How to get a Cosmetologist license in West Virginia

West Virginia cosmetologist licenses

West Virginia issues 3 cosmetologist credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the West Virginia cosmetologist licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Background check

Boards may not deny initial licensure for an unreversed conviction unless it bears a rational nexus to the occupation (W. Va. Code 30-1-24); applicants must also be of good moral character.¹⁵

2. Every license level except Cosmetologist Apprentice (Cosmetology Apprenticeship permit)

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required¹²¹⁶

Also required

A Certificate of Health completed by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner, dated within one year before applying.¹⁷¹⁸

Also required

US citizen or eligible for employment in the US (copy of Social Security card and photo ID with the application).¹²¹³

Renewal

How often

Every year⁵³

Who needs a Cosmetologist license

For compensation: hair work (cutting, styling, braiding, extensions, perming, relaxing, coloring, waxing/tweezing etc.), nail care, applying cosmetics and treatments to the face, neck, shoulders, hands, elbows and feet up to the knee, body wraps, and aesthetics. Hair braiding and threading are not regulated by the Board.²

Work that does not need this license:

• Hair braiding, threading and other services not listed in the definitions are not regulated by the Board.²

Requirements for a Cosmetologist license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

18 years old¹²

Education or training

At least 1,800 clock hours²
1,800 clock hours of cosmetology training at a licensed school approved by the WV Council for Community and Technical College Education / Department of Education (or education completed in another state that meets Board requirements). Students must hold a Board student registration ($25) before starting.¹⁹
Who may teach it: Board-licensed schools (List of Schools on wvbbc.com).²⁰
Alternative: Cosmetology apprenticeship: 3,600 hours with a Board-registered apprenticeship provider in a licensed salon, or 2,600 hours there plus 1,000 school hours.¹⁰
Alternative: Licensed barbers with 1,200 or 1,500 hours can qualify as "barber crossover" with additional nail, aesthetics and/or chemical training to a total of 2,100 hours.²

Exam

NIC (National-Interstate Council) written and practical examinations³
Given by: Third-party examiner contracted by the Board (the How to Become Licensed page links to Prov, provexam.com); exam fees are paid to the NIC-sponsored third-party examiner.³
When you can take it: Apply for the exam with the third-party examiner after completing the required hours.²⁰
NIC national written (theory) examination³
NIC national practical examination³
Retakes: Re-examination fees are paid to the third-party examiner at NIC rates (no more than $114).³

Also required

Initial application includes a notarized school transcript, NIC exam results, photo, photo ID and Social Security card copy.¹⁷

How much a Cosmetologist license costs

You pay the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (6 fees) and NIC-sponsored third-party examiner (Prov) (2 fees).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Choose a Board-approved school, get a Certificate of Health from a physician, and file the Student Registration ($25) before classes start.²⁰ Form (PDF, wvbbc.com)²⁰
2. Complete 1,800 hours of cosmetology training.²⁰
3. Register and pay for the NIC written and practical exams with the third-party examiner (Prov); a $15 work permit lets graduates work under supervision while waiting.²⁰
4. After passing, mail the Application for Registration (Initial License) with $35, notarized transcript, exam results, diploma/GED/ATB proof, photo, ID, SSN card copy and Certificate of Health.²⁰ Form (PDF, wvbbc.com)²⁰
5. Renew every year by January 1 ($35).³

Temporary or provisional license

Work permit ($15) for graduates scheduled for the exam and working under a licensee; it expires at the end of the month after the next exam and may be renewed once.²²

Processing time

Applications are processed within 1-2 weeks of receipt and the license is mailed; during the Nov 1-Jan 31 renewal period expect up to 30 days.¹⁷

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Renew every year on or before January 1 (online, or by mail with check/money order).⁴

Renewal fee

$35⁴

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $10⁴ (per 30 days late, on top of the $35 renewal fee; late fees capped at $205)

If it expires

Inactive status is available for $10.³

Renew online

wvbbc.com²³

Moving to West Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists publishes for the Cosmetologist license. The other cosmetologist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Cosmetologist Apprentice permit

Learning cosmetology in a licensed salon under the direct supervision of a registered apprenticeship provider; an apprentice may not practice independently.⁹

