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West Virginia Esthetician — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Aesthetician Professional License

Ordinary individual license for the practice of aesthetics; initial issuance, transfer, renewal and restoration routes are kept separately.

Licensing authority: West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

Placement of current license on inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Current status
Hold a current active license, submit signed request and the $10 inactive-status fee.
Practice
Request inactive status from the Board before the reporting-period deadline.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by examination — Board described apprenticeship training

All of the following:

Age
At least 18.
Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, official transcripts, examination results, photo ID, Social Security card and photograph; disclose name changes and satisfy other Board requirements.
Character
Good moral character.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or eligibility for US employment.
Exam waiver
W. Va. Code §30-27-8(a)(5) permits recognition of a certificate or similar license in lieu of all or part of the examination.
General education
High-school diploma, GED, or US Department of Education approved ability-to-benefit test; that education test is an applicant condition.
Health
Certificate of health from a licensed physician; the current application requires submission within one year of the physical examination.
Professional education
The October 15, 2024 Board announcement describes aesthetics training through a licensed cosmetologist. Obtain Board acceptance of that training for the aesthetics license; §30-27-8a and 3CSR16 expressly issue cosmetology apprentice permits, and publish no separate aesthetics apprentice permit or aesthetics-specific hour schedule.
Provider
The Board announcement requires the training cosmetologist to have been licensed and to have worked in a salon for at least five years.
Study material
The July 15, 2026 Prov bulletin labels the Esthetics CIB links effective January 1, 2026. These vendor link labels identify the same NIC Esthetics exams; the frozen shared registry supplies their owner-registered current versions. No new national version is defined here.
Initial licensure by examination — evaluated international education

All of the following:

Age
At least 18.
Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, official transcripts, examination results, photo ID, Social Security card and photograph; disclose name changes and satisfy other Board requirements.
Character
Good moral character.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or eligibility for US employment.
Exam waiver
W. Va. Code §30-27-8(a)(5) permits recognition of a certificate or similar license in lieu of all or part of the examination.
General education
High-school diploma, GED, or US Department of Education approved ability-to-benefit test; that education test is an applicant condition.
Health
Certificate of health from a licensed physician; the current application requires submission within one year of the physical examination.
Professional education
Complete education accepted by the Board; international educational documents or domestic online high-school documents require evaluation by Board-approved Aequo International before Board review.
Study material
The July 15, 2026 Prov bulletin labels the Esthetics CIB links effective January 1, 2026. These vendor link labels identify the same NIC Esthetics exams; the frozen shared registry supplies their owner-registered current versions. No new national version is defined here.
Initial licensure by examination — education completed elsewhere

All of the following:

Age
At least 18.
Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, official transcripts, examination results, photo ID, Social Security card and photograph; disclose name changes and satisfy other Board requirements.
Character
Good moral character.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or eligibility for US employment.
Exam waiver
W. Va. Code §30-27-8(a)(5) permits recognition of a certificate or similar license in lieu of all or part of the examination.
General education
High-school diploma, GED, or US Department of Education approved ability-to-benefit test; that education test is an applicant condition.
Health
Certificate of health from a licensed physician; the current application requires submission within one year of the physical examination.
Professional education
Complete education accepted by the Board. Request training verification directly from the authority where the training was completed; partial schooling and experience credit are governed by 3CSR1 §11.1.
Study material
The July 15, 2026 Prov bulletin labels the Esthetics CIB links effective January 1, 2026. These vendor link labels identify the same NIC Esthetics exams; the frozen shared registry supplies their owner-registered current versions. No new national version is defined here.
Initial licensure by examination — West Virginia school

All of the following:

Age
At least 18.
Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, official transcripts, examination results, photo ID, Social Security card and photograph; disclose name changes and satisfy other Board requirements.
Character
Good moral character.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or eligibility for US employment.
Exam waiver
W. Va. Code §30-27-8(a)(5) permits recognition of a certificate or similar license in lieu of all or part of the examination.
General education
High-school diploma, GED, or US Department of Education approved ability-to-benefit test; that education test is an applicant condition.
Health
Certificate of health from a licensed physician; the current application requires submission within one year of the physical examination.
Professional education
Complete 600 clock hours of approved aesthetics education at a licensed, approved school.
Study material
The July 15, 2026 Prov bulletin labels the Esthetics CIB links effective January 1, 2026. These vendor link labels identify the same NIC Esthetics exams; the frozen shared registry supplies their owner-registered current versions. No new national version is defined here.
Reinstatement of a lapsed professional license

