West Virginia esthetician scope of practice
What can an esthetician do in West Virginia?
West Virginia licenses estheticians as an Esthetician through the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. A licensed esthetician may perform cosmetic treatments on the skin and body of another person for pay, including cleansing, toning, stimulating and exfoliating the skin, waxing and tweezing, body wraps, applying artificial eyelashes and eyebrows, and lightening body hair other than on the scalp; the statute excludes treatment of disease. Below: whether that license covers microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser and IPL, and Botox or fillers, each answered from West Virginia's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026.
- Microneedling
- Not stated
- Chemical peels
- Not stated
- Dermaplaning
- Not stated
- Laser and IPL
- Not stated
- Botox and fillers
- Not stated
Licensed by West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists.The board's page The state's own words
Microneedling
Can estheticians do microneedling in West Virginia?
Not stated. West Virginia's official pages we read do not settle whether a licensed esthetician may do microneedling. Ask the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Chemical peels
Can estheticians do chemical peels in West Virginia?
Not stated. West Virginia's definition of esthetics includes exfoliating the skin but does not name chemical peels or set a strength or depth limit. Ask the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Dermaplaning
Can estheticians do dermaplaning in West Virginia?
Not stated. West Virginia's official pages we read do not settle whether a licensed esthetician may do dermaplaning. Ask the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Laser and IPL
Can estheticians do laser hair removal in West Virginia?
Not stated. West Virginia's official pages we read do not settle whether a licensed esthetician may do laser hair removal and other laser or IPL treatments. Ask the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Botox and fillers
Can estheticians do Botox or fillers in West Virginia?
Not stated. West Virginia's official pages we read do not settle whether a licensed esthetician may do Botox, fillers and other injections. Ask the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer it.
Advanced license
Does West Virginia have a master esthetician license?
West Virginia's official pages we read name no advanced or master esthetician license; the basic Esthetician license is the one that sets the scope.
Good to know
What else West Virginia says about an esthetician's scope
- Esthetics services are covered only when performed for compensation and not for the treatment of disease.
- Hair braiding, threading, and services not spelled out in the statute are not regulated by the Board.
- The statutory esthetician license requires 600 clock hours of training.
Sources
What West Virginia's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of West Virginia's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026. Scope rules change and boards interpret them: confirm with the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists before you offer a treatment.
- The license and its scope
“means a license to practice as an aesthetician, barber, barber crossover, barber permanent wavist, cosmetologist, cosmetologist crossover, hairstylist, or nail technician”
code.wvlegislature.gov “Administering cosmetic treatments to enhance or improve the appearance of the skin, including cleansing, toning, performing effleurage or other related movements, stimulating, exfoliating, or performing any other similar procedure on the skin of the human body or scalp”
code.wvlegislature.gov “when done on the human body for compensation and not for the treatment of disease”
code.wvlegislature.gov - The board
“means the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists”
code.wvlegislature.gov - Also good to know
“Hair braiding, threading, and any other item not spelled out are not regulated by the West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists”
code.wvlegislature.gov - Also good to know
“means a person licensed under the provisions of this article who engages in the practice of aesthetics and has completed 600 clock hours of training”
code.wvlegislature.gov
Questions
West Virginia esthetician license, answered
What is the esthetician scope of practice in West Virginia?
Plan the rest
Licensed, in scope, and ready to book clients
- The West Virginia esthetician license: training hours, exams, fees and renewal
- Lash extensions, brow lamination, waxing and threading in West Virginia: which license each needs
- Microblading and permanent makeup in West Virginia: the license it needs
- Opening your own skin care studio in West Virginia: the salon license
Esthetician scope in other states
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