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Virginia cut required training hours from 1,500 to 1,000 in September 2024 and switched exam providers to PROV. Here's the full updated breakdown for 2026.
1,000
Training Hours
PROV
Exam Provider
$105
Renewal Fee
No CE
Required for Renewal
Effective September 1, 2024, Virginia's Board for Barbers and Cosmetology reduced the required cosmetology training hours from 1,500 to 1,000. That's a 500-hour reduction, which at full-time attendance translates to roughly 3 to 4 fewer months of school. Students who enrolled on or after September 1, 2024 complete the new 1,000-hour program. If you started before that date, talk to your school about how the transition is being handled.
Virginia's Board for Barbers and Cosmetology operates under DPOR, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. The board made two notable changes in recent years: it cut training hours from 1,500 to 1,000 starting September 2024, and it switched exam administration from NIC to PROV (Prov, Inc.) for the written and practical tests.
After completing school, you take a written exam and a separate practical exam through PROV. Both are required. Fees are $99 for the written and $95 for the practical. Virginia doesn't require continuing education for renewal, and licenses renew every two years at $105.
Virginia requires applicants to be at least 16 years old. You should have a high school diploma or equivalent, though Virginia's specific education requirement is less strict than some states. Check the DPOR application for the current documentation requirements.
Enroll in a DPOR-approved cosmetology program and complete the 1,000-hour curriculum. This applies to students who enrolled on or after September 1, 2024. The curriculum covers a structured set of subjects including orientation, hair care, chemical services, nail care, skin care, and business topics. Straight razor shaving is now required as part of the program.
Complete the cosmetology exam and license application through DPOR, including the required application fee. Your school will typically verify your hours. Submit all documentation and fees before scheduling your exam through PROV.
Schedule the written exam at provexam.com ($99 fee). The exam has 110 multiple-choice questions and you have 90 minutes to complete it. The content covers cosmetology theory across all major domains. You need to pass with a score meeting the Board's standard.
Schedule the practical exam separately through PROV ($95 fee). The practical is administered in person at a designated test center. You perform hands-on service tasks evaluated by examiners. Both the written and practical must be passed to receive your license. If you fail one, you retake only that component.
Virginia's Board for Barbers and Cosmetology didn't just cut hours — it redesigned the curriculum with specific minimums for each subject area. The goal was to make training more targeted and relevant to what cosmetologists actually do on the job. A few things stand out about the new structure.
The new curriculum requires at least 45 hours of orientation and business topics. This is notable — it means Virginia schools must spend meaningful time on the professional and business side of cosmetology, not just technical skills.
At least 25 hours must cover shampooing, rinsing, and scalp treatments for all hair types, including textured hair. This is part of a broader industry push to ensure cosmetology graduates can serve clients with a full range of hair textures.
Beginning September 2024, straight razor shaving must be included within the 1,000-hour cosmetology program. This is a meaningful addition that expands the scope of services a Virginia cosmetologist is trained to provide.
If you enrolled before September 1, 2024 under the 1,500-hour curriculum, the transition rules apply differently. Contact your school or DPOR directly to confirm your graduation and exam eligibility requirements.
Virginia administers its cosmetology exams through PROV (Prov, Inc.), which replaced the previous NIC-administered setup. The exam still uses NIC exam content and structure, so the knowledge tested is consistent with what other NIC-based states test. You'll take two separate exams: a written theory test and a hands-on practical. Both are required, and you pay for each separately.
110 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes. Topics cover all major cosmetology domains: hair care, chemical services, skin care, nail care, sanitation, infection control, and safety. Fee: $99 through PROV. Schedule at provexam.com.
Hands-on service tasks evaluated in person by examiners at a PROV test site. Covers the practical application of cosmetology skills. Fee: $95 through PROV. Scheduled separately from the written exam. Both exams must be passed to receive your license.
Budget $99 for the written and $95 for the practical, totaling $194 in exam fees alone. These are non-refundable. Add the DPOR license application fee on top. If you fail and retake either exam, you pay the full fee again.
Virginia cosmetology licenses renew every two years at a cost of $105. Like New Jersey, Virginia does not require any continuing education for renewal. No CE hours to track, no courses to take. Your license expires at midnight on the last day of the month in which it was originally issued, and DPOR gives you a 30-day grace period.
Licenses renew biennially. Renewal is done through the DPOR online services portal. Know your expiration date — your license expires on the last day of the month it was issued, not necessarily on the anniversary date.
The $105 fee is your total renewal cost. Virginia doesn't mandate CE courses for cosmetologists. You do have a 30-day grace period, but don't rely on it — operating with an expired license can create problems with your employer or clients.
Virginia joined the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, a multi-state agreement that establishes license reciprocity for eligible cosmetologists across member states. The compact was set to activate for licensees in early 2026. Once active, eligible Virginia-licensed cosmetologists could work in other compact states without having to retake exams or complete additional training hours.
This is a developing situation worth monitoring if you plan to move or work across state lines. Check the DPOR website or the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission for the current list of active member states and eligibility criteria.