All of the following:

Application
Follow Board reinstatement instructions, pay applicable renewal and late fees, and obtain examiner approval if required to retest.
Discretion
The Prov bulletin says a candidate required to test to reinstate a lapsed license needs approval. Whether the Board requires retesting is an applicant-specific condition.
Status
Professional license was not renewed; demonstrate ability to resume practice with reasonable skill and safety.
Annual professional license renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
The Board states that active aestheticians no longer need continuing education effective May 8, 2022; 3CSR11 remains listed as active, so its older continuing-education text is retained as source history rather than treated as a new examination.
Deadline
Renew on or before January 1 with the prescribed form, fee and requested information.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Conversion of provisional to full license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
At least 18.
Complaints
No complaint during the provisional year.
Education
High-school diploma, GED or approved ability-to-benefit test.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or US employment eligibility.
Fees
Pay all fees for the provisional and full licenses.
Health
New or qualifying physician certificate of health.
Other requirements
Satisfy other Board requirements; §30-27-9(b) states no identifiable examination as a conversion requirement.
Supervised practice
One year under someone holding a valid West Virginia license.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement from inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Apply for reinstatement and pay the applicable reinstatement fee.
Continuing education
3CSR11 §6.1.b states: 6.1. A person wishing to reinstate a license from inactive status or from suspended status shall: 6.1.a. Make application for reinstatement of the license from inactive status or suspended status. 6.1.b. Meet the continuing education requirements as set forth in this rule; and 6.1.c. Pay the fee for reinstatement of the suspended license as specified in the Board’s rule, Schedule of fees for services rendered. The current Board announcement states: House Bill 2325 removes continuing education as a professional license and certificate renewal requirement. Effective 5/8/2022, all active barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, aestheticians, hair stylists, waxing specialists, and instructors are no longer required to complete continuing education. Applicant should obtain the Board’s instructions for reinstatement; neither passage identifies a licensure examination.
Status
License is inactive.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement from suspended status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Apply for reinstatement and pay the applicable reinstatement fee.
Continuing education
3CSR11 §6.1.b states: 6.1. A person wishing to reinstate a license from inactive status or from suspended status shall: 6.1.a. Make application for reinstatement of the license from inactive status or suspended status. 6.1.b. Meet the continuing education requirements as set forth in this rule; and 6.1.c. Pay the fee for reinstatement of the suspended license as specified in the Board’s rule, Schedule of fees for services rendered. The current Board announcement states: House Bill 2325 removes continuing education as a professional license and certificate renewal requirement. Effective 5/8/2022, all active barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, aestheticians, hair stylists, waxing specialists, and instructors are no longer required to complete continuing education. Applicant should obtain the Board’s instructions for reinstatement; neither passage identifies a licensure examination.
Status
License is suspended.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by transfer or reciprocity
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Age
At least 18.
Application
Complete the current reciprocity application with the required records and fee; retain the existing license as the Board does not require inactive status.
Character
Good moral character.
Education
High-school diploma, GED or approved ability-to-benefit test; the Board requires direct license certification and training verification.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or US employment eligibility.
Health
Certificate of health from a licensed physician.
Prior license
Valid license or authorization in aesthetics granted after the other jurisdiction’s education requirements; no pending charges and no previous revocation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Universal licensure — military spouse
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Pay applicable fees and complete the Board’s universal-licensure application requirements.
Discipline
No revocation or surrender while under investigation, no unresolved discipline, and no disqualifying criminal history; a resolved disciplinary matter may be accepted by Board determination.
Eligibility
Be married to an active-duty US armed-forces member and accompany an official permanent change of station to a West Virginia military installation.
Prior examination
Previously passed any examination required by the other jurisdiction. No particular currently offered examination is identified by this generic historical qualification.
Prior license
Current license in the same discipline at the same practice level, in good standing everywhere; other jurisdiction verifies its minimum education and any experience or clinical supervision requirements were met.
State law discretion
Section 30-1-27(d) preserves authority to require a state-law examination. The Board’s July 1, 2021 decision removed it from ordinary licensure and retained it for instructor certification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Universal licensure — resident
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Pay applicable fees and complete the Board’s universal-licensure application requirements.
Discipline
No revocation or surrender while under investigation, no unresolved discipline, and no disqualifying criminal history; a resolved disciplinary matter may be accepted by Board determination.
Eligibility
Establish West Virginia residence.
Prior examination
Previously passed any examination required by the other jurisdiction. No particular currently offered examination is identified by this generic historical qualification.
Prior license
Current license in the same discipline at the same practice level, in good standing everywhere; other jurisdiction verifies its minimum education and any experience or clinical supervision requirements were met.
State law discretion
Section 30-1-27(d) preserves authority to require a state-law examination. The Board’s July 1, 2021 decision removed it from ordinary licensure and retained it for instructor certification.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Aesthetician Work Permit

