How to Become a Licensed Esthetician in Virginia

The State of Virginia is known as the “Birthplace of America”. It could also be known by you as the birthplace of an exciting and rewarding career as a licensed esthetician. With nearly half of the nation’s population living within a 500-mile radius of this state, Virginia is a place where the need for estheticians is quickly growing. There are several places that need licensed estheticians in Virginia such as:

Spas
Salons
Resorts and hotels
Medical spas
Chiropractic and dermatology offices
Film and fashion industries

If you are considering a career as a licensed esthetician in the state of Virginia, this article will help you navigate through the licensing process, step-by-step.

Esthetician License Requirements and Training Schools in Virginia

Before you can become an esthetician in the state of Virginia, you are required to obtain licensure from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. The steps below will take you through each part of the licensing process.

Step 1: Complete a State Approved Esthetics Program

In the state of Virginia, the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology requires that you complete a 600-hour training course at a state-approved esthetics program before you can apply for your licensing exams.

Your esthetics education and training must include the following:

Manual and machine facials
Body wraps
Waxing,tweezing, and threading
Make-up applications and color theory
Safety, sanitation, and infection control procedures
Skin care products and chemistry

Master Esthetician Classes

You also have the option to advance your career by becoming a master esthetician. Master esthetician courses will prepare you to be licensed to perform advanced techniques in the esthetics field, such as:

Chemical peels and exfoliation
Full body lymphatic drainage
Dermaplaning and microdermabrasion

Your esthetician education should include theory and hands-on training.

Let Esthetician Schooling Connect You With a High Quality Esthetician School in Your Area!

Are you ready to take the next step and begin your career as a well-paid esthetician? Esthetician Schooling has partnered with some of the best esthetician schools in the nation. Our huge network of nationally recognized esthetician schools will make it easy for you to find the right school and get started training immediately!

The beauty schools in our network contain one or more of the following high quality standards:

State Board Recognition
NACCAS Accreditation
Student Financial Aid
Job Placement Assistance for Those Who Qualify

To get started, simply fill out the quick 1-minute application below.

Step 2: Complete and Submit the Esthetician Application for Examination

Once you are within 80 hours of completing your esthetics training, you may apply to take your licensure exams.

To do this, you will need to:

Apply online or complete and submit the paper application (you must have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed)
Submit a completed Training and Experience Verification Form (you must have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed)
Submit a current 2″ x 2″ color photo of yourself (see #18 on the application form)
Pay the $175 fee (with a check or money order made payable to “National Testing Network” if using the paper application)

If you are on track to graduate from a state-approved esthetics program, your school will report your progress and eligibility to the National Testing Network. They will also provide you with a username and password so that you can apply online instead of via mail if you choose.

You will need to schedule your exams by going online to the NTN website and logging in.

Applying for a Temporary Permit

After you have been approved to sit for your written (theory) exam and have scheduled your exam with National Testing Network, you are eligible to apply for a temporary permit and start working on clients.

To apply for a temporary permit:

You and your sponsor must complete, sign, and mail the Temporary Permit Sponsorship Form
You must schedule your practical exam with National Testing Network

Mail your completed and signed form to:

Ergometrics / National Testing Network
ATTN: VA Licensing
18720 33rd Ave. W.
Lynnwood, WA 98037

Once your form has been approved and processed, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Licensing (DOPR) will issue you a temporary permit.

Step 3: Take and Pass the Written and Practical Esthetician Examinations

On the day of your exam, you will need to have completed all of your training hours and your school should report them to the National Testing Network.

Preparing for the Written and Practical Exams

The National Testing Network recommends the following reference materials to help you prepare for and pass the written (theory) and practical esthetics exams, which can be purchased at discounted prices on Amazon:

Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals (2013, 11th Edition)
Salon Fundamentals: Esthetics Textbook (2007, 11th printing, 2nd Edition, August 2013)

We also recommend that you purchase and study the following books in preparation for your exams:

Salon Fundamentals Esthetics Licensure Exam Prep Book (Spiral-bound – 2007)
Modern Esthetics: A Scientific Source for Estheticians (Milady)

The National Testing Network also recommends the following reference materials to assist in exam preparation:

What to Bring to the Exam

Give yourself plenty of time to arrive and register for your exam. Arriving 30 minutes ahead of schedule is recommended. Late arrivals will need to reschedule and pay for another exam.

You will need to bring the following items with you to your exams:

Two proper forms of identification (see page 3 of the Candidate Information Bulletin for acceptable forms of ID)
A mannequin head (practical exam only)
Your esthetics supply kit (for the practical exam only; see page 28 of the Candidate Information Bulletin)

The video below will show you what you can expect on the day of your exams.

An Overview of the Esthetician Exam

The Written Esthetics Exam

Two hours is the allotted time frame for the written exam, which contains 95 multiple-choice questions administered by computer. Out of the 95 questions, 20 are experimental and do not count either toward or against your score.

The written exam will cover the following topics:

Virginia State General Laws/Rules/Regulations (11 items)
Safety/Sanitation and Infection Control (21 items)
Implements/Tools/Equipment (11 items)
Product Knowledge and Chemistry (11 items)
Anatomy and Physiology (3 items)
Esthetics Services (18 items)

You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to pass the written exam. You can view the exam pass rates of students from various schools over the past few years by going here.

