competency examination administered by the school. The school may also request a copy of a catalog or bulletin giving the full course description when making the evaluation. The number of credit hours awarded must not exceed the actual hours of instruction verified on the transcript or the number of hours specified in the board-approved curriculum for a specific topic.

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 11, eff. March 7, 2022; Volume 40, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2025.

18VAC41-20-220. Practical performance requirements.

A. The curriculum requirements for barbering must include the following minimum performances:

B. The curriculum requirements for master barbering must include the following minimum performances:

C. The curriculum requirements for dual barber/master barber program must include the following minimum performances:

D. The curriculum requirements for cosmetology must include the following minimum performances:

E. The curriculum requirements for nail care must include the following minimum performances:

F. The curriculum requirements for waxing must include the following minimum performances:

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 40, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2025.

18VAC41-20-230. (Repealed.)

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2003; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 9, eff. February 1, 2017.

18VAC41-20-240. Records.

A. Schools must maintain on the premises of each school and available for inspection by the board or any of its agents the following records for the period of a student's enrollment through five years after the student's completion of the curriculum, termination, or withdrawal:

1. Enrollment application containing student's signature and a two-inch by two-inch color head and shoulders photograph;

2. Daily record of attendance containing student's signature;

3. Student clock hours containing student's signature and method of calculation;

4. Practical performance completion sheets containing student's signature;

5. Final transcript;

6. Course descriptions; and

7. All other relevant documents that account for a student's accrued clock hours and practical applications.

B. Schools must produce to the board or any of its agents within 10 days of the request any document, book, or record concerning any student or for which the licensee is required to maintain records for inspection and copying by the board or its agents. The board may extend such timeframe upon a showing of extenuating circumstances prohibiting delivery within such 10-day period.

C. Schools must, within 21 days upon receipt of a written request from a student, provide documentation of hours and performances completed by the student as required to be maintained by subsection A of this section.

D. Prior to a school changing ownership or a school closing, the school is required to provide to current students documentation of hours and performances completed.

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 42, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2025.

18VAC41-20-250. Reporting.

A. Each school must provide student rosters to the board quarterly, no later than January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year.

1. Each school must provide a roster of all enrolled students and a roster of students who attended in the preceding six months prior to the reporting deadline.

2. Students who are enrolled but have not begun classes must be included in the report.

B. Rosters must be submitted via a secure link provided by the board on the board-supplied document, which will include the student's full name, date of birth, program type, date enrolled, the total number of hours to-date, and the date completed, terminated, or withdrawn.

C. Schools with no students enrolled but with the intention of operating must submit a report stating that information.

D. Schools with no students enrolled that no longer wish to operate should terminate the license in accordance with this chapter.

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 42, Issue 5, eff. December 1, 2025.