Barber License Requirements in Massachusetts
- Training hours
- 1000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $20
- Exam
- Massachusetts Barber Written Theory Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. A notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) form is required with Board applications (explicitly required for student apprentice/shop-employment registration and out-of-state transfer applications). Massachusetts General Laws c.112 and the Board's pages do not publish a minimum age for barber licensure, so minAge is null rather than guessed; individual schools set their own enrollment prerequisites. Pages verified via archive snapshots dated 2026-06-07 and 2026-03-07 (mass.gov 403s automated fetches). [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1000 hours of training at a state-approved program. Complete a 1,000-hour barbering course in a board-licensed school, then pass a written theory exam. Massachusetts tiers barber licenses: the entry-level practicing credential is the (Apprentice) Barber license, and a Master Barber license (required to operate/manage a barbershop) sits above it, historically requiring an 18-month apprenticeship under a master barber plus further exams. Students may also register with the Board as school apprentices or shop-employed students while enrolled (after 25 school hours of basic safety, sanitation, and shampooing for apprentices), but this supplements rather than replaces the 1,000 school hours. mass.gov blocks automated fetches (HTTP 403); facts verified via archive snapshots dated 2025-11-15 (school-program page) and 2026-06-07 (apprenticeship page). [1]
- 3
Massachusetts Barber Written Theory Examination
Pass the Massachusetts Barber Written Theory Examination. Written theory examination (the Board's current licensure page lists only a written theory exam for barbers, no practical exam) Applications are filed through PSI (MACOSprocessing@psionline.com) with a $20 application fee for barbers; candidates need PSI exam approval before scheduling. PSI's separate per-attempt exam sitting fee is not published on the Board's own page, so it is recorded as null rather than estimated. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-11-15 (mass.gov 403s automated fetches). [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure) with the $20 application fee. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure) issues your Barber License (Apprentice Barber) for Massachusetts.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $20 |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | $40 |
| Massachusetts Barber Written Theory Examination [1] | None specified |
| Out-of-state barber transfer application [2] | $225 |
| Late renewal fee (all DOL boards, in addition to renewal fee) [2] | $57 |
| Master Barber renewal [2] | $78 |
The $20 barber application fee is paid via PSI with the exam application; the Board's pages state the license is mailed upon passing with no separately itemized license-issuance fee, so 'license' is null. The $40 renewal corresponds to the (Apprentice) Barber license type on the Division's official fee schedule (licensing.reg.state.ma.us, board code BR); Master Barber renews at $78. mass.gov pages verified via archive snapshots (2025-11-15 application page, 2026-05-21 renewal page) because mass.gov returns HTTP 403 to automated fetches.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Biennial renewal; per the Division of Occupational Licensure fee schedule, Apprentice Barber and Master Barber licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. The Board's renewal page lists no continuing-education requirement for barber renewal, so ceHours is recorded as null (no published CE requirement). Renewal notices are mailed 60 days before expiration; licenses expired 2-3 years require a reinstatement form, and licenses lapsed more than 3 years go through the reinstatement process. Renewal fee $40 (barber); late renewal adds $57. Renewal page verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-21 (mass.gov 403s automated fetches).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Out-of-state barbers may transfer a license without re-examination if ALL apply: current license in another U.S. state/jurisdiction, obtained by passing an exam there, never suspended/revoked, a school program substantially equivalent to Massachusetts' 1,000 barbering hours, and equivalent license scope. An exam is required if the applicant trained through an apprenticeship rather than a school, has fewer than 1,000 school hours, or lacks a current exam-based license. Out-of-state barber transfer application fee: $225 (out-of-country barber application: $0, but the written theory exam is mandatory for out-of-country applicants). Requires license verification sent by the original state, a sealed school transcript, and a notarized CORI form. No interstate barbering compact exists or is referenced. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-07 (mass.gov 403s automated fetches).
5 state-approved training providers in Massachusetts — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $20
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Massachusetts require to become a barber?
A 1,000-hour barbering course at a board-licensed school, followed by a written theory exam.
Who administers the Massachusetts barber exam?
PSI Services, under contract with the Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering. You apply through PSI with a $20 application fee and schedule the written theory exam once approved.
Can I work in a barbershop while still in school?
Yes — students enrolled in a board-approved program may register with the Board as a school apprentice (after 25 school hours of basic safety, sanitation, and shampooing) or as a shop-employed student, with a notarized CORI form. Shop-employed students must be supervised at all times and cannot provide chemical services before completing all school hours.
How often do I renew a Massachusetts barber license and what does it cost?
Every 2 years — barber licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years. Renewal is $40 for a barber ($78 for a Master Barber), and there is no continuing-education requirement listed.
Can an out-of-state barber transfer a license to Massachusetts without retesting?
Yes, if you hold a current license earned by exam that has never been suspended or revoked, completed a school program with at least 1,000 hours, and your license covers an equivalent scope. Otherwise (e.g., apprenticeship-trained or under 1,000 school hours) you must take the written exam. The out-of-state barber application fee is $225.
Sources
- [1] mass.gov/info-details/how-can-i-become-a-cosmetologist-electrologist-manicurist-aesthetician-or-barber — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] mass.gov/how-to/renew-a-barber-cosmetology-or-electrology-license — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-cosmetology-and-barbering-apprenticeship-or-shop-employment — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] mass.gov/how-to/transfer-a-cosmetology-aesthetics-manicuring-barber-or-electrology-license-to-massachusetts — accessed 2026-07-11