Be sure to read over the Virginia Esthetics Exam CIB before you take the written exam.

The Practical Esthetics Exam

You will be evaluated at all times during the practical exam. The exam instructions will be given via DVD in the following order:

Initial Setup: Disinfection and setup
10 minutes
Blood Spill: Blood spill procedures demonstration
10 minutes
Service 1: Facial
Set up: 2 minutes
Service: 15 minutes
Service 2: Facial mask
Set up: 2 minutes
Service: 10 minutes
Service 3: Manual extraction
Set up: 2 minutes
Service: 10 minutes
Service 4: Tweezing and Waxing
Set up: 2 minutes
Service: 20 minutes
Cleanup: Disinfection and Cleanup
Unlimited

You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to pass the practical exam. You can view the exam pass rates of students from various schools over the past few years by going here.

Be sure to read over the Esthetics Exam Script before you take the practical exam.

How to Prepare for the Master Esthetics Written Exam

The National Testing Network advises that you use the following reference materials to prepare for the master esthetics written exam, which can be purchased on Amazon at discounted prices:

The National Testing Network also recommends the following reference materials to assist in exam preparation:

The Master Esthetics Written Exam

You will have 2 hours to complete the master esthetics written exam, which contains 85 multiple-choice questions administered by computer. Out of the 85 questions, 75 are scored and 10 are experimental, which means they count neither toward nor against your score.

The master esthetics written exam will cover the following topics:

Virginia State General Laws/Rules/Regulations (12 items)
Safety/Sanitation and Infection Control (22 items)
Implements/Tools/Equipment (14 items)
Product Knowledge and Chemistry (6 items)
Anatomy and Physiology (8 items)
Esthetics Services (13 items)

You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to pass the written exam. You can view the exam pass rates of students from various schools over the past few years by going here.

Be sure to read over the Virginia Esthetics Exam CIB before you take the exam.

The Master Esthetician Practical Exam

If you are applying for a master esthetician license, you will be required to take the master esthetician practical exam.

The master esthetician practical exam includes the demonstration of:

Initial setup
Blood exposure procedures
Cleansing facial
Microdermabrasion services
Ultrasonic and microcurrent services
Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment
Chemical peel service
Disinfection and cleanup

You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to pass the master esthetician practical exam. You can view the exam pass rates of students from various schools over the past few years by going here.

Be sure to read over the Virginia Esthetics Exam CIB and the Master Esthetician Exam Script before you take the master esthetician written and practical exams.

Receiving Your License

Your test scores will be available online within one week after your exam dates. Remember, you must score at least 75 out of 100 on each exam in order to pass.

Once you have passed both the written and practical exams, you will be able to print and send in your licensure fee notice to DPOR.

To print and send in your licensure fee notice, take the following steps:

Log in to your NTN account (https://www.cosmetologyvirginia.com)
Click on the “Licensure Fee Notice” button
Complete the licensure fee notice
Mail your notice and payment to DPOR at the address on the form (address and
payment information are both located on the form)

In order to receive your license, your fee payment and notice must first be processed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Licensing.

Step 4: Renew Your VA Esthetician License Every Two Years

You are required to renew your Virginia esthetician license every two years by the end of the month that your original license was issued in. There is a 30 day grace period. However, you should receive a renewal reminder notice from the State Board about one to two months before your expiration date. Not receiving your reminder notice will not excuse you from renewing on time.

If you do not receive your license renewal notice:

Renew your esthetician license online using the DPOR Online License Service (refer to the registration guide or watch the video below)

Mail your renewal fee, using a copy of your old notice to apply for renewal. The license renewal fee is $105. Make your check or money order payable to the “Treasurer of Virginia”, and be sure to include your license number on your check or money order.

Mail your check or money order along with a copy of your old notice to:

Board for Barbers and Cosmetology
Department of Professional & Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive
Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233

Once the State Board has received and processed your fee payment, they will issue you your new esthetician license.

Continuing education credits are not required for esthetician license renewal.

How to Renew Your Virginia Esthetician License Online

Esthetician License Reciprocity in Virginia

The Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology offers licensure by endorsement to qualified candidates who hold a valid license in another state. Candidates must have completed substantially equivalent training that is required by Virginia esthetician students in order to qualify. If you have less than 600 training hours, 6 months of work experience outside the state of Virginia may suffice.

In order to apply, you will need to:

Submit a completed and signed Endorsement Application
Submit payment for the $75 application fee
Request the licensing authority in the state where you are currently licensed to mail a Certification of Licensure to the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology

It is important to note that if you were originally licensed in a state other than where you hold a current license, you will need to have your state of original licensure complete the certify your license.

Virginia State Board of Cosmetology Contact Information

Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology
Perimeter Center
Suite 400
9960 Mayland Drive
Richmond, VA 23233
Phone: (804) 367-8590
Fax: (866) 245-9693
Email

Licensing Section: (804) 367-8509 | Email

Virginia Written and Practical Exam Locations

Below is a map showing the locations of the written and practical exams administered by the National Testing Network. Before you arrive at a NTN test center, please be sure to call NTN toll-free at 1-866-563-3882 or 480-999-7259, Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, to confirm the test center’s current address and inquire about their hours of operation.

Map of Written and Practical Exam Locations in Virginia

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