Virginia Laws, Regulations, and Salon Business Practices
Who regulates what
Virginia licenses nail technicians through the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology under the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Both the individual license and the salon license are required; performing nail services for pay without a license, or working in an unlicensed salon, is a violation. Licenses must be current and available for inspection, and salons must meet equipment, sanitation, ventilation and recordkeeping requirements. The minimum age for licensure is 16; the training-hour requirement is set in Board regulation, so verify the current number on the Board's own website rather than trusting a prep book. Virginia uses a national written and practical examination administered for the Board.
Renewal and continuing education
Licenses renew on a biennial cycle. Continuing education rules change over time, so confirm the current requirement for nail technicians on the Board's site before exam day; treat any specific CE hour number in a practice question as "check the current regulation."
Running the business legally
Virginia sales tax applies to retail products and, depending on how services are structured, to some services - consult the Virginia Tax website. Booth renters are generally independent contractors responsible for their own taxes, insurance and licensing; employees are not. Keep client records including service dates, products used and any reactions, and carry liability insurance.
Advertising and conduct
No false or misleading advertising, no diagnosing or treating disease, and client information stays confidential.
Rule of thumb: when a question asks whether you may do something, default to "only with a current license, in a licensed salon, on a client with no contraindications."