StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Maryland

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1200 hrs
Upfront cost
$150
Exam
PSI Barber Theory Examination, PSI Barber Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Maryland State Board of Barbers (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. The Board's own published requirements page does not state a minimum age for licensure (only that a person must complete the required training/apprenticeship hours and pass the exam); recorded as null rather than guessed. Maryland occupational licensing boards, including the State Board of Barbers, participate in the state's Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository criminal history records check (CHRC)/fingerprinting process for licensure; recent state legislation (SB0815, effective 2026) restricts what criminal-history disclosures the Board may require but does not eliminate the CHRC process itself. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1200 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,200 hours of barber student training at a licensed barber school, OR 2,250 hours as a registered apprentice in a licensed barbershop under a sponsoring master barber and shop owner. A reduced-scope Limited Barber Stylist license requires 900 school hours or 1,650 apprenticeship hours. A Master Barber tier exists above the entry-level Barber license, requiring 15 months of experience as a licensed barber plus passing both the barber and master barber theory exams. [1]

  3. 3

    PSI Barber Theory Examination

    Pass the PSI Barber Theory Examination (fee: $47). Required for both the Barber license and the Master Barber license. When taken together with the practical exam, the combined fee is $77 rather than $47 + $47 separately. Test scores must both be passed within two years of each other to remain valid. [2]

  4. 4

    PSI Barber Practical Examination

    Pass the PSI Barber Practical Examination (fee: $47). Required for the entry-level Barber license (not required for Master Barber, which only requires the theory exam). When taken together with the theory exam, the combined fee is $77 rather than $47 + $47 separately. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maryland State Board of Barbers (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) with the $56 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Maryland State Board of Barbers (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) issues your Barber License for Maryland.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $56
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $56
PSI Barber Theory Examination [2] $47
PSI Barber Practical Examination [2] $47
Apprentice: Barber registration fee [3] $11
Late renewal fee [3] $112
Duplicate license fee [3] $28
License certification fee [3] $28

The Board's Forms & Fees schedule lists a single $56 fee per license category (Master Barber, Barber, or Limited Barber Stylist) that covers the original license — there is no separate itemized 'application' fee distinct from the license-issuance fee, so the $56 is recorded here as 'application' and 'license' is left null to avoid double-counting. PSI's exam fees ($47 theory, $47 practical, or $77 combined) are paid separately to PSI, not the Board (see exams). A Maryland state OneStop portal page separately lists a '$50.00 Estimated Cost' for the same license, which appears to be a rounded/outdated estimate distinct from the Board's own itemized $56 fee schedule; the Board's own fee schedule was treated as authoritative.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 1 continuing education hours required per cycle.

License is valid for a two-year period from the date of issuance. Maryland does not require general continuing education for barbers, but all applicants for initial licensure AND for renewal must complete a one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training through a Board-approved provider; that single required hour is recorded here as the 'ceHours' figure. A reinstatement fee of $56 (plus late fees) applies if the license lapses.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Maryland offers licensure by endorsement to an applicant holding a current, active barber license in good standing from another U.S. state, issued under substantially equivalent standards, verified directly by the issuing state (not applicant-submitted) plus proof of at least six months of work experience and completion of the one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training. The application fee for Master Barber, Barber, or Limited Barber Stylist endorsement is $56. Seven states' licensees do NOT qualify for endorsement and must instead pass both the PSI theory and practical exams: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, and New York. No interstate barbering compact was found on this page or elsewhere; no operational compact for barbering currently exists nationally.

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

Cost calculator

  • $56
  • $47
  • $47
Total$150

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Maryland require to become a barber?

1,200 hours at a licensed barber school, or 2,250 hours as a registered apprentice under a sponsoring master barber and shop owner.

Who administers Maryland's barber exam?

PSI Services LLC, under contract with the State Board of Barbers. Candidates for the entry-level Barber license must pass both a theory exam ($47) and a practical exam ($47), or $77 combined; Master Barber candidates need only pass the theory exam.

What does a Maryland barber license cost?

A $56 fee covers the original license (Barber, Master Barber, or Limited Barber Stylist), with a $56 renewal fee every two years. PSI's exam fees are paid separately.

Does Maryland require continuing education to renew a barber license?

No general CE hours are required, but both initial applicants and renewing licensees must complete a one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training from a Board-approved provider.

Can an out-of-state barber get a Maryland license without retaking the exam?

Yes, via licensure by endorsement, if the applicant holds a current license in good standing from a state with substantially equivalent standards (verified directly by that state) and has at least six months of work experience — except licensees from Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, and New York, who must pass Maryland's exams.

Sources

  1. [1] labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/barbersreq.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/barbersexam.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/barbersaff.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/barbersapply.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/barbersrecip.shtml — accessed 2026-07-11