StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Montana

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1100 hrs
Upfront cost
$100
Exam
NIC Barber Theory Examination — Montana, NIC Barber Practical Examination — Montana
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Professional Licensing Bureau)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school graduation or its equivalent (Mont. Code Ann. 37-31-304). Minimum age 18 with proof (birth certificate or driver's license). No fingerprint/criminal background check is required; the application instead includes personal-history questions, and 'yes' answers require detailed explanations with court or agency documentation. Official license verification is required from every jurisdiction where the applicant has ever held any professional license. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1100 hours of training at a state-approved program. Completion of an 1,100-hour barber course from a licensed school (Mont. Code Ann. 37-31-304; ARM 24.121.604). No apprenticeship alternative is listed on the Board's barber checklist. Montana also issues a reduced-scope 'Barber Nonchemical' license as a separate license type; the full Barber license is the standard credential recorded here. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Barber Theory Examination — Montana

    Pass the NIC Barber Theory Examination — Montana. Written NIC theory exam; minimum passing score 75% (ARM 24.121.611) Applicants who meet all other requirements are approved by department staff to register with Prov for the exam(s). The Board's checklist does not publish Prov's per-exam sitting fee, so it is recorded as null rather than estimated. [1]

  4. 4

    NIC Barber Practical Examination — Montana

    Pass the NIC Barber Practical Examination — Montana. Hands-on NIC practical exam; minimum passing score 75% (ARM 24.121.611) Both theory and practical NIC barber exams must be passed at 75% or higher. Prov's per-exam fee is not published by the Board, so it is recorded as null. Applicants meeting all requirements except the exam(s) may qualify for a temporary practice license while completing them (Mont. Code Ann. 37-1-305(2)). [1]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Professional Licensing Bureau) with the $100 application fee. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Professional Licensing Bureau) issues your Barber License for Montana.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $100
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $100
NIC Barber Theory Examination — Montana [1] None specified
NIC Barber Practical Examination — Montana [1] None specified

The $100 fee is paid online at application and covers issuance of the license, so 'license' is null. ARM 24.121.401(1) sets a single 'Original and renewal license' fee covering barbering, barbering nonchemical, cosmetology, electrology, esthetics and manicuring. The Board amended that rule as proposed in MAR Notice 2025-221, effective November 22, 2025, raising the fee from $80 to $100; the same amount is charged for the original license and for each biennial renewal, and there is no separate license-issuance fee beyond it. Several of the Board's own license-information pages still display the pre-increase $80 figure — they have not been refreshed since the amendment took effect. Exam fees are billed separately by the Board's contracted exam vendor and are not set in the rules.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Barbers renew every two years; the renewal window opens January 1 and ends March 1 (late online renewal available about 45 days, to mid-April), per the Board's FAQ. Renewal fee $80. No continuing-education requirement applies to barbers — among Board licensees only teachers have CE obligations — so ceHours is null.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Out-of-state licensees submit the same online Montana application ($80); department staff evaluate it based first on the other state's current licensing laws and then on individual qualifications. Applicants who have already passed the NIC barber theory and practical exams (75%+) in another state submit proof of passage with the application; otherwise both NIC exams must be taken through Prov. License verification must be sent to Montana directly from each state where a license is or was held. No interstate barbering compact exists or is referenced by the Board.

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

Cost calculator

  • $100
Total$100

Frequently asked questions

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

An 1,100-hour barber course from a licensed school, plus a high school diploma or equivalent and being at least 18 years old.

What exams are required for a Montana barber license?

The NIC Barber theory and practical exams, each passed at 75% or higher, administered through the department's exam contractor, Prov.

What does a Montana barber license cost?

An $80 non-refundable application fee (paying it is what submits your application), and an $80 renewal fee every two years. Prov's exam fees are paid separately.

Does Montana require continuing education for barbers?

No — among the Board's licensees, only teachers have continuing-education requirements. Barbers renew every two years (January 1 to March 1) with no CE.

Can I get licensed in Montana with an out-of-state barber license?

Yes — submit the standard online application and staff will evaluate it against your state's licensing laws. If you've already passed the NIC barber exams at 75%+, submit proof; otherwise you'll need to take both NIC exams through Prov. A temporary license is available if the exams are all you're missing.

Sources

  1. [1] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/cos/bar-app-checklist.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/cos/2025-221adp-arm.pdf — accessed 2026-07-27
  3. [3] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/barber-and-cosmetologists/faq/index.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11