Big Changes are coming for Beauty Schools in Virginia!

All Virginia Barber, Cosmetology, Nail and Waxing School programs have new regulations to teach their course in 2026. These school's licenses will be revoked to teach in 2026 if they did not submit how they will use the new regulations to teach in 2026 for approval.

This means none of these schools can enroll any new students in 2026 until DPOR has approved that they have the correct new updates in their 2026 program to enroll students in 2026.

Students enrolled in the above beauty courses before Dec 2025 must graduate by a deadline or they have to re-start their course in a school approved with the State's updated 2026 course requirements. They can enroll students when they are approved. Our school is approved.

All Nail Technology students enrolled into any Virginia beauty school before Dec 2025 must complete their nail study course and graduate BEFORE March 2025 or they have to re-start in a new 2026 state approved program.

Double check your school (based on their deadlines) to make sure it is still licensed after the revocation deadline. Nail School instant revocation deadline is March 1, 2026.

All Virginia Cosmetololgy, Barber, Nail and Waxing Schools can NOT enroll any new students in 2026 until their program is re-approved

Schools will be required to have a state approved:

Online Study Program used to teach specific theory subjects only
Regular weekly class days & hours to only teach specific subjects with pre-approval to teach more subjects adding hours
Shorter course completion deadlines
Strict in-School and Online hours
Regular weekly attendance for random DPOR inspections to verify student's attendance
verified completion & employment rates after graduation

Nail

Changed practical performance requirements with about 50% or more specific clock hours taught with attendance inside the school on specific clock times for a specific timeline.

All 2025 Nail School Licenses are revoked on March 1, 2026 unless they have an approved program.

Students already enrolled before December 1, 2025 will have to either finish the program they started by completing their program by February 29, 2026 or transfer into the school's new approved program.

Transfers: Whether transferring will benefit the student or not must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For example, if the curriculum taught until now dedicated 15 hours to orientation and 20 hours to diseases and disorders of the nail, those categories are now 5 and 10 hours respectively so a transfer student would lose the extra (20) hours. But, if the current hours breakdown more closely matches the new requirements a transfer may be beneficial.

Barber

The Barber Course has decreased to 750 hours and Master Barber is now 250 additional hours with almost all education taught in the school on specific clock hours for a specific timeline.

All 2025 Barber School Licenses are revoked on September 1, 2026 unless they have an approved program.

Students already enrolled before December 1, 2025 will have to either finish the program they started by completing their program by a deadline or transfer into the school's new approved program.

Barber by July 31, 2026
Master barber by February 28, 2026
Dual barber/master barber by August 31, 2026

Transfers: Whether transferring will benefit the student or not must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For example, a basic barbering student with 150 hours completed would benefit more from transferring than a basic barbering student with 800 hours completed.

Cosmetology

On Sept 1, 2024 Cosmetology hours were decreased from 1,500 to 1,000 with about 85% or more specific clock hours taught inside the school in a specific timeline. Cosmetologists are now prohibited to peforming straight razor shaving, body treatments and machine facials.

All 2025 Cosmetology School Licenses are revoked on September 1, 2026 unless they have an approved program.

Students already enrolled before December 1, 2025 will have to either finish the program they started by completing their program by a deadline or transfer into the school's new approved program.

Began the 1500-hour program prior to September 1, 2024 must complete the program by August 31, 2026.
Began the 1000-hour program between September 1, 2024 and November 31, 2025 must complete the program by July 31, 2026.
Dual barber/master barber by August 31, 2026

Transfers: Whether transferring will benefit the student or not must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For example, a cosmetology student who is nearly finished would not benefit from transferring. However, a student with less hours or who has not done their straight razor and body treatments hours would benefit from transferring, as they would not have to spend time training on a service they cannot offer.

Waxing

Reduced practical performance requirements with almost 65% or more specific clock hours taught with attendance in the school and be completed in no more than 15 weeks

All 2025 Wax School Licenses are revoked on March 1, 2026 unless they have an approved program.

Transfers: Whether transferring will benefit the student or not must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. For example, if the curriculum you’ve taught until now dedicated 15 hours to orientation and 15 hours to client consultation, both topics are now 10 hours each so a transfer student would lose the extra (10) hours. But, if your current hours breakdown more closely matches the new requirements a transfer may be beneficial

Instructor

Barber, Cosmetology, Nail, Wax, and Esthetics schools are no longer authorized to offer instructor programs for students seeking an instructor license.
This program has been phased out and is no longer recognized as a board approved course. Furthermore, the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) will no longer classify the a beauty school instructor course as an acceptable post-secondary course.

Anyone enrolled before Dec 2025 must finish by 02/28/25. Students enrolled on or after Dec 1, 2025 may not use the course work from a DPOR Beauty School to qualify for an instructor's certificate.

Those wanting an instructor license can take a college course to obtain a Teaching Certificate or taking a Certified Instructor Course. Some colleges also offer other added specific certifications like ESL, presentation training or online instruction while completing the certificate.

Other Education

Update soon

Changes coming for

tattooer
permanent cosmetic tattooer
body piercing
esthetics

To Currently Enrolled here:

These changes mean that finishing your course study and hours before March 2026 is recommended. Put in the time and work to sacrifice to be part of this old way of learning. Our trade is forever growing and changes are made to improve the education of future Nail Technicians to continue to provide safe services to the public.

To Future Students:

You will become a part of new generation of graduates that will experience these new improvements to ensure that students get the proper safe training to obtain their license and provide safe services. The requirements to complete a beauty school course and the costs for beauty schools will change in 2026 including tax deduction changes.

To Beauty Schools:

DPOR is "cleaning house"! Growing pains are tough and this change is going to affect a lot of schools choosing to stay in business for 2026. You can chooose to keep open the opportunities that you created for future students. I am sure DPOR is overwhelmed with this too so if you are frustrated keep submitting your applications and remember to ask for help. These changes are going to affect beauty schools across the state. The cause for this and the roster reports will be understood around July 2026. Did you vote?

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