All four Virginia beauty licenses in one place. Virginia has seen more changes in the past 18 months than almost any other state — cosmetology dropped to 1,000 hours, barber dropped to 750, and the exam vendor switched from PSI to Prov. NIC exams throughout, no CE required for any license type.
Virginia · Cosmetology
1,000 hours as of September 1, 2024 (down from 1,500). NIC exam via Prov, written and practical. No CE required. DPOR licensing. As of December 1, 2025, cosmetologists are prohibited from straight-razor shaving, body treatments, and machine facials.
Virginia uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov (which replaced PSI as of January 1, 2025). NICPrep's cosmetology question bank is built directly from the NIC CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Virginia cosmetology licensing. No separate state law exam — law questions are included in the NIC theory exam (English only for law questions).
Virginia's cosmetology training hour requirement changed effective September 1, 2024. Students who enrolled before September 1, 2024 are subject to the prior 1,500-hour requirement and must complete it by August 31, 2026. Students who enrolled on or after September 1, 2024 are in the new 1,000-hour program and must complete it by July 31, 2026. Transfers between programs are evaluated case-by-case — students nearly finished may not benefit from switching.
The Board for Barbers and Cosmetology under DPOR (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) governs all Virginia beauty and barber licenses in one board. Apply through DPOR's online portal at dpor.virginia.gov. Apprenticeship programs are available through Virginia Works DWDA for all modalities.
Effective December 1, 2025, Virginia cosmetologists are prohibited from performing: straight-razor shaving, body treatments, and machine facials. These services were previously within cosmetology scope. Barbers may still perform straight-razor shaving. Students enrolled before December 1, 2025 in programs covering these services should confirm their hours situation with their school and DPOR.
Issued one time only, valid for 45 days. Request when submitting your application. Issued approximately five days after application approval.
Verify school approval at dpor.virginia.gov. Programs typically run 6–9 months full-time under the new 1,000-hour requirement. Confirm which hour requirement applies based on your enrollment date.
Apply at dpor.virginia.gov (DPOR Online Services). Submit your exam and license application. Pay $105 license fee. Request a temporary permit (+$0 — included in application) if needed to work supervised during the 45-day window.
DPOR authorizes Prov once your application is approved. Schedule at provexam.com or call (877) 228-3926. Pay $99 (written) + $95 (practical). If you pass one exam, you have one year to pass the other. Pass both but don't apply for licensure within 5 years — you must retake both exams.
License issued by DPOR after passing both exams. Biennial renewal ($105) through DPOR online portal. No CE required.
Built from the NIC CIB — the same exam Prov administers in Virginia. Try 10 free questions with full rationales, no signup.
Virginia has joined the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. Once activated (expected 2026), Virginia cosmetologists will be able to obtain a multistate license allowing practice in all compact member states without additional licensing. Confirm current activation status at dpor.virginia.gov.
Biennial · $105 renewal fee · No CE required · Renew through DPOR online portal at dpor.virginia.gov.
Virginia · Esthetics
600 hours, NIC exam via Prov, written and practical. Two license tiers: standard Esthetics (facials, waxing, makeup) and Master Esthetics (adds microdermabrasion, chemical exfoliation, non-laser lymphatic drainage). Temporary permit: one-time, 90 days.
Virginia uses the NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov. NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built directly from the NIC Esthetics CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Virginia esthetics licensing. Note: Virginia uses only the NIC Core practical CIB sections — additional esthetic services listed in the national CIB as optional are not tested in Virginia.
Verify school approval at dpor.virginia.gov. Programs typically run 4–6 months full-time. Apprenticeship through Virginia Works DWDA — contact DWDA before starting.
Apply at dpor.virginia.gov. Pay license fee. Request 90-day temporary permit if needed.
Schedule at provexam.com. Pay $99 (written) + $95 (practical). Note: Virginia uses only Core practical sections — confirm which CIB applies at provexam.com/virginia.
Biennial renewal ($105). No CE required.
Built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — the exam Prov administers in Virginia. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Virginia · Barber
750 hours as of December 1, 2025 (down from 1,100) — among the lowest barber requirements nationally. Master Barber adds 250 more hours (1,000 total). NIC exams via Prov (Barber 1 for basic, Barber Styling for master). Apprenticeship pathway available.
Virginia uses NIC Barber examinations administered by Prov. Basic Barber uses NIC Barber 1 written and practical; Master Barber uses NIC Barber Styling written and practical. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Virginia barber licensing.
Virginia reduced basic barber training from 1,100 to 750 hours effective December 1, 2025. Students who enrolled before December 1, 2025 may be subject to the prior 1,100-hour requirement depending on their program. Confirm your applicable requirement with your school and DPOR. Master Barber is now defined as 400 additional hours of specialized training (total 1,000+).
Virginia offers registered barbering apprenticeships through Virginia Works DWDA. Requirements: age 16+, completed 10th grade, 2,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training + 144 hours of related classroom instruction, full-time (32–42.5 hrs/week), at least minimum wage. DOLI monitors the apprenticeship program. Contact DWDA before beginning.
Effective July 1, 2025, individuals aged 16+ may work in licensed barbershops as apprentices, through work-training programs, or with an active barber license — an expansion from prior restrictions.
Verify school approval at dpor.virginia.gov. Full-time programs typically run 5–7 months under the new 750-hour requirement. Confirm your applicable hours with your school based on enrollment date.
Apply at dpor.virginia.gov. Pay license fee. Temporary permit (one-time, 45 days) available on application.
Schedule at provexam.com or call (877) 228-3926. Pay $99 (written) + $95 (practical). One year to pass the other exam after passing one. Five-year limit to apply for licensure after passing both.
Biennial renewal ($105). No CE required.
Built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — the exam Prov administers in Virginia. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Virginia · Nail Technology
150 hours — one of the lowest nail technician requirements in the country. NIC Nail Technology exam via Prov, written and practical. Critical scope restriction: a Virginia nail technician license does not authorize waxing services. A separate Wax Technician license is required.
Virginia uses the NIC National Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov. NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built directly from the NIC Nail Technology CIB and is a direct-fit study resource for Virginia nail technician licensing.
Virginia is explicit: a nail technician license does not authorize the performance of waxing services. To offer waxing, a nail technician must also hold a Wax Technician license (a separate Virginia license with its own exam). A cosmetologist or esthetician license also covers waxing. Performing waxing services without the appropriate license is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia.
Manicures, pedicures, nail shaping, gel and acrylic applications, nail enhancements, nail art. Does not cover waxing — a separate Wax Technician license is required for waxing services.
Verify program approval at dpor.virginia.gov. Programs typically run 5–8 weeks. Very few hours nationally — confirm the full curriculum covers all NIC exam content.
Apply at dpor.virginia.gov. Pay license fee. Request 45-day temporary permit if needed.
Schedule at provexam.com. Pay $99 (written) + $95 (practical). Both exams required. One-year window between passing one exam and the other. Five-year limit to apply for licensure after passing both.
Biennial renewal ($105). No CE required.
Built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — the exam Prov administers in Virginia. Try 10 free questions, no signup.
Virginia uses NIC exams via Prov — the same content NICPrep is built from. No CE required after you pass. Try 10 real questions with full rationales, no signup required.