Announcements

There is now an additional pathway to licensure in cosmetology through apprenticeship which became available to the public this year. A person who wishes to obtain a professional license to practice cosmetology, nail technology, aesthetics, hair styling, or waxing may receive their training directly from a licensed cosmetologist in a salon or shop. The licensed cosmetologist must be licensed for a minimum of five (5) years and must have worked in a salon for the last five (5) years. Below are links to the application and the Board’s legislative rule which establishes the minimum requirements for the cosmetology apprenticeship. To register for the apprenticeship, please complete the application in its entirety and return to the address on the application.

APPLICATION
https://wvbbc.com/Portals/WVBBC/docs/Forms/Apprenticeship%20Application.pdf

LEGISLATIVE RULE 3-16
https://wvbbc.com/Portals/WVBBC/docs/Laws/3-16.pdf

Last summer, the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office launched the Jumpstart Savings Program which is a new resource for tradespeople in West Virginia and was built in part for Barbers, Cosmetologists, Nail Technicians, Aestheticians, Hair Stylists, and Waxing Specialists practicing in West Virginia.  The Jumpstart Savings Program is a savings account through United Bank and functions just like a regular savings account but can save individuals money and potentially qualify for unique tax advantages. For more information, please visit wvjumpstart.com.

Beginning on May 15, 2022, the office of the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (“Board”) located at 1201 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064 will no longer accept applications for licensure, registration, certification, renewal, or any application in which a fee is required to be submitted with the application. All applications in which a fee is required with the application must be completed online at www.wvbbc.com or mailed to the following address beginning on May 15, 2022:

WVBBC
P.O. Box 40235
Charleston, WV 25364

As of May 15, 2022, all applications for licensure, registration, certification, renewal, or any application in which a fee is required can no longer be mailed to the Board office or dropped off in person. All applications will have to be completed online or mailed to the address above. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Board office at (304) 558-2924.

Two bills were introduced during the 2022 legislative session which affect the industry:

House Bill 4024 establishes a cosmetology apprenticeship which will allow the Board to propose rules for legislative approval that will establish the minimum requirements for the cosmetology apprenticeship program.

House Bill 2325 removes continuing education as a professional license and certificate renewal requirement. Effective 5/8/2022, all active barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, aestheticians, hair stylists, waxing specialists, and instructors are no longer required to complete continuing education.

In our attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19, the office of the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists will be closed to the public beginning on March 25, 2020. The Board staff is only available by e-mail or by phone at (304) 558-2924.  Applications for initial licensure, registration, or certification must be sent by regular mail to the Board’s office located at 1201 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064. All other applications may be renewed online or by regular mail.

Board Office Contact Information

By executive order of the Governor, ALL salons and shops are to close by 12:00 A.M. on March 20, 2020.
Please click the links below to view the official order and a letter from the Board .

Executive Order

Letter from Danielle J. Cordle, Executive Director

In response to the closure of all pre-k – 12 schools in West Virginia as announced by Governor Jim Justice on Friday, March 13, 2020, the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (“Board”) will temporarily authorize students and apprentices to earn theory hours from home (distance learning) until such time it is announced that schools in West Virginia can reopen. The Board will continue to monitor this situation closely and an update will be provided to schools and apprenticeship providers.

Any questions or concerns can be handled online by e-mailing wvbbc@wv.gov or by calling (304) 558-2924.

The Board is actively monitoring the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) outbreak which is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Please be aware that Board-regulated salons, shops, and schools will not be forced to close by the Board in light of this outbreak. However, this is an evolving situation, so information and recommendations may be updated based on the latest information provided by West Virginia health officials. The Board would like to encourage everyone to continue to follow safe and sanitary practices to stay healthy and use best practices in infection control.

All questions for the Board can be handled online by e-mailing wvbbc@wv.gov or by calling (304) 558-2924. For additional information, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov or call the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources COVID-19 information hotline 24/7, toll-free at 1-800-887-4304.

Pursuant to W. Va. Code § 30-27-19(a)(2) any professional licensee or certificate holder who elects to rent or lease a booth or chair from a licensed salon owner and/or operator must register with the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, register with the state Tax Division and present the registration to the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Effective August 26, 2018, the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists voted to adopt the following policy regarding booth/chair rental registration requirements:

If you are NOT renting or leasing a booth or chair from a licensed salon owner and/or operator, you must provide documentation upon request by a Board investigator/inspector that the salon owner and/or operator is withholding taxes on your behalf. Acceptable documentation includes a W-2 form if employed more than one (1) year or pay stubs if employed less than one (1) year.

If you ARE renting or leasing a booth or chair from a licensed salon owner and/or operator, you must register with the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists and the state Tax Division by submitting a copy of your business registration certificate from the state Tax Division to the Board's office along with a completed booth/chair rental registration application and a check or money order in the amount of $15.00 payable to WVBBC. Booth registrations are required to be renewed annually by July. Please mail completed booth/chair rental applications to WVBBC; 1201 Dunbar Avenue, Dunbar, WV 25064.

To register with the state Tax Division online, please visit www.business4wv.com. Failure to provide proof that a salon owner and/or operator is withholding taxes on your behalf to a Board investigator/inspector upon request or failure to properly register with the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists and the state Tax Division will result in immediate disciplinary action including but not limited to: administrative fine, not to exceed $1,000 per day per violation or other corrective action deemed necessary by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.

There was a legislative change during the 2017 session related to professional license and certificate renewal requirements for all persons licensed and/or certified by the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Pursuant to W.Va. Code 30-27-10 (1) When a barber or cosmetologist has been licensed and in practice for ten (10) years, that barber or cosmetologist will not be required to complete any continuing education other than a three (3) hour sanitation class every other year for a period of ten (10) years.

Effective July 6, 2017, all active barbers and cosmetologists that have been in practice for twenty (20) years or more are exempt from the continuing education requirement. All active nail technicians, aestheticians, hairstylists, and waxing specialists are required to earn a minimum of four (4) hours of continuing education credits annually. However, after an active nail technician, aesthetician, hairstylist, or waxing specialist has been licensed and/or certified for twenty (20) years or more are exempt from completing four (4) hours of continuing education annually, but must continue to take a three (3) hour sanitation course every other year.

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.

Continuing education starts during the period of January 1st, 2012-December 31st, 2012. Documentation of hours will be needed for the January 2013 renewal period.