Body Piercer / West Virginia
2026 data West Virginia board official source

West Virginia Body Piercer License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Performs body piercing. Licensed in most states for health/safety.

What the West Virginia data shows for Body Piercers

West Virginia's path to body piercer licensure runs through 1,500 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. West Virginia folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

The initial price tag is $75 every 2 years. West Virginia doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

West Virginia evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Body Piercer · West Virginia

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,500 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in West Virginia

Education / Training Hours
Cosmetology School
1,500 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Body Piercer All West Virginia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with West Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Body Piercer in West Virginia? ▼
West Virginia requires 1500 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $75. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Body Piercer in West Virginia? ▼
To become a licensed body piercer in West Virginia, you must meet the state's requirements including 1500 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the West Virginia licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Body Piercer license to West Virginia from another state? ▼
Out-of-state body piercer credentials get a case-by-case review in West Virginia rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the West Virginia licensing board.
Does West Virginia require a background check for Body Piercer licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the body piercer licensing process in West Virginia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this body piercer license

Body Piercer in West Virginia is one requirement row in a body piercer-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the West Virginia licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.