Barber License Requirements in Louisiana
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $40
- Exam
- Louisiana Barber Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
High school graduation or equivalent (required for barber-college admission per R.S. 37:361; out-of-state exam applicants must hold a high school diploma or board-determined equivalent per R.S. 37:369). The in-state qualifications section (R.S. 37:354) could not be retrieved — legis.la.gov was unreachable from this session and the Wayback Machine holds no snapshot of that section — so no in-state minimum age is recorded. For out-of-state applicants, R.S. 37:369 requires being at least 18, of good moral character and temperate habits, a high school diploma or equivalent, and proof of licensed practice in another state immediately prior to applying. No fingerprint or criminal background check appears in the retrievable statutes. [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Board-approved barber colleges must require, as a prerequisite to graduation, a course of instruction of not less than 1,500 hours completed within 9 months, at no more than 8 hours per working day (La. R.S. 37:361). The statute also provides for apprenticeship certificates ($50 annual fee, R.S. 37:375(A)(21)), but the apprenticeship hour requirement could not be retrieved from an official source this session. The board has no functional website of its own (the state boards-and-commissions directory lists no website), so statutes were used; legis.la.gov was unreachable from this session and statute pages were verified via archive snapshots (R.S. 37:361 snapshot dated 2023; retrieved 2026-07-11). [1]
- 3
Louisiana Barber Examination
Pass the Louisiana Barber Examination (fee: $40). $40 examination fee for an applicant from Louisiana; $80 for an applicant from another state or country (R.S. 37:375(A)(1)-(2)). The board waives the initial exam fee for graduates of Louisiana barber colleges who hold a certificate of registered student (R.S. 37:375(B)); retakes cost the same as the initial exam. Exam format (written/practical split) is not specified in the retrievable statutes and the board publishes no candidate bulletin online. Statute verified via archive snapshot (legis.la.gov unreachable this session). [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners issues your Certificate of Registration to Practice Barbering (Registered Barber) for Louisiana.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | $50 |
| Louisiana Barber Examination [2] | $40 |
| Examination (in-state applicant; waived for LA barber-college graduates with registered-student certificate) [2] | $40 |
| Examination (out-of-state applicant) [2] | $80 |
| Late renewal before April 1 [2] | $60 |
| Late renewal on or after April 1 [2] | $110 |
| Apprenticeship certificate (issuance or annual renewal) [2] | $50 |
R.S. 37:375 lists no separate application or initial-certificate fee for barbers distinct from the examination fee, so those fields are null — the exam fee ($40 in-state / $80 out-of-state) is effectively the licensure fee. Annual renewal of a barber's certificate is $50, due no later than January 31 each year (R.S. 37:375(A)(5), (D)). Statute verified via archive snapshot (legis.la.gov unreachable this session; the board has no website of its own).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year.
Annual renewal, $50, due no later than January 31 each year; late renewal costs $60 before April 1 and $110 on or after April 1 (R.S. 37:375). No continuing-education requirement appears in the barbering fee statute, and the board publishes no CE materials (it has no website), so ceHours is recorded as unspecified. Statute verified via archive snapshot.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
R.S. 37:369(B): a person currently licensed by another U.S. state, territory, possession, or D.C. may be licensed without further examination if the issuing jurisdiction's requirements are equivalent to or exceed Louisiana's AND that jurisdiction grants similar reciprocity to Louisiana certificate holders. Out-of-state barbers not covered by reciprocity may instead take the Louisiana examination ($80) if they are at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and prove immediately-prior licensed practice elsewhere. No interstate barber compact exists. Statute verified via archive snapshot (snapshot retrieved 2026-07-11).
13 state-approved training providers in Louisiana — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Louisiana require to become a barber?
1,500 hours at a board-approved barber college, completed within 9 months at no more than 8 hours per day. High school graduation (or its equivalent) is required for barber-college admission.
Who gives the Louisiana barber exam?
The Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners administers its own examination. The fee is $40 for in-state applicants ($80 for out-of-state), and it is waived for graduates of Louisiana barber colleges who hold a certificate of registered student.
When do I renew my Louisiana barber certificate?
Annually, by January 31, for $50. Renewing late costs $60 before April 1 and $110 on or after April 1.
Does Louisiana recognize out-of-state barber licenses?
Yes, in two ways: full reciprocity without examination if your state's requirements equal or exceed Louisiana's and it reciprocates for Louisiana barbers; otherwise you can take the Louisiana exam ($80) if you are at least 18, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and practiced as a licensed barber immediately before applying.
How do I contact the Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners?
The board does not maintain its own website. Contact it at 4626 Jamestown Ave., Suite 1, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, phone 225-925-1701.
Sources
- [1] legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11