Supervised practice permit while waiting to take the aesthetics licensing examination.

Licensing authority: West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists

Issuance while awaiting the examination

All of the following:

Education
Graduate from an approved licensed school or complete Board-accepted education elsewhere.
Employment
Employed in aesthetics under general supervision of a professional licensee.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or US employment eligibility.
Expiry
Expires at the end of the month after issuance following the next field examination; only one renewal is permitted.
Fees
Work-permit fee and other Board requirements.
Health
Physician health certificate.
Timing
The permit is issued before examination; the currently offered examinations remain leaves although taking them follows issuance.
Single permitted renewal while awaiting examination

All of the following:

Education
Graduate from an approved licensed school or complete Board-accepted education elsewhere.
Employment
Employed in aesthetics under general supervision of a professional licensee.
Employment eligibility
US citizenship or US employment eligibility.
Expiry
Expires at the end of the month after issuance following the next field examination; only one renewal is permitted.
Fees
Work-permit fee and other Board requirements.
Health
Physician health certificate.
Timing
The permit is issued before examination; the currently offered examinations remain leaves although taking them follows issuance.

National Esthetics Practical Examination

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC); administered by Test Administration companies and States upon approval and authorization of NIC
Format
Performance (practical) examination on a mannequin in six timed or untimed core sections evaluated by examiners; States may add NIC additional sections (Eyelash Enhancement, Hair Removal of the Upper Lip with Hard Wax, Hard Wax of the Eyebrow, Particle Microdermabrasion); candidates bring their own supply kit
Examination sources

