StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in North Carolina

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1528 hrs
Upfront cost
$220
Exam
Apprentice barber examination, Registered (licensed) barber clinical examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
North Carolina Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. Chapter 86B Article 2 sets no minimum age or education prerequisite for barber licensure, and no fingerprint/criminal background check is required by the statute or listed on the board's application pages; however, felony conviction is a discretionary ground for refusal, suspension, or revocation (86B-35(1)). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1528 hours of training at a state-approved program. Two-stage licensure (N.C.G.S. Chapter 86B, Art. 2): attend an approved barber school for at least 1,528 hours, pass the apprentice examination to receive an Apprentice Barber license, then complete a 12-month apprenticeship under a supervising licensed barber (who must remain on premises) before taking the clinical examination for the Registered/licensed Barber credential (86B-23, 86B-40). An apprentice may not practice more than three years without retaking the apprentice exam. Statute PDF verified via archive snapshot 2026-02-05 (ncleg.gov blocks automated fetches). [1]

  3. 3

    Apprentice barber examination

    Pass the Apprentice barber examination (fee: $85). Written and practical components covering barbering, sanitary rules, and diseases of the face, skin and scalp Conducted by the Board itself at least four times per year (86B-25, 86B-40(a)); statutory exam fee $85 (86B-41), matching the board's published fee page. [2]

  4. 4

    Registered (licensed) barber clinical examination

    Pass the Registered (licensed) barber clinical examination (fee: $85). Clinical/practical examination conducted by the Board after the 12-month apprenticeship Required by 86B-23(3); an applicant who fails must wait three months to re-examine (86B-35 renumbering; see statute). Fee per 86B-41 and the board fee page. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Carolina Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Carolina Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners issues your Apprentice Barber License for North Carolina.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] $50
Renewal fee [2] $50
Apprentice barber examination [2] $85
Registered (licensed) barber clinical examination [2] $85
Apprentice barber license or renewal [2] $50
Barber student permit [2] $25
Licensed barber or apprentice license by certification (reciprocity) [2] $120
Late restoration of expired barber license (within 1 year) [2] $35

No separate application fee — the $85 examination fee accompanies the exam application (86B-24). Licensed barber license or renewal is $50; barbers 70 and older license/renew at no charge. Amounts confirmed on both the board's official fee page and N.C.G.S. 86B-41.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

Every barber and apprentice license expires May 31 each year and must be renewed with the required fee (86B-34, 86B-40(b)). No continuing-education requirement for barbers appears in Chapter 86B (CE provisions exist only for electrologists in Article 3). A license expired more than 5 years requires retaking the clinical exam.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

The Board issues a license without examination to out-of-state licensees who are active, in good standing, practiced at least one of the last five years, have no pending discipline, and whose state's requirements are substantively equivalent (86B-28); equivalency/currency can be waived with 5+ years' experience plus a practical, written, or oral exam. Issuance by certification costs $120. No interstate compact covers barbering.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $85
  • $85
Total$220

Frequently asked questions

Does North Carolina still have a standalone barber board?

Yes — the North Carolina Board of Barber and Electrolysis Examiners (bbee.nc.gov) regulates barbers under N.C.G.S. Chapter 86B, separate from the cosmetology board. The barber statutes were recodified from Chapter 86A to 86B in 2022.

What are the steps to become a Registered Barber in North Carolina?

Complete 1,528 hours at an approved barber school, pass the Board's apprentice exam ($85) to get an Apprentice Barber license ($50), work a 12-month apprenticeship under a licensed barber who stays on premises, then pass the Board's clinical exam ($85) and pay $50 for the Registered Barber license.

When do North Carolina barber licenses expire?

Every barber and apprentice license expires May 31 each year; renewal is $50. Barbers aged 70 and older renew at no charge. No continuing education is required.

Can I transfer an out-of-state barber license?

Yes. The Board licenses out-of-state barbers without examination if your license is active and in good standing, you practiced at least one of the last five years, and your state's requirements are substantively equivalent; issuance by certification costs $120.

Sources

  1. [1] ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_86B/Article_2.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] bbee.nc.gov/barbers/resources/barber-fees — accessed 2026-07-11