Cosmetology Schools in West Virginia

If you live in West Virginia and want to work in a social and creative career, becoming a cosmetologist may be right for you! Cosmetologists in WV can provide hairstyling, manicuring, skincare, and many other beauty services.

Browse our directory of cosmetology schools in West Virginia, or skip ahead to learn about the state's cosmetology licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Cosmetologist in West Virginia

To become a cosmetologist in West Virginia, you need to complete a cosmetology program, pass an exam, and obtain your license.

What to Expect from a Cosmetology Program in West Virginia

Your West Virginia cosmetology program will include 1800 hours covering the topics you need to know for your exam and career. Classes include a mix of hands-on and theory learning, with the goal of you becoming adept at your hair, skincare, and manicuring skills and comfortable with the science, business, and cleanliness aspects of the field.

West Virginia has a specific minimum curriculum cosmetology students must complete. Topics include:

• General Professional Information: Professional Development, Communication, State Law, Sanitation, etc.
• Science of Cosmetology: Anatomy and physiology, relevant diseases and disorders, basic chemistry, basic electricity, etc.
• Professional Cosmetology: Hair care, cuts, and styling, braiding and extensions, wigs and hair additions
• Chemicals: Chemical texturing and hair coloring
• Science of Aesthetics: Nutrition basics
• Skin Sciences: Physiology and histology, skin analysis, skincare products
• General Aesthetics: Skincare treatments, makeup, facial massage, hair removal
• Science of Nail Technology: Structure, growth, diseases and disorders, product chemistry, electricity
• Basic Procedures: Manicuring and pedicuring and relevant treatments
• Art of Nail Technology: Nail tips and wraps, nail enhancements, and other advanced nail treatments

But your journey to your cosmetology career starts before you attend your first class.

Of course, you need to find the right beauty school for you! West Virginia requires cosmetology students to not only have picked a Board-approved school but to have talked to its officials about financial aid and payment plans. Before you can enroll, you need a physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner to complete a Certificate of Health.

While many states require cosmetologists to be healthy enough to practice—that is, to have no medical or mental health issues that could pose a risk to clients—West Virginia is one of the few requiring a doctor's visit and certification before beginning school. A certificate of health doesn't include any private medical information. All your practitioner needs to do is verify that you have no communicable illness that could put others at significant risk.

Once the medical approval is squared away, you need to file for student registration with the state and pay a $25 registration fee.

Can I Apprentice as a Cosmetologist in West Virginia?

Yes, you can earn your West Virginia cosmetology license through an apprenticeship. Your apprenticeship will run for 3600 hours, and you can choose between spending all of that time working with a cosmetology apprenticeship provider or dividing your education between 1000 school hours and 2600 with a provider.

Right after finishing your apprenticeship hours and applying to take your cosmetology exam, you need to get a work permit from the Board to continue working. You can renew this one time.

How to Get Your Cosmetology License in West Virginia

You need to meet several requirements to become a cosmetologist in West Virginia. In addition to completing cosmetology school, you need to:

• Be at least 18 (unless you're an apprentice; then, you only need to be 16)
• Have finished at least 12^th grade or the equivalent
• Pass your cosmetology tests
• Submit an application and $35 fee to the Board
• Provide a health certificate
• Be a US citizen or legally eligible for employment in the country

West Virginia uses the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) theory and practical exams.

While you have to take your practical test at Prov's Testing Center in Charleston, you can opt to take the written exam at any testing center or even remotely. Each attempt at the written test costs $99, and each practical exam round is $129. You need to earn at least a 70% on each test.

The 90-minute written test includes 110 questions, 100 of which are scored. It breaks down into four core sections:

• Scientific Concepts: 35%
• Hair Care and Services: 45%
• Skin Care and Services: 10%
• Nail Care and Services: 10%

If you studied it in cosmetology school, it's fair game on your test.

West Virginia has chosen to require the core cosmetology practical exam, plus the eyebrow hair removal and manicure add-ons.

You need to bring your own supply kit to the exam. Nothing else will be allowed to go in with you, so plan accordingly! Once the test begins, you'll show off the following abilities:

1. Work area and client preparation, and set up of supplies
2. Thermal curling
3. Haircutting
4. Work area and new client preparation, and set up of supplies
5. Chemical waving
6. Predisposition test and strand test with simulated product
7. Highlighting with foil, virgin application with colored simulated product
8. Hair color retouch with colored simulated product
9. Virgin hair relaxer (no base) application with simulated, colored product
10. Blood exposure procedure
11. Eyebrow hair removal (soft wax and tweezing)
12. Manicure and polish application

West Virginia Cosmetology Licensure Reciprocity

If you have completed cosmetology school in another state, you may be eligible for registration by reciprocity. You have to meet the same basic requirements as other WV cosmetologists, such as the age minimum, completed Certification of Health, and having finished high school (or the equivalent). You need to submit a $100 reciprocity fee when you apply with the Board. Things get a little more complicated when it comes to training hours.

You may be able to apply some of your training hours or work experience toward your West Virginia cosmetology license. West Virginia requires the completion of 1800 school hours, and, as a graduate from another state, you can apply the hours you spent in beauty school there toward the West Virginia requirement.

If you don't meet the training requirements for your West Virginia license but have worked as a cosmetologist, you may be able to apply some of your experience to the 1800-hour requirement. You could get 25 hours of credit for each month of work (or 300 hours of credit per year of work), for a total of up to 900 training hours.

Cosmetology Specialties in West Virginia

If you want to narrow your focus or spend less time in school, you could choose from one of West Virginia's many cosmetology specialties. Most come with their own licensure requirements, including:

• Esthetician: 600 hours
• Nail Technician: 300 hours
• Electrologist:
• Barber: 1200 hours
• Cosmetology Teacher:
• Wax Specialist: 125 hours

Hair braiding isn't regulated in West Virginia. However, if you want to perform more permanent treatments like haircuts or chemical services or work in nail or skincare, you need to get licensed.

West Virginia Cosmetology License Renewal

You need to renew your West Virginia cosmetology license every year, on or before January 1. On-time renewal costs $35. If you don't renew on time, you will have to pay a late fee of $10 per month, up to $205.

Cosmetologists in West Virginia don't need to complete any continuing education to renew their licenses. However, learning new things or honing existing skills is always a good idea! Showing you're an expert at your trade or offering specialty services could help you improve your portfolio and bring in new clients.