National Esthetics Theory Examination

Provider
National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC); administered by Test Administration companies and States upon approval and authorization of NIC
Format
Theory examination of four-option multiple-choice items, only one option correct
Exam questions
110 items, of which 100 are weighted and contribute to the final score
Time limit
90 minutes
Examination outline
  • SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS (55%) (55%)
    • Basic knowledge of microbiology (i.e., bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi)
    • Apply knowledge of infection control procedures related to: — Levels of infection control (i.e., sanitation, disinfection, sterilization)
    • Apply knowledge of infection control procedures related to: — Methods of infection control (i.e., heat, chemical agents)
    • Apply knowledge of safety procedures and guidelines related to: — Standard (Universal) Precautions
    • Apply knowledge of safety procedures and guidelines related to: — Blood exposure procedures
    • Apply knowledge of safety procedures and guidelines related to: — Safety Data Sheets (SDS) (e.g., manufacturer’s labeling)
    • Apply knowledge of safety procedures and guidelines related to: — Handling of chemicals
    • Demonstrate a basic understanding of human physiology and anatomy related to: — Cells and their functions
    • Demonstrate a basic understanding of human physiology and anatomy related to: — Tissues (i.e., epithelial, connective, nerve, muscular)
    • Demonstrate a basic understanding of human physiology and anatomy related to: — Organs and their function (e.g., skin, lungs, heart)
    • Demonstrate a basic understanding of human physiology and anatomy related to: — Systems and their functions (e.g., muscular, integumentary, nervous, endocrine, skeletal)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of histology and physiology of the skin related to: — Structure and function of the layers of the skin
    • Demonstrate an understanding of histology and physiology of the skin related to: — Structure and function of the glands
    • Demonstrate an understanding of histology and physiology of the skin related to: — Functions of the skin (e.g., protection, temperature regulation, absorption)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Disorders of the sebaceous gland (e.g., acne, milia, seborrhea)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Disorders of the sudoriferous gland (e.g., hyperhidrosis, bromhydrosis, anhidrosis)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Contagious diseases (e.g., bacterial conjunctivitis, herpes simplex, tinea)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Skin inflammations (e.g., dermatitis, eczema, rosacea)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Skin pigmentation (i.e., hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Skin growths (e.g., skin tags, moles, keratoma)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Skin cancers (i.e., basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma)
    • Recognize and understand skin disorders and diseases related to: — Primary and secondary skin lesions
    • Understanding function and composition of the hair related to: — Structure of the hair and its follicle
    • Understanding function and composition of the hair related to: — Growth cycles
    • Understanding function and composition of the hair related to: — Abnormal hair growth (e.g., hirsutism, hypertrichosis)
    • Understanding basic chemistry as related to: — Ingredients
    • Understanding basic chemistry as related to: — Labeling
    • Understanding basic chemistry as related to: — Function (e.g., hydration, protection, cleanse)
    • Understanding basic chemistry as related to: — Acidity/Alkalinity (i.e., pH)
  • SKIN CARE AND SERVICES (45%) (45%)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of performing a client consultation and documentation (e.g., health history, intake form, consultation chart, physician release) — Apply knowledge of client protection (i.e., draping of head and body)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of performing a client consultation and documentation (e.g., health history, intake form, consultation chart, physician release) — Skin analysis (e.g., Fitzpatrick skin types/conditions/characteristics)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of performing a client consultation and documentation (e.g., health history, intake form, consultation chart, physician release) — Contraindications for skin services
    • Demonstrate an understanding of performing a client consultation and documentation (e.g., health history, intake form, consultation chart, physician release) — Treatment protocol
    • Demonstrate an understanding of basic facial procedures
    • Demonstrate an understanding of cleansing procedures
    • Demonstrate an understanding of steaming procedures
    • Demonstrate an understanding of exfoliation procedures (i.e., chemical, mechanical/manual)
    • Demonstrate a basic understanding of massage movements
    • Demonstrate an understanding of methods of extraction
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the functions and applications of masks related to clay/mud (e.g., cream, gel, clay/mud)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the conclusion of facial services: — Treat/moisturize (e.g., treatment cream, serum)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the conclusion of facial services: — Sun protection
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the conclusion of facial services: — Home care (i.e., after care)
    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the use of electrical equipment used in skin services
    • Demonstrate an understanding of makeup as related to: — Principles (e.g., color theory)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of makeup as related to: — Product selection (e.g., lipstick, foundation)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of makeup as related to: — Application (e.g., contouring, highlighting, blending)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of makeup as related to: — Safety (e.g., bracing)
    • Demonstrate an understanding of makeup as related to: — Infection control (e.g., disposables, disinfection of tools)
    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of other services related to: — Facial services (e.g., aromatherapy, pre- and post-surgical/medical treatments, ultrasonic)
    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of other services related to: — Body treatments (body wraps, body scrubs, sunless tanning)
    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of other services related to: — Eyelash and eyebrow services (e.g., lash and brow tinting, artificial lashes, lash lifting/perming)
    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of other services related to: — Demonstrate an understanding of hair removal methods and procedures (i.e., waxing, tweezing)
    • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of other services related to: — Wellness programs
    • Demonstrates basic knowledge of advanced topics and treatments (e.g., dermaplaning, nano infusion, microdermabrasion)
Examination sources