Barber License Requirements in Iowa
- Training hours
- 1550 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $60
- Exam
- NIC National Theory Examination (barbering and cosmetology)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. DIAL's application page and 481 IAC 940.2 list no minimum age or general-education prerequisite for the barbering and cosmetology license (the pre-2023 barber statute's 10th-grade requirement does not appear in the current rules), so both are recorded as unspecified. No criminal background check is required; out-of-state applicants must submit license verification from every state where they have held a license, including any disciplinary history. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1550 hours of training at a state-approved program. Iowa merged its barber and cosmetologist licenses into a combined barbering-and-cosmetology license: graduation from a board-approved or nationally-accredited barbering and cosmetology school/program of at least 1,550 hours. Graduates of a registered apprenticeship program qualify by having the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship submit a certificate of completion (481 IAC 940.2(1)(c)(3); no fixed apprenticeship hour count is published). Shaving is a separately certified 'prescribed practice': licensees must hold a shaving certificate (pass the NIC barber practical exam or complete a 40-hour shaving program) — barbers licensed before July 1, 2023 are exempt. [1]
- 3
NIC National Theory Examination (barbering and cosmetology)
Pass the NIC National Theory Examination (barbering and cosmetology). Written/theory examination; passing score 75% or higher The test registration fee is paid directly to the testing service (481 IAC 940.3(1)) and is not published on DIAL's pages, so no amount is recorded here. Applicants who graduated after July 1, 2023 must pass a national theory examination; shaving authority requires the NIC barber practical exam or a 40-hour shaving program (481 IAC 940.5(1)). [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) with the $60 application fee. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences (Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing) issues your Barbering and Cosmetology Arts and Sciences License (barbering and cosmetology practice discipline) for Iowa.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $60 |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | $60 |
| NIC National Theory Examination (barbering and cosmetology) [1] | None specified |
| Late fee to renew during the grace period [2] | $60 |
| Reactivation of an inactive practitioner license [2] | $120 |
| Shaving certification (initial or reactivation) [2] | $25 |
481 IAC 507.5(1): the license fee for a license to practice barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences (including by endorsement or reciprocity) is $60, paid with the application — recorded as 'application' with 'license' left null to avoid double-counting. Biennial renewal is $60 (507.5(2)); all fees nonrefundable. The NIC exam registration fee is separate and paid to the testing service.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 6 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Biennial renewal, $60 per biennium (481 IAC 507.5(2)); licensees issued an initial license within six months of the renewal beginning date do not renew until the renewal month two years later (481 IAC 940.2(3)(b)). CE per DIAL's renewal page: first renewal after initial licensure is exempt; with one active license, 6 hours of CE (at least 4 discipline-specific and 2 in Iowa laws/rules and infection control); 10 hours with two active licenses, 14 with three; instructor's license holders need 12-16 hours. Renewal opens 60 days before expiration; late renewal during the grace period costs an extra $60.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Licensure by endorsement (481 IAC 940.2(1)(b)(1)): a person licensed in another jurisdiction as a barber or cosmetologist receives the combined barbering-and-cosmetology license; verification must be sent directly from the licensing jurisdiction (web-based verification acceptable). Applicants who cannot meet endorsement requirements may use licensure by verification (481-501.1) or, if arriving from a state that did not license the occupation, submit work experience in lieu of education (481-501.2). Pre-2000 graduates qualify with their original state written+practical exams; post-2000 graduates need a national theory exam. No interstate barber compact exists.
1 state-approved training provider in Iowa — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $60
Frequently asked questions
Does Iowa still issue a separate barber license?
No. Iowa now issues a combined barbering and cosmetology arts and sciences license — applicants trained as barbers or cosmetologists (1,550-hour program) receive the same combined license covering both practices.
How many training hours does Iowa require?
A minimum of 1,550 hours at a board-approved or nationally-accredited barbering and cosmetology school. Completing an Iowa registered apprenticeship program is an accepted alternative, verified by a certificate of completion from the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship.
What exam do I need to pass?
A national theory examination (NIC) with a score of 75% or higher, registered and paid directly through the board's testing service (DIAL directs candidates to Prov). To offer shaving services you also need a shaving certificate — either pass the NIC barber practical exam or complete a 40-hour shaving program ($25 certification).
What are the fees?
$60 nonrefundable license/application fee, $60 biennial renewal, and a $60 late fee if you renew during the grace period. Reactivating an inactive license costs $120.
What continuing education is required?
Your first renewal is exempt. After that, 6 hours per 2-year cycle with one active license — at least 4 hours specific to your discipline and 2 hours on Iowa laws, rules, and infection control. Unlimited online CE is currently allowed.
Sources
- [1] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/barbering-cosmetology/licensure/how-do-i-barber-cosmetology-license — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/481.507.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] dial.iowa.gov/licenses/barbering-cosmetology/licensure/how-do-i-barbering-cosmetology-renewal — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/481.940.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11