Barber License Requirements in Indiana
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $40
- Exam
- Indiana Barber Written Examination
- Renewal cycle
- —
- Issuing board
- Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, Completion of 10th grade or equivalent; applicants who are 17 qualify with a high school diploma or equivalent. Minimum 18 years of age, or 17 with a high school diploma or equivalent, plus a 10th-grade education or equivalent, per the PLA licensing-information page. No fingerprint or criminal background check is listed among barber application requirements. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,500 hours of barber education at an Indiana PLA-licensed barber/beauty culture school. Graduates of U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship programs are also accepted — the applicant provides the apprentice number and certificate of completion (the PLA page does not state a fixed apprenticeship hour count). Experience credit for reciprocal applicants: 1 year of licensed practice equals 100 hours of education if at least 1,000 education hours were completed. [1]
- 3
Indiana Barber Written Examination
Pass the Indiana Barber Written Examination. Written (theory) examination; a pass notice must accompany the license application The exam registration fee is paid directly to PSI and published in PSI's candidate bulletin, not on the PLA page, so no amount is recorded here. Indiana requires only a written exam for barbers (no separate state practical exam is listed on the PLA licensing-information page). Reciprocal applicants' original exams must have required at least a 70% passing score on written and practical exams. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) with the $40 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) issues your Barber License for Indiana.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $40 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $40 |
| Indiana Barber Written Examination [1] | None specified |
| Reinstatement of a license expired more than 3 years [1] | $80 |
PLA's Beauty Culture fee table lists a single $40 application fee for an Individual Beauty Culture License (no separate issuance fee — 'license' left null to avoid double-counting), $40 renewal, and $80 reinstatement (current renewal fee $40 plus current application fee $40). All fees are nonrefundable. The PSI exam fee is separate and paid to PSI.
Renewal & continuing education
Renewal cycle not specified.
Renewal fee is $40 and renewal notices are sent approximately 90 days before the license expiration date, but the PLA licensing-information page does not state the length of the renewal interval, so no cycle is recorded. No continuing-education requirement for barbers appears anywhere on the PLA cosmetology-and-barber pages. Licenses expired 3+ years require reinstatement ($80); expired 5+ years require retaking the written exam.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Reciprocal licensure is available when the issuing jurisdiction imposes 'substantially equal requirements' and required at least 70% passing scores on written and practical exams; license verification must be sent directly from the issuing state/country to the Board. Experience credit: 1 year of licensed practice counts as 100 hours of education for applicants who completed at least 1,000 hours. No interstate barber compact exists.
7 state-approved training providers in Indiana — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Indiana require for a barber license?
1,500 hours at an Indiana-licensed barber school. Completing a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program is an accepted alternative — you submit your apprentice number and certificate of completion.
Who administers the Indiana barber exam?
PSI Services LLC administers the written barber examination for the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. You must include your exam pass notice with your license application; the exam fee is paid directly to PSI.
How old do I have to be?
18 years old — or 17 with a high school diploma or equivalent. All applicants must have completed at least the 10th grade or its equivalent.
What does the license cost?
The application fee is $40 and renewal is $40 (all fees nonrefundable). Reinstating a license expired more than 3 years costs $80, and licenses expired 5+ years require retaking the written exam.
Can I transfer an out-of-state barber license to Indiana?
Yes, by reciprocity, if your issuing state imposed substantially equal requirements and required at least 70% to pass its written and practical exams. Verification must be sent directly from your licensing state, and a year of licensed practice can count as 100 education hours if you completed at least 1,000 hours of schooling.
Sources
- [1] in.gov/pla/professions/cosmetology-and-barber-home/cosmetology-and-barber-licensing-information/ — accessed 2026-07-11