How to Become a Cosmetologist in West Virginia

Who can apply

• You must be at least 18 years old (apprentices may start at 16).
• You must have a high school diploma, a GED, or a passing score on the U.S. Department of Education's ability-to-benefit test.
• You must graduate from an approved school after at least 1,800 clock hours (hair, aesthetics and nail technology), or complete the Board's cosmetology apprenticeship.
• You must pass the Board's exam, present a certificate of health from a licensed physician, and be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the U.S. (W. Va. Code 30-27-8).

Step by step

1. Choose a Board-approved cosmetology school (or a registered apprenticeship provider).
2. Have a licensed physician complete the Certificate of Health form.
3. Submit the Student Registration form and $25 student registration permit fee.
4. Complete the 1,800-hour cosmetology course.
5. Apply for and pass the exam with the Board's third-party examiner, Prov (provexam.com).
6. Submit the Application for Registration (Initial License) with the $35 fee.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: 1,800 clock hours of cosmetology (hair, aesthetics and nail technology) at a school approved by the WV Council for Community and Technical College Education or the Department of Education (Rule 3-1-5). Apprenticeship route (Rule 3-16, effective April 11, 2024): 3,600 hours with a cosmetology apprenticeship provider in a licensed salon, or 2,600 salon hours plus 1,000 school hours, finished within 48 months. The sponsor must have held a WV cosmetologist license for at least five years. Hours from another state's school can be credited, and work experience can earn credit (25 hours per month, up to 50% of the requirement).

Exam: The Board contracts with Prov to give a written exam and a practical exam; W. Va. Code 30-27-8 requires the exam to meet national standards. The written cosmetology exam (110 questions, 90 minutes, $99) is taken by computer at a Prov testing center in West Virginia or remotely from home. The practical cosmetology exam (295 minutes, $129) is given in person at a Prov practical testing center, where an examiner scores your services. The passing score is 70 on each. Fees are paid to Prov when you register. An apprentice who finishes the hours can get a Board work permit ($15) while registered for the next exam; it can be renewed only once.

What it costs in West Virginia

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

Keeping your license

Renewal: Renew every year by January 1; the fee is $35. There is a grace period through January; from February 1 a $10 late fee is added each month, up to $205 total. Continuing education is not required: House Bill 2325 removed it effective May 8, 2022.

Good to know in West Virginia

Crossover licenses: A licensed cosmetologist can add barbering with a 300-hour crossover course (clipper cuts, shaving, facial hair). A barber can cross over to cosmetology with 900 more hours.

Other licenses: The Board also licenses barbers (1,200 or 1,500 hours), hair stylists (1,000 hours), aestheticians (600 hours) and nail technicians (400 hours). Hair braiding and threading are not regulated.

Licensed in another state: Ask your licensing board to send a license certification and verification of training directly to the WV Board (some states take 4-6 weeks), then mail the Application for Registration by Reciprocity with the $100 reciprocity fee. You do not need to put your current state license on inactive status.

Sources

• WV Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists - How To Become Licensed
• WV Board - Fees
• WV Board - FAQ
• WV Board - Continuing Education
• WV Board - Transfer License to WV
• W. Va. Code 30-27-8 - Professional license requirements
• W. Va. Code 30-27-8a - Barber and cosmetologist apprentice
• W. Va. Code 30-27-3 - Definitions
• WV CSR 3-1 - Examination and licensure curricula (5/9/2024)
• WV CSR 3-16 - Cosmetology Apprenticeship (4/11/2024)
• Prov – West Virginia Board of Barbers & Cosmetologist Candidate Information Bulletin