Announcements

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.