StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Kansas

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1200 hrs
Upfront cost
$230
Exam
National Written Barber Styling Theory Examination (NIC), Kansas Barber Practical Examination, Kansas Rules and Regulations Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Kansas Board of Barbering

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, Graduation from an accredited high school or the equivalent of a high school education. K.S.A. 65-1812(a): at least 16 years of age, of good moral character and temperate habits, high school graduation or equivalent, plus barber school graduation and passage of the board's examination. No fingerprint or criminal background check is required by the statute or listed on the board's site (a 'Felony Packet' exists for applicants with felony histories). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1200 hours of training at a state-approved program. Graduation from a board-approved Kansas barber school or college whose course of instruction is not less than 1,200 and not more than 1,500 hours (the board prescribes the exact count by regulation), completed within 18 months at no more than 8 hours per working day (K.S.A. 65-1808). Alternatives accepted by K.S.A. 65-1812(a)(3): completion of the barber course at a Kansas corrections institution or Fort Leavenworth, or military barber certification plus a board-prescribed course at a licensed Kansas barber school. Licensed Kansas cosmetologists and out-of-state military barbers may qualify via 500 hours of additional education at a licensed Kansas barber school (board FAQ). Barbering is regulated by a standalone barber board in Kansas, separate from the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. [1]

  3. 3

    National Written Barber Styling Theory Examination (NIC)

    Pass the National Written Barber Styling Theory Examination (NIC) (fee: $230). 110-question multiple-choice theory exam; minimum score 80% The $230 initial examination fee covers all three portions of the Kansas barber exam (national written theory, practical, and Kansas rules & regulations). Re-examination fees: written $150, practical $100, rules & regulations $50. [2]

  4. 4

    Kansas Barber Practical Examination

    Pass the Kansas Barber Practical Examination. Hands-on practical exam requiring two models (one may be substituted with a mannequin; the first portion must use a live model); minimum score 80% Included in the $230 initial examination fee recorded on the written-exam entry; practical re-examination alone is $100. [2]

  5. 5

    Kansas Rules and Regulations Examination

    Pass the Kansas Rules and Regulations Examination. Written exam on Kansas barbering law; minimum score 80% Included in the $230 initial examination fee recorded on the written-exam entry; rules re-examination alone is $50. [2]

  6. 6

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Kansas Board of Barbering. [1]

  7. 7

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Kansas Board of Barbering issues your Barber License for Kansas.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] None specified
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] None specified
National Written Barber Styling Theory Examination (NIC) [2] $230
Kansas Barber Practical Examination [2] None specified
Kansas Rules and Regulations Examination [2] None specified

K.S.A. 65-1817 caps the fees the board may charge: issuance of a barber license not more than $80, renewal not more than $80, examination not more than $100 (the current $230 exam fee is collected with vendor testing costs), restoration within 3 years the lapsed fees plus up to $100. The board's currently-charged exact license and renewal amounts appear only on its application/renewal forms, which are scanned image PDFs that could not be machine-read during this research, so the numeric fields are left null rather than inferred from the statutory caps.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

Every licensed barber must renew annually (K.S.A. 65-1819); expiration dates are staggered throughout the year by board regulation. Renewal and restoration can be completed online. A license expired less than 3 years is restored with a renewal application plus restoration fee; after 3 or more years, re-examination is required. No continuing-education requirement appears in the barbering statutes or on the board's site, so ceHours is recorded as unspecified.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

K.S.A. 65-1813: the board may license without examination an applicant who is at least 18, of good moral character, and licensed in a state/territory/country with substantially the same requirements — but only if that jurisdiction grants reciprocal authorization to Kansas barbers under like conditions. Out-of-state barbers from non-comparable jurisdictions must apply for the Kansas examination (per the board's exam page), and licensed Kansas cosmetologists or military barbers may qualify via 500 additional school hours. No interstate barber compact exists.

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

Cost calculator

  • $230
Total$230

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of barber school does Kansas require?

Kansas barber schools must require between 1,200 and 1,500 hours of instruction (the board sets the exact figure by regulation), completed within 18 months at no more than 8 hours per day.

What exams do I have to pass?

Three portions, each with a minimum score of 80%: the 110-question national written barber styling theory exam (NIC, delivered through Prov), a practical exam requiring two models, and a Kansas rules and regulations exam given the same day as the practical.

How much does the Kansas barber exam cost?

$230 for the initial examination covering all three portions. Retakes are $150 (written), $100 (practical), and $50 (rules and regulations).

How often do I renew my Kansas barber license?

Annually — expiration dates are staggered through the year. Licenses expired under 3 years can be restored with a fee; after 3 years you must re-examine. Kansas lists no continuing-education requirement for barbers.

I'm licensed in another state — can I get a Kansas license without retesting?

Only if your state's requirements are substantially the same as Kansas's and it grants reciprocity to Kansas barbers in return (K.S.A. 65-1813; you must also be at least 18). Otherwise you apply to take the Kansas examination. Kansas cosmetologists and military-trained barbers can qualify with 500 additional hours at a Kansas barber school.

Sources

  1. [1] kbob.kansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/20170324_Statute_Request.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] kbob.kansas.gov/license-exam/ — accessed 2026-07-11