Big Changes are coming for Beauty Schools in Virginia!
All current Virginia licensed Barber, Cosmetology, Nail and Waxing School programs will not exist for use to start after Nov 2025. Students enrolled before Dec 2025 must finish their course by a deadline or start a new updated 2026 course with strict completion times and specific pre-scheduled attendance hours inside the school.
All Nail Technology students enrolled in a Virginia DPOR Licensed Nail school before Dec 2025 must complete their course study before March 2025.
Beauty Schools can not enroll students into a program after Nov 2025 until their license is re-approved by DPOR.
On March 1, 2026 the school's license to teach that course will be revoked if their course curriculum is not re-approved. They can enroll students when they are approved.
2026 Beauty Schools in Virginia have new updated requirements to continue to offer training
Schools will be required to have a state approved:
- Online Study Program
- Specific class days & hours
- Strict completion deadline
- In-School and Online hours
- Regular weekly attendance
- verified completion rate
Nail
Changed practical performance requirements with 50% or more specific clock hours taught with attendance inside the school and completed in 8-14 weeks
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 for a specific timeline.
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.
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 8-14 weeks
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 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 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 attend a college to obtain a Teaching Certificate or taking a Certified Instructor Course. There are also 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 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?