Virginia State Board of Cosmetology: DPOR License, Renewal, Exam and Board Help
The agency Virginia applicants are looking for is officially called the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, part of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Use this guide to reach the correct application, Prov exam, license lookup, renewal, reinstatement, endorsement, temporary-license, salon and complaint route.
Board-of-Cosmetology.org is an independent information website. It is not Virginia DPOR, the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Prov or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Use DPOR records and current Virginia forms for licensing decisions.
Virginia Cosmetology Board: Fast Answer
Virginia DPOR licenses cosmetologists, barbers, master barbers, nail technicians, wax technicians, estheticians, instructors, salons, shops, spas, parlors and schools through the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.
For a current Virginia cosmetology applicant, the school route uses a 1,000-hour approved cosmetology program. Prov administers the NIC theory and practical examinations. The current vendor fees are $99 for theory and $95 for practical. A standard individual application has a $120 base fee, with an applicable DPOR technology fee added to certain transactions beginning July 1, 2026.
Virginia Cosmetology Task Helper
This helper does not access government records. It identifies the official Virginia route that best matches your situation.
Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology Contact Information
804-367-8509
Use for applications, license issuance, endorsement, renewal, reinstatement and licensing-status questions.
804-367-8590
Use for Board-level questions, regulations, meetings and regulatory routing.
866-245-9693
Confirm that fax is appropriate for the specific form before transmitting sensitive or time-sensitive records.
Board mailing address
Board for Barbers and Cosmetology
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233
Current call-center hours
Monday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: noon–2:00 p.m.
These reduced Tuesday and Wednesday hours are a current DPOR notice and may change.
Virginia Cosmetology License Lookup: Verify the Person and Salon Separately
Virginia DPOR provides a free public License Lookup for individuals and businesses regulated by its boards. Search the practitioner and establishment separately because a cosmetologist credential does not automatically prove that the salon is licensed.
Open DPOR License Lookup
Start with the official Virginia database rather than a screenshot, social profile or third-party directory.
Use the complete license number when available
The number is usually the strongest search key. If you only know a name, begin broadly before adding location or license-type filters.
Confirm the credential category
Cosmetologist, salon, school, instructor and temporary cosmetologist records are different license types.
Read status and expiration
A paper certificate or renewal receipt does not replace the current public-status check.
Check disciplinary history when it matters
DPOR posts disciplinary information for closed cases and certain current matters through its public systems.
Open DPOR License Lookup · Read the detailed Virginia license lookup guide
Virginia Board License Types: Do Not Treat Them as Interchangeable
Cosmetologist
Individual practitioner credential for the scope defined by Virginia cosmetology law and Board regulations.
Temporary Cosmetologist
A time-limited initial-license credential available only to eligible examination applicants under direct supervision.
Cosmetology Salon
Business-location credential. It is separate from the licenses held by individual workers.
Cosmetology School
Board-regulated education provider. Verify the school before relying on training toward licensure.
Instructor Certificate
Certification for eligible instructors teaching regulated barbering and cosmetology programs.
Other Board credentials
Barber, master barber, nail technician, wax technician, esthetics, tattooing and body-piercing credentials have separate scopes and requirements.
Virginia Cosmetology School Hours and the 2026 Curriculum Transition
Virginia’s current minimum cosmetology program is 1,000 hours. The Board changed curriculum structure and transitioned older programs through specific completion deadlines.
| Student group | Training framework | 2026 deadline/status |
|---|---|---|
| Current cosmetology program | 1,000 hours | Current Board-approved curriculum applies. |
| Enrolled before September 1, 2024 | Former 1,500-hour curriculum | Required completion by August 31, 2026. That transition deadline has passed. |
| Enrolled September 1, 2024–November 30, 2025 | Prior 1,000-hour curriculum | Must finish by December 31, 2026 for that program to be accepted. |
| Programs beginning under current requirements | 1,000 hours with current curriculum requirements | Follow the program approved by the Board for the school. |
Virginia Cosmetology Exams: Prov, NIC Theory and Practical
Prov has administered examinations for the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology since January 1, 2025. Virginia continues to use NIC examinations with Prov as the vendor.
Use the current Candidate Information Bulletin
Check the approved language, accepted identification, exam content, scheduling rules, rescheduling rules and test procedures before exam day.
Virginia practical exams are administered in English
Use the current NIC/Prov practical instructions and disinfectant requirements rather than relying on an older kit list or school handout.
Prov lists candidate support at 877-228-3926. Virginia DPOR’s Examinations Section lists 804-367-8544 and exams@dpor.virginia.gov.
Open Virginia exam information · Open Prov · Cosmetology state board test guide
Virginia Temporary Cosmetology License: 90 Days, No Board Fee
An eligible applicant for initial licensure who has qualified and is scheduled for the applicable examination may request a temporary Virginia license. It is not available simply because someone finished school or submitted an application.
