Hair Braider / Virginia
2026 data Virginia board official source

Virginia Hair Braider 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

Natural hair styling and braiding. One of the most debated licensing requirements.

What the Virginia data shows for Hair Braiders

Becoming a licensed hair braider in Virginia means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,500 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Virginia regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

The initial price tag is $75 every 2 years. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Virginia, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Virginia reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Hair Braider · 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 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 Hair Braider All Virginia licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Hair Braider in Virginia? ▼
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 Hair Braider in Virginia? ▼
To become a licensed hair braider in Virginia, you must meet the state's requirements including 1500 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Virginia licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Hair Braider license to Virginia from another state? ▼
Out-of-state hair braider credentials get a case-by-case review in Virginia rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Virginia licensing board.
Does Virginia require a background check for Hair Braider licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the hair braider licensing process in Virginia. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this hair braider license

Hair Braider in Virginia is one requirement row in a hair braider-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Virginia's hair braider requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Hair Braider in every state
  • Read the general portability rules before moving an existing license to a new state. Transfer guide
  • See how Virginia's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Virginia overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the 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.