Requirements

Minimum age

16 years old¹⁰

High school diploma or GED

Not required¹⁰

Education or training

At least 3,600 hours of on-the-job training¹⁰
3,600 clock hours of apprenticeship training with a cosmetology apprenticeship provider in a licensed salon, or 2,600 hours there plus 1,000 hours at an approved cosmetology school; theory from a Milady or Pivot Point textbook under 5 years old, with at least 70% on each chapter review exam; finish within 48 months.¹⁰
Who may teach it: Provider: WV cosmetologist licensed at least 5 years, working in a licensed WV salon for the last 5 years, in good standing; one apprentice per provider, no more than three per salon.¹⁰
Alternative: Licensed barbers: 900-hour cosmetology apprenticeship (300 nail, 500 aesthetics, 100 chemicals) within 24 months, then pass the cosmetologist exam within 6 months.¹⁰

Also required

A Certificate of Health from a licensed physician (the Certificate of Health form is page 3 of the Apprenticeship Application).¹⁰

Also required

The salon must be inspected and approved by a Board inspector before the apprenticeship starts; apply at least 20 days before the start date.¹¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Find a registered cosmetology apprenticeship provider (Board list) in a licensed salon.²⁵
2. Apprentice and provider complete the Apprenticeship Application together with the $85 fee, ID, SSN card, diploma/GED/ATB or enrollment proof and Certificate of Health, at least 20 days before starting.¹¹ wvbbc.com²⁶
3. After the salon inspection, train and log hours monthly; after the hours, get a work permit and register for the cosmetologist exam, then apply for licensure.¹⁰

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Applies to every license level.

Instructor Certification (Cosmetology)

Teaching in a licensed school of cosmetology; a certified instructor does not need an active practitioner license unless practicing outside the teaching job.¹³

Requirements

Education or training

At least 16 credit hours¹⁴
A post-secondary "teaching techniques" course: 16 credit hours of Milady or Pivot Point online instructor training (Board-approved providers), plus graduation from a recognized school of cosmetology.¹⁴
Who may teach it: Approved online teaching-techniques courses: Milady or Pivot Point.¹⁴

Exam

NIC Instructor Written Examination¹⁴
Given by: Prov (computer-based testing)¹⁴
Passing score: Scaled score of at least 80.00 (rule: at least 80%)¹⁴

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Complete a 16-hour Milady or Pivot Point online teaching-techniques course.¹⁴
2. Register for and pass the NIC Instructor Written Examination through Prov (80.00 scaled).¹⁴
3. Mail the Instructor Certification Application with the $50 fee, course certificate, exam results, ID, SSN card, passport photo and Certificate of Health.¹⁴ Form (PDF, wvbbc.com)¹⁴

Renewal

When it expires

Renew annually on or before January 1, by mail with check or money order.¹³

Renewal fee

$50³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $10³ (per 30 days late, capped at $205)

If it expires

An expired instructor certificate is renewed by going inactive, or paying all lapsed renewal fees, a new Certificate of Health and meeting current qualifications.¹³

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Initial licensing fees are waived for military families (active members, National Guard/reserves, honourably discharged veterans, their spouses and un-remarried surviving spouses) and for low-income applicants; military spouses who move to WV on PCS orders also qualify for licensure without exam under the Universal Licensing Act (30-1-27).⁸

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a cosmetologist in West Virginia, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in West Virginia is on the West Virginia license lookup page.

Look up a license

wvbbc.com²⁷

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• W. Va. Code ch. 30, art. 27 (Barbers and Cosmetologists)
• W. Va. Code ch. 30, art. 27A (Interstate Cosmetology Licensure Compact)
• W. Va. Code §30-1-27 (Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025)
• W. Va. Code R. §3-1 (3CSR1) Procedures, Criteria and Curricula for Examination and Licensure (effective 5/9/2024)
• W. Va. Code R. §3-6 (3CSR6) Schedule of Fees, effective May 22, 2025
• W. Va. Code R. §3-16 (3CSR16) Cosmetology Apprenticeship, effective April 11, 2024
• W. Va. Code R. §3-2 (3CSR2) Instructors, effective April 24, 2026

Rule changes since January 2024

• April 24, 2026: Instructor rule 3CSR2 re-filed effective April 24, 2026 (NIC Instructor exam at 80%, universal licensure for out-of-state instructors).¹⁶
• May 22, 2025: Fee rule 3CSR6 re-filed and effective May 22, 2025: $35 license/renewal, $100 reciprocity, $10 per 30 days late (cap $205); NIC exam $107 written+practical / $80 written.³

Common questions

Cosmetologist licenses in other states

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