StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Idaho

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
900 hrs
Upfront cost
$90
Exam
Idaho Barber Licensure Examination (written test and practical demonstration)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16.5 years old, At least two years of high school or an equivalent education as determined by the board. Idaho Code 54-5810(1): at least 16½ years of age at application, two years of high school or board-determined equivalent, pass the licensure exam, and prove the applicant has not engaged in conduct constituting grounds for discipline under 54-5823. No fingerprint/criminal background check is required. Statute retrieved via archive snapshot (legislature.idaho.gov unreachable this session). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 900 hours of training at a state-approved program. Barber (haircutting/shaving scope): graduation from a course of at least 900 hours in a board-approved barber school, OR at least 1,800 hours as an apprentice covering all aspects of barbering (Idaho Code 54-5810(2)(a)). Barber-Stylist (adds chemical services): 1,500 school hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours (54-5810(2)(b)). Crossovers per IDAPA 24.28.01: a licensed cosmetologist needs only 100 hours of barber(-stylist) instruction; out-of-state practical experience credits 100 student hours (barber) or 200 (barber-stylist) per 6 months of experience. Statute verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-30 era (legislature.idaho.gov unreachable from this session; snapshot retrieved 2026-07-11). [1]

  3. 3

    Idaho Barber Licensure Examination (written test and practical demonstration)

    Pass the Idaho Barber Licensure Examination (written test and practical demonstration). Written test plus practical demonstration (Idaho Code 54-5809) Exam registration fees are paid to the testing service and are not published on the Board's fee table, so no amount is recorded here. Board page verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-24 (dopl.idaho.gov refused connections during this research session). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) with the $30 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) issues your Barber License for Idaho.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $30
License fee [3] $60
Renewal fee [3] $60
Idaho Barber Licensure Examination (written test and practical demonstration) [2] None specified
Endorsement (reciprocity) license fee [3] $90
Annual renewal fee (licensees still on the pre-transition 1-year cycle during the 2026-2028 phase-in) [3] $30
Apprentice registration fee [3] $60
Reinstatement penalty (current year) [3] $35
Certification fee (license verification) [3] $10

Figures reflect the Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board's fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 (application $30 + individual license $60 = $90 for an original 2-year license; biennial renewal $60). This supersedes the $25 application / $25 original-license / $25 annual-renewal and $35 endorsement figures on the Board's older fee table, which the Division's May 29, 2026 announcement confirms changed on 7-1-2026 as part of the move from annual to biennial licensing. Licensees not yet transitioned to the 2-year cycle pay the new $30 annual renewal fee until their individual transition date (set by birth-year parity). Reinstatement fees were explicitly unchanged. The same schedule governs cosmetology licenses issued by this board.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Idaho Code Sec. 54-5821 (as amended 2024) makes Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board licenses subject to biennial renewal, and the Division began the annual-to-biennial transition for this board on July 1, 2026: new applicants are issued at least a 2-year license immediately, while existing licensees move onto the 2-year cycle in 2026, 2027 or 2028 depending on whether their birth year (individuals) or original licensure year (businesses) is even or odd. Biennial individual renewal is $60; licensees still awaiting their transition date pay $30 annually. No continuing-education requirement appears in Idaho Code Title 54, Ch. 58 or IDAPA 24.28.01, so ceHours is null rather than guessed.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Licensure by endorsement is available for applicants licensed in another state; the endorsement license fee is $90 under the fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 (previously $35). Apply online through the DOPL portal. Out-of-state licensees who do not qualify for endorsement may credit practical work experience toward Idaho's instruction hours (100 barber student-hours per 6 months of experience per IDAPA 24.28.01). No interstate barber compact exists.

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

Cost calculator

  • $30
  • $60
Total$90

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of training does Idaho require for a barber license?

900 hours in a board-approved barber school, or 1,800 hours as a registered apprentice. The broader Barber-Stylist license (which adds chemical services like coloring and perms) requires 1,500 school hours or 3,000 apprenticeship hours.

What is the difference between a Barber and a Barber-Stylist in Idaho?

Both are practicing licenses under the Barber and Cosmetology Services Act. The Barber license covers haircutting and shaving (900 school hours); the Barber-Stylist license covers all aspects of barber-styling including chemical services (1,500 school hours).

I'm a licensed cosmetologist — can I add a barber license?

Yes. A currently licensed Idaho cosmetologist only needs 100 hours of barber-related instruction (barber theory, haircuts, and shaving) to qualify for the Barber or Barber-Stylist license.

What does an Idaho barber license cost?

Application fee $25 plus original license fee $25 (endorsement applicants pay a $35 endorsement fee). Renewal has been $25 per year; note DOPL announced a transition to biennial licensure effective July 1, 2026.

Does Idaho require an exam?

Yes — a written test plus a practical demonstration, conducted or approved by the board (Idaho Code 54-5809). The board's testing-service contact is Prov, Inc., and NIC examinations are referenced on the board's site.

Sources

  1. [1] legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title54/T54CH58/SECT54-5810/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] dopl.idaho.gov/bcb/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] dopl.idaho.gov/pressrelease/big-changes-are-on-the-way-stay-informed-about-important-fee-and-licensure-updates-that-may-impact-your-renewal-cycle/ — accessed 2026-07-27