Barber
rankings by state.
Use the figures to narrow your reading, then check the state’s license level, pathway and qualifications. A low issuance fee does not establish the cheapest overall route to licensure.
Lowest license fee
Ranked only by the recorded license issuance fee. Application, exam, training and other costs are not included. This is not a ranking of total cost to qualify.
16 of 51 jurisdictions ranked. Equal values share a rank; the next rank skips tied places. Calculations use unrounded values. Source scope may differ between states.
| 1 | Nebraska | $10.00 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Missouri | $20.00Source and scope(C) Barber 3. Certificate of Registration (first license) $ 20Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 3 | Ohio | $30.00Source and scopeFor the issuance of a license under section 4709.07 of the Revised Code, thirty dollarsOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 4 | Oregon | $35.00Source and scopeCertification fee = $35 (good for two years).Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $35.00 |
| 6 | New York | $40.00Source and scopeThe fee for a license to engage in the practice of barbering shall be $40Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 7 | Alabama | $50.00 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $50.00Source and scopefor the issuance of a certificate to practice as a registered barber, fifty dollars ($50.00)Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 7 | California | $50.00 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $50.00 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $50.00Source and scopeCertificate of registration or renewal as a licensed barber | $50.00Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 12 | Maryland | $56.00Source and scopeTYPE OF LICENSE | CAT | ORIGINAL | RENEWAL | LATE BARBER | 04 | $ 56 | $ 56 | $ 112Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 13 | Idaho | $60.00Source and scopeBarber; Barber Stylist; Cosmetologist; Electrologist; Esthetician; Nail Technician | $60 | $90 | $30 | $60Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $80.00 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $100.00 |
| 16 | Alaska | $180.00 |
35 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Fewest required hours
Ranked only where the required-hours field is a single verified number. Conditional text and alternative pathways are excluded. Hours are not elapsed time to licensure.
9 of 51 jurisdictions ranked. Equal values share a rank; the next rank skips tied places. Calculations use unrounded values. Source scope may differ between states.
| 1 | Texas | 1,000 hoursSource and scopeyou must complete a Class A Barber course consisting of 1,000 hours of instruction at a barbering/cosmetology school licensed in TexasOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 1,250 hoursSource and scope1,250 hours in a licensed barber school under a licensed barber teacher, or in a licensed barber shop under a licensed barber manager or barber teacher.Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 3 | Arkansas | 1,500 hoursSource and scopeat least one thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of barber trainingOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | 1,500 hours |
| 3 | Indiana | 1,500 hoursSource and scopeCosmetologist | Barber | Esthetician | Manicurist | Electrologist | Beauty Culture Instructor 1500 Hours | 1500 Hours | 700 Hours | 450 Hours | 300 Hours | 500 HoursOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 3 | Kentucky | 1,500 hours |
| 3 | South Dakota | 1,500 hoursSource and scopeCompletes fifteen hundred hours of education or equivalent credit hours in a barber college or school approved by the boardOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 1,528 hoursSource and scopeHas attended an approved barber school for at least 1528 hours.Official source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
| 9 | Nebraska | 1,800 hoursSource and scopeCompleted 1,800 hours of training in a school of barberingOfficial source Last verified Oct 25, 2026 |
42 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Fastest time to get licensed
Requires a verified total time-to-license figure in days for the cited pathway. Training hours, experience requirements and agency processing estimates cannot establish that total.
Not verified yet
The current records do not establish total time to get licensed. No fastest state is named.
Read the verified state requirements and official sources51 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Renewal cost per year
Calculated as the verified renewal fee divided by its verified renewal period in years. This is an annualized fee, not an annual bill; CE and other costs are not included. An initial fee or initial license term is never substituted.
Not verified yet
A separate renewal fee and its matching renewal period are needed. Initial license fees cannot fill that gap.
Read the verified state requirements and official sources51 jurisdictions not ranked for this measure
Not verified yet, stale, or not a single comparable number. A missing rank does not mean no requirement. Use each state page’s official source to check.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Read before you choose a route
Last verified Oct 25, 2026.
Official sources (25)
Showing 24 source links. Individual facts keep their citations on the linked data pages. Download all facts and official sources.
- https://barbers.nebraska.gov/fees.html
- https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2085-3.pdf
- https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/chapter-4713-1
- https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Forms/COS-Certification_Application.pdf
- https://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=58064&Format=PDF
- https://dos.ny.gov/practice-barbering-license-law-0
- https://www.aboc.alabama.gov/faqs
- https://codeofarrules.arkansas.gov/Rules/Rule?chapterID=126&levelType=section&partID=1203§ionID=48681&subChapterID=168&subPartID=7470&titleID=17
- https://barbercosmo.ca.gov/laws_regs/art12.shtml
- https://barbering.ky.gov/licensure/Pages/License-Fees.aspx
- https://www.bbee.nc.gov/barbers/resources/barber-fees
- https://labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/barbersaff.shtml
- https://dopl.idaho.gov/search-cateogry/bcb/
- https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2026/0/119/
- https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/barber/barber-licensing
- https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/bah5009.pdf
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/apply-barber.htm
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/barber-examiners/barber-snapshot
- https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Barber-Statutes-2023.pdf
- https://dlcp.dc.gov/page/board-barber-and-cosmetology
- https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/cosmetology-and-barber-home/cosmetology-and-barber-licensing-information/
- https://barbering.ky.gov/licensure/Pages/Probationary-Barbers.aspx
- https://dlr.sd.gov/barber/documents/license-law-book-barber.pdf
- https://ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_86B/Article_2.html
Not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the official agency before filing.