DPOR cosmetology renewal: Virginia 2026
Regulated by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
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Virginia cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years. There is no continuing education requirement. You renew through the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). The current renewal fee is $120.
Virginia's renewal rules are simple on the surface: no continuing education hours, a two-year cycle, and a renewal fee that rose to $120 in December 2025. The less obvious detail is how the reinstatement window works. Virginia gives you two years past expiration to reinstate. After that, the option disappears entirely. You apply as a new candidate and go through the full entry requirements again. That is a harder cutoff than most surrounding states, and it changes the math on how long you can reasonably delay dealing with an expired license.
Virginia does not require continuing education to renew a cosmetology, esthetician, master esthetician, nail technician, wax technician, or barber license. Licenses are valid for two years and cost $120 to renew, effective December 1, 2025. Reinstatement is available within two years of expiration; after that, you reapply as a new candidate.
The Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, administered by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), does not mandate any CE hours under 18VAC41-70. This applies across every individual license type the board issues.
A note on a specific misconception: a third-party school blog claimed that Virginia began requiring 16 CE hours on July 1, 2024. That claim is not supported by the current text of 18VAC41-70. As of the last review of the regulation, renewal remains CE-free. Always verify with DPOR directly before relying on any such claim.
What renewal involves
- License types covered: Cosmetologist, esthetician, master esthetician, nail technician, wax technician, barber
- Renewal cycle: 2 years (biennial)
- License expiration: Two years from the last day of the month in which the license was issued (18VAC41-70-140). A license issued in June 2024 expires June 30, 2026.
- Renewal fee: $120, effective December 1, 2025 (raised from $105 under 18VAC41-70-120)
- Renewal method: Online through the DPOR licensing portal. The date of receipt, not postmark, determines whether renewal is on time.
Virginia's fee increase matters if you budgeted on last cycle's $105 figure. The $15 bump took effect December 1, 2025, so any renewal submitted after that date costs $120.
Compare to neighboring states
North Carolina, which borders Virginia to the south, requires 24 CE hours per three-year cycle for estheticians and cosmetologists, one of the highest loads in the country. Maryland, to the north, added a 6-hour CE requirement effective January 1, 2026. West Virginia and Tennessee, two other Virginia neighbors, require no CE. Virginia sits in the no-CE column, which is worth knowing if you cross state lines for work or hold licenses in multiple states.
What happens if you miss the deadline
- Within 30 days of expiration: Renew online. No additional fee listed beyond the standard $120 renewal.
- More than 30 days past expiration: The reinstatement fee is $240 under 18VAC41-70-160. This is the $120 renewal fee plus a $120 reinstatement charge.
- More than two years past expiration: Reinstatement is not available. You must apply as a new candidate and meet all current entry requirements, which can include examination.
The two-year hard cutoff is stricter than some neighboring states. New Jersey, for example, allows reinstatement with exam after five years of suspension. Virginia gives you two years and no more.
How to renew step by step
- Confirm your expiration date. Your license expires two years from the last day of the issuance month. Check your current license or log in to DPOR's licensing portal.
- Renew online through DPOR before your expiration date. The received date, not postmark, counts.
- Pay the $120 fee (effective December 1, 2025).
- Keep your contact information current with DPOR. The board mails renewal notices, and a stale address means a missed reminder.
For questions, DPOR can be reached at (804) 367-8590 or BarberCosmo@dpor.virginia.gov. The board office is at 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233.
Source citations: 18VAC41-70-120 (fees effective December 1, 2025), 18VAC41-70-140 (renewal, expiration date formula), 18VAC41-70-160 (reinstatement).
Does Virginia require CE for cosmetology renewal?
Virginia does not require continuing education for license renewal. You renew every 2 years by paying the fee and submitting any required documentation. Add your renewal date below and we'll email you 90, 60, and 30 days before your deadline.
When does my Virginia license expire?
Virginia esthetician, master esthetician, and cosmetologist licenses expire two years from the last day of the month in which they were issued (18VAC41-70-140). The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation mails a renewal notice, and the date the renewal is received (not postmarked) determines whether it is on time.
Fees
- Renewal: $120
- Reinstatement: $240
What if my Virginia license is already expired?
If you fail to renew within 30 days of expiration, you must pay the $240 reinstatement fee (which includes the $120 renewal fee plus a $120 reinstatement charge) under 18VAC41-70-160. After two years past expiration, reinstatement is no longer available. You must apply as a new candidate and meet all current entry requirements, including any examination.
