The Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology voted to reduce the number of hours required to obtain a cosmetology license from 1,500 to 1,000. The board assembled a panel of advisors representing businesses, public schools, private career and technical schools, and subject matter experts in infection control to conduct a comprehensive review of the education and training Virginia mandates to obtain a cosmetologist license. The board is part of an executive branch agency under the Secretary of Labor.