StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Arkansas

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$125
Exam
Written and Oral Theory Examination, Practical Demonstration Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Arkansas State Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, At least an eighth-grade education. Minimum age is sixteen and one-half (16.5) years per the Board's rules — recorded as 16 in the numeric field since the schema takes a whole number; the precise statutory threshold is 16 1/2. No mandatory fingerprint/criminal-history check is required to apply; instead, Acts 2019 No. 990 provides an optional prelicensure criminal background check petition (17 CAR § 275-115) so an individual can learn in advance whether a criminal record would disqualify them, with waivers available for offenses under Ark. Code § 17-3-102. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500-hour curriculum at a state-approved barber school/college, itemized in Board rule 17 CAR § 275-108 (e.g. 80 hrs hygiene/sanitation, 175 hrs related science, 345 hrs barber chemical services, 50 hrs shaving/beard trimming). Programs must take at least nine months, max 8 instruction hours/day. Arkansas also issues a lower-tier Barber Technician certificate (separate exam and $35 fees); no apprenticeship alternative to school hours is provided in the rules for the Registered Barber certificate. [1]

  3. 3

    Written and Oral Theory Examination

    Pass the Written and Oral Theory Examination (fee: $75). The $75 examination fee (Rule 16/17 CAR § 275-116) covers the examination for the Registered Barber certificate; the exam covers material taught in approved barbering schools. Application must be filed at least 10 working days before the exam date with school certification of 1,500 hours and two signed passport photos. [2]

  4. 4

    Practical Demonstration Examination

    Pass the Practical Demonstration Examination. The practical demonstration is part of the same board examination sitting covered by the single $75 examination fee — no separate practical-exam fee is listed on the Board's fee rule. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Arkansas State Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing). [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Arkansas State Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor and Licensing) issues your Registered Barber Certificate for Arkansas.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $50
Renewal fee [3] $50
Written and Oral Theory Examination [2] $75
Practical Demonstration Examination [2] None specified
Examination for Registered Barber certificate [3] $75
Reciprocity and license fee (out-of-state) [3] $150
Restoration of expired certificate, per year of delinquency [3] $75
Student license (one year of barber schooling) [3] $20

No standalone application fee exists — the $75 examination fee accompanies the application, then $50 is charged for issuance of the Registered Barber certificate. The Board waives the initial fee for applicants on Medicaid/SNAP/WIC/TANF/Lifeline, approved for unemployment in the last 12 months, or with income under 200% of federal poverty guidelines (Rule 16.B).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

Annual renewal, $50; the Board's renewal window runs July 1 to September 1, and a renewal not postmarked by September 1 requires restoration at $75 per year of delinquency. A certificate expired more than 3 years also requires re-examination ($75). No continuing-education hour requirement for registered barbers was found in the Board's rules, so ceHours is null.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers barbering. Under 17 CAR § 275-112 (Acts 2019, Nos. 426 and 1011), a barber holding a substantially similar license in good standing from another US jurisdiction qualifies for reciprocal licensure; if their original training was under 1,500 hours, they must have practiced at least one year in a barbershop. Combined reciprocity-and-license fee is $150. Separate rules provide automatic licensure for uniformed service members/veterans/spouses, a temporary and provisional license, and a route (with Arkansas examination) for applicants from states or countries that do not license barbers.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $75
Total$125

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Arkansas require to become a barber?

1,500 hours at a state-approved barber school, following the curriculum in the Board's rules. The program must take at least nine months, with no more than eight hours of instruction per day.

Who gives the Arkansas barber exam?

The State Board of Barber Examiners conducts its own examination — a written and oral theory test plus a practical demonstration — for a $75 examination fee. It is not outsourced to a national testing vendor.

How often is an Arkansas barber license renewed?

Annually, for $50. The renewal window runs July 1 to September 1; renewing after September 1 costs $75 per year of delinquency, and a license expired over three years requires re-examination.

Can an out-of-state barber get licensed in Arkansas?

Yes — barbers with a substantially similar license in good standing from another US state qualify for reciprocity for a combined $150 fee. If your original training was under 1,500 hours, you need at least one year of barbershop practice.

Will a criminal record keep me from an Arkansas barber license?

Not necessarily. Arkansas offers a prelicensure criminal background check petition so you can find out before enrolling whether your record would disqualify you, and the Board can grant waivers considering the age at offense, circumstances, and time elapsed.

Sources

  1. [1] labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Barber-Rules.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/state-board-of-barber-examiners/testing/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Fees-Effective-May-11-2022.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/state-board-of-barber-examiners/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] labor.arkansas.gov/licensing/state-board-of-barber-examiners/reciprocity/ — accessed 2026-07-11