All West Virginia beauty licenses in one place. WV uses NIC exams via Prov — written at a Prov test centre or remotely, practical in person — offered in English, Korean, Persian, Spanish and Vietnamese. 4 hours CE required annually. Annual December 31 renewal with January reopening. TB test required with application. No reciprocity from California.
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Practice Test + Flashcards
$49 one-time · lifetime accessPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
$49 one-time · lifetime accessPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
$49 one-time · lifetime accessPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Practice Test + Flashcards
$49 one-time · lifetime accessPractice tests and flashcards together. One purchase, one email, instant access to both.
Every question comes with a full rationale. When that isn’t enough — the concept is new, the wording is dense, you got it right by luck — tap Explain and the tutor talks you through it: why your answer was wrong, and what the right idea actually is. Ask it anything back, as many times as you need.
If English isn’t the language you learned this in, it teaches in yours, switched whenever you like. The questions stay in English, because that is how you will see them on exam day. Where enough candidates ask we translate the prep itself — so far Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Simplified Chinese, on the products that have it.
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10 questions from the NIC cosmetology bank and 10 terminology cards from the decks — the same items, the same rationales, the same study modes you get after checkout. West Virginia tests on the NIC exam, so this is the exam you'll sit. No email, no signup.
West Virginia · Cosmetology
1,800 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC written (90 min) and practical exams via Prov. $99 written + practical fee + $35 license. Annual renewal December 31 · January renewal window. 4 hours CE required annually. TB test required. Temporary work permit available.
West Virginia uses NIC National Theory and Practical Examinations administered by Prov (provexam.com · 801-733-4455); the Board's own "How To Become Licensed" page sends candidates to Prov. NICPrep's cosmetology question bank is built from the NIC CIB — a direct-fit study resource for the written portion. The Prov WV bulletin (2025.12.01) offers the written in English, Korean, Persian, Spanish and Vietnamese — choose the language when you register. A separate West Virginia State Law exam is registered through Prov as well (the Board's site says so); its length and items are not published. NICPrep covers the NIC domains, not the state-law paper. Passing: 70% per the Board's candidate packet — the Prov bulletin prints no cut score.
Register and schedule at provexam.com/register (or 801-733-4455). The NIC written (90 min) is sat at any Prov test centre — Beckley, Fairmont, Huntington, Martinsburg or Wheeling — or remotely from home through Examroom.ai. The practical is in person: at the Huntington School of Beauty Culture (4110 US Route 60) until Prov's Charleston-area centre opens, which the bulletin anticipated for March 2026. Results are emailed 24 hours after each test and sent by Prov to the Board electronically. Failed exams can be retaken as often as necessary with no waiting period. A TB test less than one year old must be submitted with your license application. Temporary work permit available while waiting for exam results.
The West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (1201 Dunbar Ave, Dunbar WV 25064 · 304-558-2924) regulates all beauty licenses in West Virginia. Exam registration: Prov (provexam.com/register · 801-733-4455). All licenses expire December 31 annually and must be renewed in January.
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Register for exams with Prov at provexam.com/register. Apply for a temporary work permit ($15) while awaiting exam results.
Written: any Prov WV test centre or remote via Examroom.ai, $99. Practical: in person, $95–$129 (the Prov bulletin states both figures — confirm at registration). Bring a full-size mannequin head and a kit no larger than 30"×30"; cold thermal iron; non-aerosol wipes.
Results are emailed 24 hours after each test and sent to the Board by Prov. Retake as often as necessary, no waiting period. A separate WV State Law exam is also registered through Prov; length and items are not published.
Include TB test (less than 1 year old), transcripts, and exam results. $35 license fee. Annual renewal December 31 / January window. 4 hrs CE required annually.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's cosmetology prep is also available in Spanish.
West Virginia · Esthetics
600 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC esthetics written and practical via Prov. $99 written + practical fee + $35 license. Annual renewal January. 4 hours CE annually. TB test required.
West Virginia uses NIC National Esthetics Theory and Practical Examinations via Prov. NICPrep's esthetics question bank is built from the NIC Esthetics CIB — a direct-fit study resource for the written portion. A separate WV State Law exam is also required, registered through Prov.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
TB test (less than 1 year old) required. Register with Prov at provexam.com/register.
provexam.com/register or 801-733-4455. Written at a Prov centre or remote via Examroom.ai; practical in person. Bring a full esthetics kit (≤ 30"×30", non-aerosol wipes).
Results emailed within 24 hours and sent to the Board by Prov. A separate WV State Law exam is also registered through Prov; length and items are not published.
Annual renewal January. $35 renewal fee. 4 hrs CE required annually.
West Virginia · Barber
1,200 hours at a Board-approved barber school. NIC Barber Styling written and practical via Prov. Barber apprenticeship available: 5+ years experience under a licensed barber who has owned their shop for at least 5 years. Annual renewal January. 4 hours CE annually. $35 renewal fee. TB test required.
West Virginia uses NIC Barber Styling Theory and Practical Examinations via Prov. NICPrep's barber question bank is built from the NIC Barber Styling CIB — a direct-fit study resource. Barber Stylist written exam (90 min), WV State Law exam and practical. Barber 1 (No Chemical) option also available.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
Apprenticeship: under a licensed barber who has owned their shop for at least 5 years. TB test required.
provexam.com/register or 801-733-4455. Written at a Prov centre or remote; practical in person. Bring a full-size mannequin head and barber kit (≤ 30"×30").
Results emailed within 24 hours and sent to the Board by Prov. A separate WV State Law exam is also registered through Prov; length and items are not published.
Annual renewal January. $35 renewal fee. 4 hrs CE annually.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish.
West Virginia · Nail Technology
400 hours at a Board-approved school. NIC nail technology written and practical via Prov. Nail technicians must pass a practical exam for reciprocity (even from NIC states). Annual renewal January. 4 hours CE annually. $35 renewal. TB test required.
West Virginia uses NIC Nail Technology Theory and Practical Examinations via Prov. NICPrep's nail technology question bank is built from the NIC Nail Technology CIB — a direct-fit study resource. Important: nail technicians must take and pass a practical exam for reciprocity even if transferring from a NIC state — more stringent than other license types.
Ready to start studying? See pricing ↑
TB test (less than 1 year old) required. Register with Prov at provexam.com/register. Programs typically 8–12 weeks.
provexam.com/register or 801-733-4455. Written at a Prov centre or remote; practical in person. Bring a full nail kit and mannequin hand (≤ 30"×30").
Results emailed within 24 hours and sent to the Board by Prov. A separate WV State Law exam is also registered through Prov; length and items are not published.
Annual renewal January. $35 renewal. 4 hrs CE annually.
🇻🇳 NICPrep's nail technology prep is also available in Vietnamese.
West Virginia uses NIC exams via Prov — written at a Prov centre or remotely, practical in person, in five languages. 4 hours CE annually. NICPrep covers the NIC written exam content.
2026 CIB changes, domain study tips, and new-modality launches — a few emails a month, no spam.