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Barber
Exam: Yes
Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
1,200 hrs
Training Hours
Written + Practical
Exam Type
$144
Gov. Fees
Available
Apprenticeship
Annual, due January 1st
Renewal Cycle
4 hrs
CE Required
Minimum Age
Varies
Education Level
Not specified
Residency
No state residency required
Background Check
Certificate of Health form completed by a licensed physician required.
Not sure if you need a barber license? Check whether your state requires one.
Total Training Hours
1,200 hours
Board-approved barber school
Apprenticeship Alternative
2,400 hours required
2,400 hours. Supervising barber must have owned shop for 5+ years.
Online Hours Allowed
Not specified; contact the Board for current policy
Curriculum Includes
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West Virginia Barber Written Examination
Written and practical exams administered by DL Roope Administration, Inc. Must score 70% or better to pass.
West Virginia Barber Practical Examination
Hands-on practical examination of barbering skills.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 31/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
Barber State Board Exam
Browse study guides
Barber Exam Prep Books
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Haircutting, shaving, trimming beards and mustaches, shampooing, styling, scalp treatments, and facial treatments for compensation. West Virginia offers two barber training tracks: 1,200 hours without chemical services and 1,500 hours with chemical services (coloring, perming).
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Registration/application fee | $10 |
Exam Fee Examination fee covering both written and practical exams | $99 |
License Fee | $35 |
Total Government Fees Registration ($10) + exam ($99) + license ($35) | $144 |
Barber School Tuition: $5,000–$15,000
Varies by school and program; NOT a government fee
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
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See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
West Virginia accepts licensed barbers from other states by reciprocity transfer.
Additional Requirements: $100
West Virginia maintains separate barber and cosmetology licenses under the same Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Each license has its own scope of practice and training requirements.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare West Virginia with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Initial License Term
Annual, due January 1st
Renewal Cycle
Annual, due January 1st
Renewal Fee
$35
Continuing Education
4 hours — 4 hours annually. 20+ years licensure: 3 hours sanitation every other year instead.
Late Renewal Fee
$10/month (not to exceed $205 for Individual Licenses)
Regulatory Board
Learn more about the renewal process in our barber license renewal requirements guide.
Shop License Fee: $90 (Initial shop license fee ($50 inspection + $40 shop license). Annual renewal is $40.)
$40 due July 1st
West Virginia is distinctive for offering two barber training tracks: a 1,200-hour track without chemical services and a 1,500-hour track that includes chemical services like hair coloring and perming. This allows barbers to choose their scope based on training investment. The state also uniquely requires a current TB test for licensure. Barbers with 20+ years of experience get reduced CE requirements (3-hour sanitation course biennially instead of annual 4-hour CE).
MULTI-TIER: Barber (1,200 hrs, no chemicals) / Barber with chemical services (1,500 hrs).
CE REQUIRED: 4 hours annually. 20+ years licensure: 3 hrs sanitation every other year instead.
Annual renewal — expires January 1.
Three exams: NIC written + NIC practical + WV state law exam (30 min).
Passing score: 70%.
TB test (Certificate of Health) required.
Apprenticeship: 2,400 hrs; supervisor must have owned shop 5+ years.
Total fees: $144.
Barber Schools in West Virginia
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Barber requirements in nearby states
See how West Virginia compares: Barber License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
Compare barber requirements across all states →
Barber licensing requirements nationwide →
Not sure barber is right for you? Find careers that match your situation →
How does West Virginia compare to other states for barber? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your barber license →
Study guides and practice tests for the barber licensing exam.
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Other professional licenses in West Virginia
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in West Virginia.
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Official Sources
Barber requirements in West Virginia verified against West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-02-26
$100 reciprocity transfer fee
Accessed 2026-02-26
Two-track system rather than master barber tier
Accessed 2026-02-26
Moving to West Virginia? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Barber license to West Virginia →
Transfer your Barber license from West Virginia to: Kentucky → | Maryland → | Ohio → | Pennsylvania → | Virginia →