Renewing a nail license in Virginia: How often

A license expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued (18VAC41-20-160). DPOR mails a renewal notice, but the regulation says in as many words that failing to receive it does not relieve the holder of the obligation to renew (18VAC41-20-170).

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: Fee

Two of DPOR's own sources now disagree, and the older one is the regulations booklet. Regulation 18VAC41-20-140 sets the Nail Technician renewal fee at $105 for the period from September 1, 2024, onward, due with the renewal card before the expiry date, with all fees non-refundable and never prorated (18VAC41-20-150). But that booklet's cover is stamped Last Updated September 13, 2024, while the Board's own newest forms, dated 07/01/2026, charge more: application A450-1213ULR-v5 lists "1206 - Nail Technician License ... $134.50", and the endorsement application A450-1213END-v25 lists the same $134.50, under the footnote that pursuant to 2026's House Bill 30, DPOR is to charge a Technology Fee equal to $7.25 per year. The Board's own page says it outright: effective July 1, 2026, certain fees include a separate Technology Fee of $7.25 per year pursuant to House Bill 30, and that fee stays in place through June 30, 2030. DPOR has published no RENEWAL figure that matches its own 2026 forms. So treat the $105 as the old number, and ring the Board on (804) 367-8509 for the current one before you mail a check.

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: More than 30 days late

Once 30 days pass after the expiry date, an ordinary renewal is no longer available: it becomes a reinstatement application carrying both the renewal fee and the reinstatement fee (18VAC41-20-180). The date DPOR RECEIVES the money is the date that counts, not the date it was sent (18VAC41-20-180.D). On the amount, be careful: the regulations put the total at $210 from September 1, 2024, and the Board's own reinstatement form A450-1213REI-v15 still prints "REINSTATEMENT FEE $ 210.00" for an individual and $300.00 for an individual with an instructor certificate (Nail Technician is code 1206). But that form is dated 04/21/2025, older than the Board's 07/01/2026 application forms, which already charge more and add a Technology Fee of $7.25 per year, so $210 may no longer be what you owe. The reinstatement form also requires a check or money order payable to the TREASURER OF VIRGINIA, or a completed credit card insert, and the fee is not refundable. Ring the Board for the current figure before you send it.

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: The two-year cliff

Two years past the expiry date, reinstatement is no longer possible. Going back to work means applying as a new applicant and meeting every current entry requirement, training and examination included (18VAC41-20-180.B).

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: Continuing education

The Board's regulations at 18VAC41-20 set no continuing-education requirement for nail technicians anywhere in the chapter. Renewal in Virginia is a matter of paying on time, not of collecting hours.

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: Reinstatement restarts a two-year clock

Regulation 18VAC41-20-180.E: when a license is reinstated, the holder is assigned an expiration date two years from the last day of the month of reinstatement. Subsection F adds something that is easy to read as pure good news: a licensee who reinstates is regarded as having been continuously licensed without interruption. The other half of that sentence is that you remain subject to the Board's authority for activities performed before the reinstatement.

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: Working while the license is expired

Regulation 18VAC41-20-180.G: a licensee who fails to reinstate is regarded as unlicensed FROM the expiration date forward, not from the day the Board notices. Every day you keep working after the expiry date is a day of unlicensed practice. It is also hard to hide: 18VAC41-20-260.A requires a salon to display all current licenses in plain view of the public, either in the reception area or at each individual work station, so the expired card is sitting there waiting for the next inspection.

Renewing a nail license in Virginia: Report a name or address change within 30 days

Regulation 18VAC41-20-280.A.9 lists failing to notify the board in writing of a change of name or address within 30 days, for each and every license or certificate, as grounds for a fine, suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew. It bears directly on renewal because 18VAC41-20-170 says DPOR mails the renewal notice to the address on file, and failure to receive that notice does NOT relieve you of the obligation to renew. If the notice never arrives, you may submit a copy of the old license as evidence of intent to renew, along with the required fee. DPOR's name and address change form is A406-ACHG.

Renewing a nail license in Virginia

What Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (DPOR) publishes about renewing the license, checked on September 9, 2026.

