License Services

How to Become Licensed

If you are already licensed in another state, please click here.

Individuals interested in becoming a licensed barber, cosmetologists, nail technician, or aesthetician should follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Contact a Board approved school. [List of Schools]
  2. Discuss financial aid/payment plans with Schools.
  3. Have a Certificate of Health form completed by a licensed physician.
  4. Complete Student Registration Form. Student Registration.pdf
  5. Complete the required courses and hours.
    PROFESSION REQUIRED HOURS
    Barbering 1,200
    Cosmetology 1,800
    Nail Technician 400
    Aesthetician 600
    Hair Stylist 1,000
  6. Apply for examination with third-party examiner. Click here.
  7. Pass examination.
  8. Obtain license in desired field of practice. Application for Registration (Initial License).pdf

If you have a foreign high school diploma, foreign transcripts from a beauty school or if you attended a domestic online high school and wish to apply for a license with the West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, you must have your education evaluated by a professional evaluation company. The Board has approved Aequo International as the sole provider of education evaluations for cosmetology, nail technician, hair styling, aesthetics and barbering candidates with international and domestic online education. Candidates are responsible for paying the application fee of $125. Click here to apply for an evaluation. Candidates must submit original or official educational documents directly to Aequo International for evaluation purposes. Please do not send your documents to the West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, we will not evaluate them. Once the evaluation is complete, Aequo International will send an electronic evaluation report to the board for review. If you have any questions about the education evaluation application or process, please contact Aequo International at 844.882.3786 or via email at info@aequointernational.com.

Transfer License to WV

Transferring a license (also known as Reciprocity) to West Virginia is a detailed process that requires accurate and official documentation.If you hold a valid license to practice barbering, cosmetology, aesthetics, nail technology, or hair styling in another state, the following steps are required to transfer your license to West Virginia:

  1. Register for the WV State Law exam through the Board’s testing administrator, D.L. Roope Administrations. You may register for the exam online at www.dlroope.com. For any exam related questions, please contact D.L. Roope Administrations at (888) 375-2020.
  2. Contact the State Board that you were originally licensed and request a license certification be sent from the Board's office to the West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Some states may take up to 4-6 weeks to process your request.
  3. After you have passed the WV State Law exam, complete the required information in the Reciprocity Packet. http://wvbbc.com/Portals/WVBBC/docs/forms/Transfer%20License%20to%20West%20Virginia%20(Reciprocity%20Application).pdf. No applicant will be considered without proper documentation. Gather all required documents and attach with Reciprocity Packet.
  4. Submit Reciprocity Packet and required documents to the West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. If your application is approved, the license will be issued and mailed.

*Please note that West Virginia does not require a licensed person to place their current state license on inactive status to become eligible for licensure. If you wish to apply for a work permit while waiting for examination, you must submit the work permit application (out-of-state) http://wvbbc.com/Portals/WVBBC/docs/Work_Permit_Application_out_of_state.pdf.

How to Open a Salon

Laws governing the operation of a salon or shop in West Virginia

Operation of Barber, Beauty Shops, and Schools of Barbering and Beauty Culture SERIES 5
Schedule of Fines SERIES 7

Before completing the steps below, it may be helpful to review the West Virginia Small Business Development website for information and assistance about starting your own business.  For more information, please click here

Complete the steps below to open a salon/shop in West Virginia:

  1. Complete the Shop Opening and License Application, Shop Opening and License Application. Please Note: This new Shop Opening and License Application reduces paper work from three forms to one.  This single form replaces the Shop Opening Form, Electrical Certification Form, and the Shop License Form.
  2. Submit the completed Shop Opening and License Application with the $90.00 application fee, copy of your business registration from the state tax division, and the signed Electrical Certification Statement on the form in step 1 twenty (20) days prior to opening your salon/shop.
  3. The Board office will send you a salon/shop opening letter which you must post in your salon/shop.  The salon/shop opening letter will serve as a temporary license for you to operate your salon/shop. After you have successfully completed steps 1-3 and receive your shop opening letter you may begin servicing clients in your salon/shop.
  4. The Board office will contact one of our inspectors to conduct a salon/shop opening inspection at your salon/shop as soon as possible.
  5. You must print out and post in your salon/shop Rules and Regulations. Rules and Regulations.
  6. All individuals renting a booth or paid by commission must have a Booth Rental Certificate to be renewed annually on July 1. Booth or Chair Rental Registration. Any person working at the salon/shop that does not have their taxes withheld from their pay must be registered with the Board office as a Booth Renter. For IRS tax guidelines for the cosmetology and barber industry, please go to https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4902.pdf
  7. The inspector will schedule a visit to ensure your salon/shop has the required equipment, can promote a safe and sanitary environment, and the proper layout needed for operating a salon.
  8. If you need to make corrections, the inspector will schedule another inspection date with you.
  9. If all requirements are met, the inspector will notify the Board office on your behalf that the salon/shop meets all requirements.  Once the Board office receives approval notification from the inspector, your shop license will be mailed to you. Please know the 10 most common violations in a salon and help prevent these violations. Ten Most Common Violations in a Salon.

