StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in California

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1000 hrs
Upfront cost
$125
Exam
Barber Written Examination (NIC-based)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old, Completion of the 10th grade in a California public school or its equivalent. Applicants must be at least 17 years old and have completed the 10th grade or equivalent. The application asks disclosure questions but no fingerprint/criminal-history background check is required for a barber license; a Social Security or ITIN number is required (with Franchise Tax Board reporting for omissions). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1000 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,000 clock hours of technical instruction and practical training at a board-approved barber school. Alternatives accepted by the Board: an apprenticeship under the Shelley-Maloney Apprentice Labor Standards Act; out-of-state practice credited at 3 months of practice = 100 hours of training; a California cosmetologist license plus a barber crossover course; or documented military barber training (V-MET records). School hours and apprentice-program hours do not transfer between the two tracks. [1]

  3. 3

    Barber Written Examination (NIC-based)

    Pass the Barber Written Examination (NIC-based). Computer-based written exam, 120 minutes, at PSI test centers; content per the Board's Candidate Information Bulletin, offered in multiple languages. Effective January 1, 2022, California requires only the written exam — the practical examination was eliminated. No separate exam fee is charged: the exam is covered by the Board's combined $125 application-for-examination-and-initial-license fee, which is why fee is null here. Exams are scheduled directly with PSI (candidate.psiexams.com, 877-392-6422). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs) with the $75 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (Department of Consumer Affairs) issues your Barber License for California.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $75
License fee [3] $50
Renewal fee [3] $50
Barber Written Examination (NIC-based) [2] None specified
Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity) application — barber [3] $50
Delinquent renewal fee (added to $50 renewal) [3] $25

The barber application form (1015-1001) collects a single non-refundable $125 payment covering examination and initial license; the Board's fee regulation breaks this into $75 application/examination + $50 initial license. Fee waivers and expedited processing are available for honorably discharged veterans, active-duty spouses/domestic partners, and certain other categories under B&P Code 115.4.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Licenses are issued for two years and expire at midnight on the last day of the month in which they were issued. Timely renewal is $50 (online via the Board's licensing portal, instant unless outstanding fines are owed). A delinquent license can be renewed within five years of expiration for $75 ($50 + $25 delinquency); after five years it is canceled and void. The Board does not require continuing education credits to maintain a license, so ceHours is null.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers barbering. California offers Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity, form 1011, $50 for barber): an applicant holding a current out-of-state barber license that is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted and is in good standing can be licensed without retesting; the other state's board must send license certification directly to the California Board. Approved applicants pick up their license at a PSI location (photo ID, no appointment needed). Out-of-state applicants who don't qualify for endorsement may instead apply for examination, with out-of-state practice credited toward training hours (3 months = 100 hours).

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

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $50
Total$125

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does California require for a barber license?

1,000 hours at a board-approved barber school, or an apprenticeship under the Shelley-Maloney Act. A California cosmetologist can instead complete a barber crossover course.

Does California have a practical (hands-on) barber exam?

No. Effective January 1, 2022, only the written examination is required. It is a 120-minute computer-based test administered by PSI.

How much does a California barber license cost?

$125 total with the application — covering the examination and the initial license ($75 application/exam + $50 initial license). Renewal is $50 every two years.

Does California require continuing education to keep a barber license?

No. The Board does not require continuing education credits to maintain a license; renewal every two years is all that's needed.

I'm licensed as a barber in another state — can I transfer to California?

Yes, via Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocity) for $50, if your license is current, unrestricted, and in good standing. Your state board must send certification directly to the California Board, and you won't need to retest.

Sources

  1. [1] barbercosmo.ca.gov/applicants/license_requirements.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/publications/faqs.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/forms/barber_app.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] barbercosmo.ca.gov/forms_pubs/forms/reciprocity.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11