StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Alabama

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1000 hrs
Upfront cost
$255
Exam
Written Examination, Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old. Code of Ala. 1975 §34-7B sets a minimum age of 16 for barber licensure applicants (school, apprentice, and Class 2 Barber routes) plus completion of at least 10 grades of secondary school (or equivalent) and legal authorization to work in the US. The Act's disciplinary provisions allow referral of licensee misconduct to law enforcement, but no fingerprint-based or criminal-history background check was found as a condition of initial licensure. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1000 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,000 clock hours at an approved barber school, or 2,000 hours through an approved apprenticeship (the two tracks may not be combined). Alabama also recognizes an unregulated 'Class 1 barber' (shave/beard trim or hair trim only) that does not require a Board license — the 1,000/2,000-hour requirement applies to the licensed Class 2 Barber, which covers cutting, chemical services, and facial/scalp treatment. [1]

  3. 3

    Written Examination

    Pass the Written Examination (fee: $75). Covers Class 2 Barber technical/theory content; a written re-examination costs the same $75. [2]

  4. 4

    Practical Examination

    Pass the Practical Examination (fee: $130). Hands-on skills demonstration; a practical re-examination costs the same $130. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering issues your Class 2 Barber License for Alabama.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $50
Renewal fee [3] $100
Written Examination [2] $75
Practical Examination [2] $130
Reciprocity (out-of-state transfer) [3] $100
Reciprocity (out-of-country transfer) [3] $175

No separate 'application' fee is listed on the Board's fee schedule; the $75 written and $130 practical exam fees plus a $50 Original License fee are what a first-time Class 2 Barber applicant pays.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Personal licenses for Class 2 barbers expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month in even-numbered years (Code of Ala. 1975 §34-7B). Renewing after the expiration date is postmarked-late and adds a $54 late charge. No fixed continuing-education hour requirement for Class 2 Barbers was found in the Board's statute/rules (unlike the Master and Instructor license tiers, which the Board separately requires CE for).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers barbering. Alabama instead runs its own reciprocity/transfer process: an applicant licensed 5+ years in another state (in good standing) can transfer directly. An applicant licensed less than 5 years must show a passed national written and/or practical exam, or else sit for Alabama's own written and/or practical exam (with a 6-month temporary work permit issued in the interim). Nonrefundable reciprocity fee is $100 domestic; out-of-country credential-evaluation transfers are also available.

5 state-approved training providers in Alabama — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $75
  • $130
Total$255

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Alabama require for a Class 2 Barber license?

1,000 clock hours at an approved barber school, or 2,000 hours through an approved apprenticeship program. The school and apprenticeship tracks cannot be combined.

Who administers the Alabama barber licensing exam?

PSI Services administers both the Written Examination ($75) and the Practical Examination ($130) under contract with the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering.

How often does an Alabama Class 2 Barber license need to be renewed?

Every 2 years. Personal licenses for Class 2 barbers expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month in even-numbered years; the personal renewal fee is $100, plus a $54 late charge if renewed after the expiration date.

Can an out-of-state barber transfer their license to Alabama?

Yes. Barbers licensed 5+ years elsewhere in good standing can transfer directly for a $100 fee. Those licensed less than 5 years may need to pass Alabama's written and/or practical exam, depending on what national exams they already passed, and can work under a 6-month temporary permit while completing the process.

Sources

  1. [1] aboc.alabama.gov/licensing/license-types — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] aboc.alabama.gov/exams/exam-requirements-fees — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] aboc.alabama.gov/licensing/fees — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] aboc.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/2021-07/New%20Law%20and%20Rules%206.14.2021_1.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] aboc.alabama.gov/sites/default/files/2025-10/Reciprocity%20Instructions%20and%20Application.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11