How often: A license expires two years from the last day of the month in which it was issued (18VAC41-20-160). DPOR mails a renewal notice, but the regulation says in as many words that failing to receive it does not relieve the holder of the obligation to renew (18VAC41-20-170).; Source: Virginia DPOR, Board for Barbers and Cosmetology Regulations and Statutes (PDF) · Checked September 9, 2026
Fee: Two of DPOR's own sources now disagree, and the older one is the regulations booklet. Regulation 18VAC41-20-140 sets the Nail Technician renewal fee at $105 for the period from September 1, 2024, onward, due with the renewal card before the expiry date, with all fees non-refundable and never prorated (18VAC41-20-150). But that booklet's cover is stamped Last Updated September 13, 2024, while the Board's own newest forms, dated 07/01/2026, charge more: application A450-1213ULR-v5 lists "1206 - Nail Technician License ... $134.50", and the endorsement application A450-1213END-v25 lists the same $134.50, under the footnote that pursuant to 2026's House Bill 30, DPOR is to charge a Technology Fee equal to $7.25 per year. The Board's own page says it outright: effective July 1, 2026, certain fees include a separate Technology Fee of $7.25 per year pursuant to House Bill 30, and that fee stays in place through June 30, 2030. DPOR has published no RENEWAL figure that matches its own 2026 forms. So treat the $105 as the old number, and ring the Board on (804) 367-8509 for the current one before you mail a check.; Source: DPOR - Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, board home page · Checked September 21, 2026
More than 30 days late: Once 30 days pass after the expiry date, an ordinary renewal is no longer available: it becomes a reinstatement application carrying both the renewal fee and the reinstatement fee (18VAC41-20-180). The date DPOR RECEIVES the money is the date that counts, not the date it was sent (18VAC41-20-180.D). On the amount, be careful: the regulations put the total at $210 from September 1, 2024, and the Board's own reinstatement form A450-1213REI-v15 still prints "REINSTATEMENT FEE $ 210.00" for an individual and $300.00 for an individual with an instructor certificate (Nail Technician is code 1206). But that form is dated 04/21/2025, older than the Board's 07/01/2026 application forms, which already charge more and add a Technology Fee of $7.25 per year, so $210 may no longer be what you owe. The reinstatement form also requires a check or money order payable to the TREASURER OF VIRGINIA, or a completed credit card insert, and the fee is not refundable. Ring the Board for the current figure before you send it.; Source: DPOR - Form A450-1213REI, individuals reinstatement application (PDF) · Checked September 21, 2026
The two-year cliff: Two years past the expiry date, reinstatement is no longer possible. Going back to work means applying as a new applicant and meeting every current entry requirement, training and examination included (18VAC41-20-180.B).; Source: Virginia DPOR, Board for Barbers and Cosmetology Regulations and Statutes (PDF) · Checked September 9, 2026
Continuing education: The Board's regulations at 18VAC41-20 set no continuing-education requirement for nail technicians anywhere in the chapter. Renewal in Virginia is a matter of paying on time, not of collecting hours.; Source: Virginia DPOR, Board for Barbers and Cosmetology Regulations and Statutes (PDF) · Checked September 9, 2026
Reinstatement restarts a two-year clock: Regulation 18VAC41-20-180.E: when a license is reinstated, the holder is assigned an expiration date two years from the last day of the month of reinstatement. Subsection F adds something that is easy to read as pure good news: a licensee who reinstates is regarded as having been continuously licensed without interruption. The other half of that sentence is that you remain subject to the Board's authority for activities performed before the reinstatement.; Source: DPOR - Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Regulations and Statutes (PDF) · Checked September 21, 2026
Working while the license is expired: Regulation 18VAC41-20-180.G: a licensee who fails to reinstate is regarded as unlicensed FROM the expiration date forward, not from the day the Board notices. Every day you keep working after the expiry date is a day of unlicensed practice. It is also hard to hide: 18VAC41-20-260.A requires a salon to display all current licenses in plain view of the public, either in the reception area or at each individual work station, so the expired card is sitting there waiting for the next inspection.; Source: DPOR - Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Regulations and Statutes (PDF) · Checked September 21, 2026
Report a name or address change within 30 days: Regulation 18VAC41-20-280.A.9 lists failing to notify the board in writing of a change of name or address within 30 days, for each and every license or certificate, as grounds for a fine, suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew. It bears directly on renewal because 18VAC41-20-170 says DPOR mails the renewal notice to the address on file, and failure to receive that notice does NOT relieve you of the obligation to renew. If the notice never arrives, you may submit a copy of the old license as evidence of intent to renew, along with the required fee. DPOR's name and address change form is A406-ACHG.; Source: DPOR - Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology, Regulations and Statutes (PDF) · Checked September 21, 2026

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The oldest line on this page was checked September 9, 2026

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Renewing a nail license in Virginia

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