Welcome!

West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

Welcome to the West Virginia State
Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. How do I obtain a license in West Virginia if I am licensed in another state?

A. If you are licensed in another state, please contact the West Virginia Board by phone or fax to receive an application packet. You may also download the forms from the Board’s web site. If you would like to reduce the processing time, we suggest that you contact the State Board that issued your original license, and request that a Board certification be mailed to the West Virginia State Board. This form must be sent from your State Board to ours. We will not accept these forms from an applicant.

Q. I have lost my renewal application, do I need it to renew my license?

A. No. Send a note stating that you wish to renew your license and include your license number or social security number, your current address, phone number and the correct fee. If you are unsure of the proper fee to send, call the Board office to determine the current fee.

Q. Can I receive a “temporary” work permit while my application is being processed?

A. A work permit is only issued to applicants who have finished the entire course in a West Virginia school. Work permits are not issued to applicants coming from out of state.

Q. When is the next examination?

A. Consult our web page for complete examination schedules, or call the Board office for information regarding examinations.

Q. How may I obtain an instructor’s license?

A. There are two levels of instructors in West Virginia.
      1. To qualify for the basic instructor license, you must have completed one year of work in a salon, 250 hours of practice teaching and teachers orientation in a school licensed or approved by the State Board, complete a teaching video of at least 15 minutes duration, successfully pass a written examination and State law examination administered by the Board.
      2. The second level, or master instructor, may be attained by teaching 3 years as an instructor, acquiring 15 college credits in subjects approved by the Board, completing a video presentation of the applicant’s teaching techniques, and successful completion of a national written examination for instructors.

Q. Where is your office located?

A. Approximately two blocks from the Westmoreland Road exit of I-64, at 1716 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, WV, 25302.

Q. How can I renew or reinstate my lapsed license?

A. We recommend that you contact the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists to determine the exact fee you are required to send. Be prepared to provide name, social security number, and/or license number, and any change of name or address. Phone (304) 558-2924 Fax (304) 558-3450 email sholley@state.wv.us

Q. If I have lost or misplaced my license, how can I receive a duplicate license?

A. Send a note requesting a duplicate license, include your license number and/or social security number, current address, telephone number and a ten dollar fee.

Q. How can I reactivate an inactive license?

A. Send a letter requesting reactivation of your license. Include your license number, social security number, current address, telephone number and a renewal fee of twenty five dollars.

Q. How can I receive a temporary work permit and how long can I work on the permit?

A. Work permits are issued to those students who complete their course in a West Virginia school. The work permit is valid from the day of issuance until 30 days after your scheduled examination date.

Q. How often, and where are the exams given?

A. Examinations are conducted quarterly in February, May, August and November. The exams are split into two segments each quarter with one being held in Charleston at the Charleston School of Barbering and Beauty Culture, and the second exam being held at one of the northern schools in the State, and varies each examination period. (Exam dates and schedules are available on our web page under test schedules.)

Q. What are the requirements to transfer my license by reciprocity to West Virginia?

A. Your training must equal or exceed the requirements for a West Virginia license. The current requirements are:

Cosmetologist	2,000 clock hours
Barber	1,800 clock hours
Barber/Perm	2,000 clock hours
Aesthetician	600 clock hours
Manicurist	400 clock hours

The West Virginia Board will accept actual licensed work experience in lieu of part of the required training. Work experience is awarded at 25 hours per month of salon work, or 300 hours per year. Total work experience that may be accepted cannot exceed 50% of the required hours, and must have been acquired within the past five years.

Q. What are the requirements for models for the manicuring examination?

A. Models must bring a current photo ID and one other form of ID. Models cannot hold any license issued by the Board of be a student in any school licensed by the Board or have previously attended a school of barbering, cosmetology or manicuring.

Q. What do I need to bring to the exam?

A. A complete list of required supplies will be included with your examination notice.

Q. What forms do I need to bring to the exam?

A. All applicants must bring the examination notification letter, two current forms of ID (one must be a photo ID).

Q. How do I know if I need a booth rental license?

A. If you rent a booth or chair, you are considered an independent contractor and are required to obtain a booth rental license in addition to your regular barber, cosmetology, etc. license. The booth rental license may only be used for the location printed on the license. If booth renting at multiple locations, you must post a booth rental certificate at each location. You are considered an independent contractor if you are responsible for paying all of your own taxes. If a salon owner withholds taxes, issues you a paycheck or exerts any controls over your activities, such as setting your work schedule or price structure of your services, then you would be considered an employee of the salon, not an independent contractor.

Q. How do I transfer my license to another state?

A. Contact the West Virginia Board for the address and telephone number of the state you wish to transfer to. You must request, in writing, that a certification of your West Virginia training be sent to the state you are transferring to. You must also include a twenty five dollar processing fee with your request. The certification will be processed within two days. The original will be sent to the state board of the state you are transferring to and a copy will be sent to the applicant.

Q. How do I notify the Board of a name or address change?

A. You may call the Board at (304) 558-2924, fax (304) 558-3450, or an address change form may be downloaded from our web page.