90 days
The temporary license remains in force for 90 days from Board approval.
No temporary-license fee
The current Board regulation and application state that no fee is charged for the temporary credential.
Direct supervision required
A temporary cosmetologist must work under a currently licensed practitioner within the permitted scope.
Virginia Cosmetology Board Fees in 2026
Virginia regulations list the following base fees for barbering and cosmetology transactions. Beginning July 1, 2026, DPOR also applies a separate technology fee of $7.25 per year to certain fees through June 30, 2030. Use the current form or online checkout for the final total.
| Transaction | Current base amount | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Individual application | $120 | Prov examination fees are separate. |
| Individual license by endorsement | $120 | Only use when the endorsement route applies. |
| Cosmetologist renewal | $120 | Renew before the printed expiration date. |
| Individual reinstatement | $240 | Includes $120 renewal plus $120 reinstatement base fee. |
| Instructor application | $140 | Instructor qualification requirements also apply. |
| Instructor renewal | $45 | Use the current Board transaction total. |
| Salon / facility application | $220 | A personal license does not replace the facility license. |
| Salon / facility renewal | $220 | Facility status must be maintained separately. |
| Facility reinstatement | $440 | Includes renewal and reinstatement base amounts. |
| School application | $250 | School licensing has additional approval requirements. |
Virginia Cosmetology License Renewal
A Virginia cosmetology license issued under the current Barbering and Cosmetology regulations expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued. DPOR sends renewal notices, but not receiving one does not remove the licensee’s duty to renew.
Check your DPOR record
Confirm the license number, current status and exact expiration date before making a payment.
Choose Quick Pay or Online Services
Quick Pay can handle a straightforward renewal without an account. Online Services supports broader license maintenance and multiple credentials.
Update your address if needed
Keep DPOR’s record current so licensing notices and official correspondence reach the correct address.
Pay before expiration
The current base cosmetologist renewal fee is $120, plus any applicable technology fee shown by DPOR.
Verify the renewed status
Check DPOR License Lookup afterward rather than relying only on the payment confirmation.
Expired Virginia Cosmetology License: Renewal vs Reinstatement
| Time after expiration | Virginia rule | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Before expiration | Ordinary renewal | Pay the applicable renewal fee before the expiration date. |
| Within 30 days after expiration | Reinstatement fee is not yet triggered solely by the 30-day rule. | The license is still expired and does not authorize practice. |
| More than 30 days but less than 2 years | Reinstatement applies. | Current individual base reinstatement amount is $240 before applicable technology-fee adjustments. |
| 2 years or more after expiration | Reinstatement is no longer available. | The former licensee must use the current new-applicant route. |
Current regulations also state that an individual previously licensed in Virginia for at least three years who has passed the two-year reinstatement cutoff must submit a new application and pass the required examination.
Move an Out-of-State Cosmetology License to Virginia by Endorsement
Virginia’s traditional endorsement route is for applicants who currently hold a valid license issued by another state or U.S. territory and whose training and examination history is substantially equivalent to Virginia requirements.
Confirm your current license is active
The Board’s endorsement form is for applicants who hold a current out-of-state license.
Submit the Virginia endorsement application
The current individual endorsement base fee is $120 plus any applicable technology fee.
Order Certification of Licensure
Ask the state where you are currently licensed to send certification directly to the Virginia Board.
Include the original jurisdiction when different
If you first qualified in another jurisdiction, Virginia may also require certification from the state where your original training and exams were completed.
Compare training hours
Virginia’s current endorsement guidance uses 1,000 cosmetology hours as the Virginia benchmark and 800 hours as the 80% threshold.
Verify examination equivalence
Virginia looks for substantially equivalent theory and practical examinations administered by a state licensing authority. School-only tests are not automatically equivalent.
Virginia Universal License Recognition Is a Separate Out-of-State Route
Virginia also offers Universal License Recognition for qualified applicants. This is separate from ordinary endorsement and has its own eligibility conditions.
Licensed in another state
Applicants generally need a valid license or government certification with a similar scope, at least one year of licensure, required training and examination standards, no disqualifying disciplinary or criminal issues and payment of Virginia fees.
State does not license the profession
Virginia also provides a work-experience ULR route in certain occupations when the originating state does not regulate the profession. The current guidance generally requires at least three years of qualifying work.
Virginia Cosmetology Salon License: The Business Needs Its Own Credential
A Virginia cosmetologist license covers the individual. A cosmetology salon is a separate DPOR-regulated business record. Opening, moving or changing a regulated establishment may therefore require a separate Board transaction.
$220 base
The current regulation lists a $220 salon/shop/spa/parlor application base fee, before any applicable technology fee.