 

Instructor Certification

To obtain the applicant must complete the following:

  1. Complete and pass a course in “teaching techniques” at a post-secondary educational level.
  2. Pass the NIC Instructor Written Examination by a minimum scaled score of 80.00. The administration of the Computer Based Testing (CBT) written examination applications are processed by D.L. Roope Administrations Inc. and are administered at Iso-Quality Testing testing centers.
  3. Pass the West Virginia State Law Examination by a minimum scaled score of 80.00. The administration of the Computer Based Testing (CBT) West Virginia State Law examination applications are also processed by D.L. Roope Administrations Inc. and are administered at Iso-Quality Testing testing centers.
  4. Complete the application for Instructor Certification and submit to the West Virginia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (WVBBC).

Instructions on Completing a Course in “Teaching Techniques” at a Post-Secondary Educational level

Should you wish to complete a 2-Day Teaching Techniques Seminar which will consist of practical instruction administered by Marshall University, please complete the following:

  1. Contact Mr. Richard Yocke, Teaching Associate Professor associated with Marshall University by email at yocke1@marshall.edu.
  2. Provide the following information: Name, Address, Phone, and email.
  3. Mr. Yocke will confirm your registration and will provide you with information and materials to assist in the preparation of the 2-day seminar.
  4. If you have any questions regarding the 2-Day Teaching Techniques Seminar, please contact Mr. Yocke by email or cell at 304-544-9990.

Information and Details of the 2-Day Teaching Techniques Seminar administered by Marshall University.

  1. During the seminar you will receive instruction on the theoretical background and skills essential for success as an educator. You receive an overview of teaching methods, learning styles, lesson planning, equity and diversity in the classroom, mandated reporting, and legal and ethical issues.
  2. All participants will present a 10-12-minute Simulated Lesson that could be a presentation of information on the participant’s field or a demonstration of a specific skill.
  3. There will be a minimal registration fee for the seminar. That cost will be determined by Marshall University.

Approved Online Teaching Techniques Courses

Should you wish to complete the teaching techniques course online, please complete one of the following approved online courses:

PROVIDER WEB ADDRESS REQUIRED HOURS PROVIDER PHONE INSTRUCTIONS

MILADY

https://milady.cengage.com/instructor-training

16

(518) 348-2432

User may complete any of the 18 courses located under the “Online Instructor Training” section. User must complete a minimum of 16 hours

PIVOT POINT

https://www.learnaboutbeauty.com

16

(847) 866-0500

User MUST be a member/student of a school that uses Pivot Point education online. Using the username and password received from a school, the user will select the “Learn” tab and select “Mindful Teaching Pro”. User may complete any of the 58 courses listed but must complete a minimum of 16 hours


Information on registering for the NIC Instructor Written Examination and the West Virginia State Law Examination

  1. You may register for the examinations online at http://www.dlroope.com/west_virginia.cfm?state=7. When your application is approved you will receive an e-mail from Iso Quality Testing with pre-registration information for the CBT examination(s).  Your e-mail address must be used only by you to ensure proper delivery of your pre-registration information.  The NIC Instructor Written and the West Virginia State Law examinations will be administered via Computer Base Testing (CBT) as of January 1, 2019.  They will be offered at Iso-Quality Testing (IQT) Centers in South Charleston, Wheeling and Princeton.  Candidates may apply to test at any IQT Testing Center in any state if that is more convenient for the individual.
  2. The NIC Instructor Written examination has questions that pertain to: Instructional Methods, Instructional Planning & Classroom/Clinic Management. For information on this examination, please click on the following link for scope of the examination: http://www.dlroope.com/forms/all_states/NIC_Instructor_Written_CIB_ID_ME_MT_NC_NH_WA_WV.pdf
  3. The West Virginia State Law examination will assess that the applicant has knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations that govern the profession. For information on study materials, please click on the link below:
    http://www.wvlegislature.gov/WVCODE/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=30&art=27

Applying for your Instructor Certification

  1. Once you have passed the examinations and completed a teaching techniques course at a post-secondary educational level, you will submit an Instructor Certification application along with all the required information that is listed on the application to WVBBC; 1201 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064. To access the Instructor Certification application, please click on the link below:
    http://wvbbc.com/Portals/WVBBC/docs/Instructor%20Certification%20Application.pdf
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