Q&A COVERING SANITATION, INFECTION CONTROL, HAIR
ANATOMY, CHEMICAL SERVICES, SHAVING TECHNIQUES,
SCALP DISORDERS, AND STATE BOARD REGULATIONS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES
1. What is the primary regulatory body for barbers in Virginia?
A. Virginia Board of Medicine
B. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
(DPOR)
C. Virginia Health Department
D. Virginia Cosmetology Board
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Board for Barbers and Cosmetology operates under the
Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
(DPOR). This board licenses and regulates individuals and businesses
performing barbering, cosmetology, nail care, waxing, tattooing, body
piercing, and esthetics.
2. How many hours of training are required to obtain a traditional
Virginia barber license as of 2026?
A. 500 hours
B. 750 hours
C. 1000 hours
D. 1500 hours
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Effective December 1, 2025, barber training hours were
reduced to 750. The master/double barber requirements are 1,000
hours.
3. Which of the following sanitation practices is required by the Virginia
State Board of Barbers?
A. Using the same razor blades for all clients
B. Disinfecting implements after every client
C. Simply rinsing tools with water after each use
D. Sanitizing tools weekly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Virginia Board requires disinfection of implements after
every client to prevent cross-contamination. Rinsing only with water or
weekly sanitation is insufficient to eliminate pathogens.
4. According to Virginia Board regulations, all barbering tools that come
into direct contact with a client must be:
A. Rinsed with warm water
B. Disinfected with an EPA-registered disinfectant that is bactericidal,
virucidal, and fungicidal
C. Wiped with a dry cloth
D. Stored in a closed cabinet without cleaning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Virginia regulations require that all implements be
disinfected with an EPA-registered disinfectant demonstrated to be
effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
5. An EPA-registered disinfectant used in Virginia barber shops must
carry a label specifying that it is effective against:
A. Only bacteria
,B. Bacteria and fungi only
C. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi (bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal)
D. Only viruses
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Virginia law requires disinfectants to be broad-spectrum,
effective against all three categories.
6. How often must disinfectant solutions in wet sanitizers be changed?
A. Once per week
B. Once per day or whenever visibly contaminated
C. Once per month
D. Only when the solution evaporates
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To maintain efficacy, disinfectant solutions must be changed
daily or whenever they become cloudy or contaminated.
7. Which of the following can be safely disinfected and reused on
multiple clients?
A. Razor blades
B. Neck strips
C. Shears and combs
D. Cotton balls
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Shears and combs are non-porous, hard-surfaced
implements that can be properly disinfected between clients. Porous
items like neck strips, cotton balls, and single-use razor blades must be
discarded after one use.
8. In a Virginia barber shop, blood spill procedures require the barber
to:
, A. Continue the service without interruption
B. Wear disposable gloves, clean the wound with an antiseptic, and
disinfect any contaminated surfaces
C. Apply pressure with bare hands
D. Ask the client to leave immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard precautions require gloving, cleaning the wound,
and disinfecting all surfaces that may have been contaminated.
9. According to Virginia Board regulations, all barbers must wash their
hands with soap and water:
A. Only at the beginning of the day
B. Before and after each client service
C. Only after using the restroom
D. At the end of each shift
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene is required before and after every client to
prevent cross-contamination.
10. Which of the following is an appropriate method to disinfect hair
clippers between clients?
A. Immerse the entire clipper in disinfectant solution
B. Remove hair with a brush, spray with a clipper disinfectant spray, and
wipe down
C. Rinse under running water
D. Soak in soapy water
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clippers should not be immersed in liquid; they are cleaned
with a brush and an approved spray or wiped with a disinfectant
solution.