$220 base
Keep the establishment record current separately from each practitioner’s individual credential.
$440 base
The listed amount includes the $220 renewal fee and $220 reinstatement fee.
Use the current Salon/Shop/Spa/Parlor application and self-inspection materials from the Board page. DPOR only accepts current versions of its applications.
How to File a Virginia DPOR Cosmetology Complaint
DPOR’s Compliance and Investigations Division reviews complaints against regulated individuals and businesses to determine whether the Department has authority to proceed and whether the information suggests a possible violation.
Identify the licensee or business
Use DPOR License Lookup when possible and save the correct name, license number and credential type.
Write a factual description
Include dates, location, relevant services and the conduct you believe violated a Board law or regulation.
Attach useful evidence
Include records that help DPOR understand the alleged violation without sending unnecessary sensitive information.
Submit within the applicable period
Virginia generally requires a regulatory complaint to be received within three years of the act, omission or occurrence giving rise to the allegation, subject to specific exceptions.
Understand what DPOR can do
DPOR may investigate and discipline a regulated licensee, but it cannot require a business to provide a refund, correct private damages or act as the complainant’s lawyer.
Complaint Analysis
804-367-8504
ComplaintAnalysis@dpor.virginia.gov
Complaint mailing address
Compliance and Investigations Division
DPOR
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233-1463
Virginia Cosmetology Board Notices That Matter in 2026
DPOR Technology Fee
Certain fees now include a separate technology fee of $7.25 per year. DPOR says the fee will remain in place through June 30, 2030 to support software-system upgrades or replacement.
Scam emails impersonating DPOR
DPOR has warned about fraudulent messages requesting personal information or directing recipients to suspicious links. Verify the sender and use the official DPOR website or published telephone number before responding.
Reduced Tuesday and Wednesday hours
Current published hours are noon–2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, with 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. hours on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Cosmetology Licensure Compact
Virginia has enacted the Compact, but DPOR currently describes activation for licensees as a hoped-for early-2027 development rather than an active 2026 licensing shortcut.
Official Virginia Cosmetology Licensing Resources
Related Board-of-Cosmetology.org Guides
Virginia Cosmetology License Guide covers the full applicant path in more detail. Virginia Cosmetology License Lookup focuses on public verification and disciplinary records. Cosmetology State Board Test provides broader exam help.
Virginia State Board of Cosmetology FAQ
What is the official Virginia State Board of Cosmetology called?
The official agency is the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, commonly called DPOR.
What is the Virginia cosmetology licensing phone number?
The Board’s Licensing Section phone number is 804-367-8509. The separate Board Office number is 804-367-8590.
How many hours are required for a Virginia cosmetology license?
The current Virginia cosmetology school program requires 1,000 hours. Special transition deadlines apply to students enrolled in older approved programs.
Who administers Virginia cosmetology exams?
Prov administers the Virginia Board examinations. The current listed fee is $99 for the theory examination and $95 for the practical examination.
How long is a Virginia cosmetology license valid?
A license issued under the current Barbering and Cosmetology regulations expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued.
How much is Virginia cosmetology renewal?
The current regulation lists a $120 cosmetologist renewal base fee. Beginning July 1, 2026, certain DPOR transactions also include a separate technology fee, so use the current checkout or form for the final total.
Can I work during Virginia’s 30-day late-renewal period?
No. The Board states that you cannot continue practicing after the license expires. The 30-day rule determines when the reinstatement fee becomes required; it does not extend authority to practice.
Can I reinstate a Virginia cosmetology license after two years?
No. Current regulations state that reinstatement is no longer possible after the license has remained expired for two years. The former licensee must use the applicable new-applicant route.
Does Virginia offer a temporary cosmetology license?
Yes. An eligible initial applicant who has qualified and is scheduled for examination may receive a 90-day temporary license. There is no temporary-license fee, direct supervision is required, and Virginia does not issue a second temporary license.
Can I use my out-of-state cosmetology license to work in Virginia?
No. Holding another state’s credential does not by itself authorize Virginia practice. Use the endorsement or Universal License Recognition process and wait for Virginia authority before working.
Is the Cosmetology Licensure Compact active in Virginia in 2026?
Virginia has enacted Compact legislation, but DPOR’s current notice says the Compact Commission hopes to activate the system for licensees in early 2027. Use Virginia’s existing licensing routes until an official activation notice says otherwise.
Where is the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology located?
The Board uses the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation address at 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233.
Before You Apply, Renew, Test or Start Work in Virginia
Verify the exact credential and current DPOR status, use the newest Board application, follow the Prov bulletin for your examination, check whether the 2026 technology fee applies to your transaction and do not work after a license or temporary credential expires. Out-of-state applicants should compare endorsement and Universal License Recognition before paying a nonrefundable application fee.