Esthetician Schools in Virginia
If you love the idea of becoming a skin care professional and are considering going to esthetician school in Virginia, browse our directory of esthetician schools, or skip ahead to learn about the state's esthetician licensing requirements and job outlook.
Browse All Esthetician Schools in Virginia
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10130-A Colvin Run Road Suites A and B
Great Falls, VA 22066
671 North Glebe Road Suite 1280
Arlington, VA 22203
3700 Candlers Mountain Road Unit 68
Lynchburg, VA 24502
Charlottesville Institute of Modern Esthetics
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy – Accredited
Reston, VA 20190
Eastern Virginia Career College – Accredited
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Miracle Beauty & Nails Academy – Accredited
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Naturally Yours Barber & Beauty Salon – Accredited
Chesterfield, VA 23235
Nova Laser And Esthestic Training – Accredited
Stafford, VA 22554
Paulette de Paris, International Beauty Academy – Accredited
Vienna, VA 22182
The Chrysm Insitute of Esthetics – Accredited
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
The Institute of Epidermal Cell Therapy – Accredited
Chesapeake, VA 23320
TopCurl Beauty Academy - Alexandria – Accredited
Alexandria, VA 22306
You must attend a school that meets any licensure requirements as defined by your state. Most states require that you graduate from an accredited or state-approved school.
Related Beauty Careers
Not sure this is the right fit for you? Learn more about other career options in the beauty industry. Related specializations include:
Esthetician Schools Near Me
Check out the Esthetics/Skin Care schools these cities in Virginia have to offer.
Cost of Esthetician School Across VA
| Metro | Average Tuition |
|---|---|
| Norfolk / Portsmouth / Newport News | $10,000 |
| Richmond / Petersburg | $9,450 |
| Roanoke / Lynchburg | $9,160 |
| Kingsport / Bristol | $6,175 |
Comparing Program Costs in VA
| Esthetics/Skin Care School Costs |
|---|
| Highest range: $9,838 - $14,175 |
| Lowest range: $5,500 - $9,838 |
| Average: $9,861 |
| Cosmetology School Costs |
| Highest range: $18,975 - $22,400 |
| Lowest range: $15,549 - $18,975 |
| Average: $18,414 |
How to Become a Esthetician in Virginia
- 600 education hours or 2,000 apprentice hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every 2 years.
- 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average salary for estheticians in Virginia is $37,130.
- There is a predicted 17% job increase between 2018–2028 for estheticians.
To work as an esthetician in Virginia, you’ll need to complete relevant training at an esthetician school in Virginia (or transfer your license from another state) and meet a few basic conditions. You must:
Esthetician Salary in Virginia and Projected Job Growth
Average yearly salary for esthetics in Virginia
The average salary for Virginia estheticians, is $37,130 per year or $17.85 per hour as of 2021. Virginia esthetician salaries range from approximately $20,000 to $57,000 per year, dependent on experience, location, and services offered.
Much of the variation in salary is due to whether you work in a city or rural area. The cost of living around Washington, DC, and Richmond, VA, for instance, is higher than in smaller towns. The salaries there tend to be higher, but so does the cost of living.
The highest-paying metro areas for estheticians in Virginia are:
| Metro Area | 2021 Median Salary |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $44,600 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $31,170 |
| Richmond, VA | $30,730 |
| Roanoke, VA | $28,770 |
Table information sourced from O*Net (2021)
Employment for Virginia estheticians is projected to grow by 17% through 2028. While this predicted growth isn’t as high as in the U.S. as a whole (29%), it’s still clear there’s a demand for good, qualified estheticians in the state.
What to Expect From an Esthetician Program in Virginia
Required to earn a esthetics license
To work as an esthetician in Virginia, you’ll need to complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved beauty school. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) keeps a list of licensed esthetics schools in the state.
While the timing and breakdown of esthetics courses may vary slightly, they generally include units on the following topics:
Any business offering cosmetology services in Virginia must be licensed, and everyone working with clients within that business must have individual licenses.
Can I Apprentice as an Esthetician in Virginia?
In Virginia, you can obtain your license by completing an apprenticeship. Since being an esthetician is a practical job, an apprenticeship may be appealing if you’re a hands-on person.
Apprenticeships in esthetics and master esthetics both take 2,000 on-the-job hours over one year, along with appropriate related technical instruction. Apprentices must be at least 16 years old.
Virginia Esthetician Licensing Requirements
After completing a course or apprenticeship, you’ll need to take written and practical exams to work as an esthetician in Virginia. There are separate tests for esthetician and master esthetician licensing, with both written and practical components. The fee is around $80-90 per exam, and you must pass both parts of the test to get your license.
To access the application forms to sit the exam, download them online. You can complete them online or print them out and mail them to the correct address. Applicants must take the tests in person but scheduling your exams via the website is more efficient.
Written esthetician exams are offered in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. Practical exams are only in English. If you need to apply for ADA accommodations, you can do so online. You’ll need to provide documentation from a medical authority or learning institution.
On the test day, bring a government-approved ID and arrive 30 minutes early. The theory exam is on a computer, and you’ll get up to 15 minutes to practice before you get to the real questions. It’s a multiple-choice test with sections on scientific concepts and skin care services.
For the practical exam, wear professional clothing as you would when working in a salon. You’ll have to demonstrate a series of procedures on a model and/or a mannequin. PSI, the test administrator, provides detailed information about both the written and practical exams.
If you fail the test the first time, you can retake it an unlimited number of times within one year. If you’re unable to make it to your scheduled exam time, you can reschedule without having to pay another fee as long as you cancel more than two days before the test.
You’ll receive your unofficial pass/fail scorecard immediately after the test. You need a minimum of 75 to pass the theory exam. If you fail, you’ll receive a summary of your strengths and weaknesses so you know what to work on. You’ll receive the official scorecard in the mail ten days after the test, at which point you can send your license payment to the VA Board. You’ll receive your license about 30 days later.
Virginia Esthetician Licensure Reciprocity
If you hold a current esthetician license from another U.S. state or territory, you can transfer your license to Virginia by submitting an Endorsement Application. To be approved, your prior training must be roughly equivalent to that of Virginia in terms of length, the number of hours, and content. You’ll need to pay a fee of $95 for a reciprocal license.
Active-duty military personnel and spouses can receive temporary 12-month licenses while working to meet Virginia requirements and get help covering the cost of license transfers.
Esthetician Specialties in Virginia
After earning your esthetician license, you can complete 600 more hours of training (or a 2,000-hour apprenticeship) to become a master esthetician in Virginia. Licensed master estheticians can perform more advanced skin care procedures, including:
You can also train to become a wax technician in Virginia, which takes 115 hours.
License Renewal
License renewal period
Continuing education required
Esthetician licenses in Virginia must be renewed every two years. You can renew online or by mail by the end of the month your original license was issued. There’s a 30-day grace period if you forget, although you will receive a reminder.
There are currently no continuing education requirements for esthetician license renewal in Virginia.
Contact the Virginia State Board of Cosmetology
- 9960 Mayland Drive, Richmond VA 23233
- Website: Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Email: BarberCosmo@dpor.virginia.gov
- Call: 804-367-8590
- Fax: 866-245-9693
Resources for Estheticians in Virginia
Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology
The VA state board site provides information and resources about esthetics licensing, laws and regulations, forms and applications, and more.
Summary of Virginia Licensing Requirements
This easy-to-read chart summarizes licensing requirements for various cosmetology professions, including esthetician and master esthetician.
Virginia State Association of Skin Care Professionals
The state association advocates for skin care specialists by upholding Virginia’s licensing guidelines and regulations.