StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Missouri

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1000 hrs
Upfront cost
$166
Exam
NIC Barber Written (Theory) Examination — Missouri, NIC Barber Practical Examination — Missouri
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Missouri State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Division of Professional Registration)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 17 years old, No minimum education requirement for barber applicants — the Board's candidate bulletin requires a 10th-grade education or equivalent for other license classes but expressly states it is not required for Barber or Barber Instructor. Minimum age 17 per the Board's Barber Candidate Information Bulletin. No fingerprint/criminal background check is required for licensure; Missouri's Fresh Start Act limits how criminal history may be used in licensing decisions (Board notice posted on its site). pr.missouri.gov host unreachable to automated checks as of 2026-07-11; no Wayback snapshot exists for this CIB PDF. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1000 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,000 hours in a board-approved school of barbering, OR 2,000 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program. A crossover route exists: a current Missouri cosmetology or hairdresser licensee may qualify for a barber license with at least 45 hours of training (if licensed over 1 year, only the shaving portion of the barber practical exam is required; under 1 year, the full theory and practical exams apply). Missouri regulates barbers through the combined State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners. pr.missouri.gov host unreachable to automated checks as of 2026-07-11; no Wayback snapshot exists for this CIB PDF. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Barber Written (Theory) Examination — Missouri

    Pass the NIC Barber Written (Theory) Examination — Missouri (fee: $88). Computer-based written exam at a Prov testing center; unofficial results emailed within minutes The Board's examination page links to Prov, Inc. as the current test vendor; Prov's Missouri Candidate Information Bulletin (2024) lists $88 per written exam. Missouri previously contracted with PSI Services (the Board's 2019 barber CIB, still posted, lists PSI at $84 written/$54 practical) — the newer Prov contract and fees are recorded here as current. Candidates first submit the Board's Application for Examination/Temporary Permit, then register and pay Prov after Board approval. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Barber Practical Examination — Missouri

    Pass the NIC Barber Practical Examination — Missouri (fee: $58). Hands-on performance test demonstrating technical abilities; results emailed within 2-3 business days Both the written and practical exams must be passed for licensure. $58 per practical exam per Prov's Missouri CIB (2024). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Missouri State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Division of Professional Registration). [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Missouri State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Division of Professional Registration) issues your Barber License for Missouri.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $20
Renewal fee [3] $30
NIC Barber Written (Theory) Examination — Missouri [2] $88
NIC Barber Practical Examination — Missouri [2] $58
Reciprocity (out-of-state barber) [3] $100
Exam score endorsement [3] $100
Apprentice barber registration [3] $5
Student barber enrollment application [3] $5
Late fee [3] $30

Per the Board's fee rule 20 CSR 2085-3.010: Certificate of Registration (first barber license) $20; license renewal $30. The rule lists no separate application fee for the barber exam application itself (exam fees are paid directly to Prov, and the $75 'application fee' in the rule applies to apprentice supervisors, not barber applicants), so 'application' is null. pr.mo.gov blocks automated access; verified via Wayback snapshot (closest capture 2023-06-29).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

All Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners licenses are renewed biennially and expire September 30 of each odd-numbered year. Renewal fee $30 (20 CSR 2085-3.010). No continuing-education requirement for barber licensees appears in the Board's rules or renewal pages, so ceHours is null. Delinquent licenses are not renewable after two years (reinstatement fee $60 per the fee rule). pr.mo.gov blocks automated access; verified via Wayback snapshot (closest capture 2026-04-15).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Missouri offers licensure for out-of-state barbers: the Board's fee rule (20 CSR 2085-3.010) sets a $100 barber reciprocity fee and a $100 exam score endorsement fee, and the Barber CIB directs out-of-state licensees (and holders of expired Missouri licenses) to contact the Board at 573-751-1052 for eligibility review. No interstate barbering compact exists or is referenced by the Board. pr.mo.gov blocks automated access; verified via Wayback snapshot (closest capture 2023-06-29).

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

Cost calculator

  • $20
  • $88
  • $58
Total$166

Frequently asked questions

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

1,000 hours at a board-approved barber school, or 2,000 hours in a board-approved apprenticeship program.

Who administers Missouri's barber exams?

Prov, Inc., under contract with the State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, using the NIC national examinations — $88 for the written exam and $58 for the practical. Both must be passed.

What are the age and education requirements?

You must be at least 17. Missouri requires no minimum education for barber applicants — the 10th-grade requirement that applies to cosmetology classes is expressly waived for barbers.

When do Missouri barber licenses renew?

Biennially — all licenses expire September 30 of each odd-numbered year. Renewal costs $30 and no continuing education is required.

Can a cosmetologist become a barber in Missouri?

Yes — a current Missouri cosmetology or hairdresser licensee can cross over with at least 45 hours of training. If licensed more than a year, only the shaving portion of the barber practical exam is required.

Sources

  1. [1] pr.missouri.gov/boards/cosmetology/cib/Missouri%20Barber%20CIB.PDF — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] provexam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Prov_CIB_MO_Inc_Written_Site_Inst_2024.06.03.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] pr.mo.gov/boards/cosmetology/Rules%20and%20Statutes.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] pr.mo.gov/cosbar-renewal-dates.asp — accessed 2026-07-11