Virginia state board contact info
- Board: Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)
- Phone: (804) 367-8590
- Email: BarberCosmo@dpor.virginia.gov
- Address: 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233
- Website: https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/BarberCosmo/
Other states with no CE requirement: Arizona, California, Massachusetts. See the full list of states with no CE requirement. Compare all 53 states.
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Frequently asked questions about Virginia cosmetology renewal
Does Virginia require CE for cosmetology or esthetician renewal?
Virginia does not require continuing education for estheticians and master estheticians. You renew every 2 years by application and fee only. No CE hours or courses are required.
Can I complete Virginia cosmetology CE online?
Virginia has no CE requirement, so there are no online CE hours to complete. Renewal is by application and fee only.
How often does a Virginia cosmetology license need to be renewed?
Virginia estheticians and master estheticians licenses renew every 2 years. No CE is required; renewal is by application and fee.
What happens if my Virginia cosmetology license lapses?
If you miss your Virginia renewal deadline, your license enters expired or inactive status. You may face late fees, a reinstatement application, and in some cases additional CE hours or re-examination. Set a free reminder on CEFinder so your deadline is never a surprise.
Does Virginia require continuing education for cosmetology or esthetician license renewal?
No. Virginia requires zero continuing education hours to renew a cosmetology, esthetician, master esthetician, nail technician, wax technician, or barber license. The current text of 18VAC41-70 contains no CE hour mandate. You renew on the two-year cycle and pay the fee.
How much does it cost to renew a Virginia cosmetology or esthetician license in 2026?
The renewal fee is $120, effective December 1, 2025, under 18VAC41-70-120. This is $15 more than the previous $105 fee. If you miss the deadline, the reinstatement fee is $240, which covers the $120 renewal plus a $120 reinstatement charge under 18VAC41-70-160.
When does my Virginia cosmetology or esthetician license expire?
Your Virginia license expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued, per 18VAC41-70-140. A license issued any time in June 2024 expires June 30, 2026. The board mails a renewal notice, and the date your renewal is received, not postmarked, determines whether it is on time.
What happens if my Virginia license has been expired for more than two years?
You cannot reinstate it. Under Virginia's rules, the reinstatement option disappears after two years past expiration. You must apply as a new candidate and meet all current entry requirements, which can include re-examination. This is a stricter cutoff than New Jersey (five years) or Indiana (no hard cutoff).
Is the claim that Virginia requires 16 CE hours accurate?
No. That claim appeared on a third-party school blog but is not supported by the current regulatory text of 18VAC41-70. As of the last primary-source review, Virginia requires no continuing education to renew. If you see that figure cited elsewhere, verify directly with DPOR before acting on it.
How does Virginia compare to neighboring states on CE requirements?
Virginia requires no CE. North Carolina (south) requires 24 hours per three-year cycle. Maryland (north) added 6 hours per two-year cycle effective January 1, 2026. West Virginia and Tennessee require no CE. Virginia's absence of CE hours is consistent with its neighbors on the west and south, but Maryland changed the picture on the northern border.
How do I contact the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology?
Phone: (804) 367-8590. Email: BarberCosmo@dpor.virginia.gov. Office address: 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233. The board is administered by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) at dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/BarberCosmo/.
How much does it cost to renew a Virginia esthetician license in 2026?
Virginia DPOR charges $120 to renew an esthetician, master esthetician, cosmetologist, barber, nail technician, or wax technician license every two years under 18VAC41-70-120 (effective December 1, 2025). If you miss the deadline, the reinstatement fee is $240 (which includes the $120 renewal plus a $120 reinstatement charge).
When does my Virginia cosmetology or esthetician license expire?
Your Virginia license expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued. So if your license was issued anywhere in June 2024, it expires June 30, 2026. The Board of Barbers and Cosmetology (BBC) mails you a renewal notice. The date your renewal is received (not postmarked) decides whether it is on time.
How do I contact the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology?
You can reach the Virginia DPOR Board for Barbers and Cosmetology at (804) 367-8590 (board office) or (804) 367-8509 (licensing) or by email at BarberCosmo@dpor.virginia.gov. The board office is at 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233.
What happens if my Virginia esthetician license has been expired for more than two years?
If your Virginia license has been expired for more than two years, you cannot reinstate it. You must apply as a new candidate and meet all current entry requirements (which can include re-examination or proof of practice). The shortest path back is to renew within 30 days of expiration, or pay the $240 reinstatement fee within the first two years.