Barber License Requirements in North Dakota
- Training hours
- 1100 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $100
- Exam
- Barber licensing examination (Master Barber)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 1 year
- Issuing board
- North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old. N.D.C.C. 43-04-31 requires applicants to be at least 18 years of age, of good moral character and temperate habits, and to pass the board's examination. No education prerequisite applies to the standard path (a high-school diploma is required only for the out-of-state exam-waiver route in 43-04-38.1). No fingerprint/criminal background check is required; conviction of an offense is not an automatic bar unless it directly bears on ability to serve as a barber (43-04-31.1). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1100 hours of training at a state-approved program. Exam eligibility under N.D.C.C. 43-04-32(2) requires a minimum of 1,100 hours of training in sanitation, safety, laws, and rules, including hours at a licensed barbering school or a public-school barbering program — OR an active out-of-state barbering license held for at least one year. Note the internal spread in the statute: approved schools must still require at least 1,500 curriculum hours to graduate (43-04-24), and the reciprocity exam-waiver provision references graduation from a 1,550-hour school (43-04-38.1). The former apprentice/master two-stage system was repealed in 2017 (S.L. 2017, ch. 285), though the board still brands the credential 'Master Barber'; restricted, temporary, and retired barber licenses also exist. [1]
- 3
Barber licensing examination (Master Barber)
Pass the Barber licensing examination (Master Barber) (fee: $100). Practical demonstration plus written and oral test, conducted at least four times per year The Board conducts the exam itself (43-04-33); 2026 testing dates are January 18, April 19, July 19, and October 18, with applications due at least 15 days before the test date. The statutory $100 fee covers 'examination and issuance of a certificate to practice master barbering' (43-04-42). [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners issues your Barber License for North Dakota.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $100 |
| Barber licensing examination (Master Barber) [1] | $100 |
| Restoration penalty for expired master barber certificate (plus renewal fee) [1] | $20 |
No separate application or initial license fee — N.D.C.C. 43-04-42 sets a single $100 fee for 'examination and issuance of a certificate to practice master barbering' (recorded under the exam entry) and $100 for renewal of a master barber's certificate. The board's site directs licensees to pay fees with the renewal application.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 1 year. 6 continuing education hours required per cycle.
All licenses expire June 30 and must be renewed annually (board renewal page; 43-04-39 requires renewal on or before July 1). Continuing education: minimum 6 hours every TWO years (not per annual cycle) for all licensed barbers and instructors (43-04-30.1; board notes the requirement applies to renewals from January 2026, with CE due before the August 1 deadline). Inactive-status licensees are exempt but must still renew annually.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Out-of-state barbers relocating to ND file the board's Reciprocity Application for a Master Barber license; the board must adopt endorsement rules for substantially similar out-of-state/foreign licensees (43-04-32(6)). The exam can be waived if the applicant is at least 18.5 years old, has a high-school diploma or equivalency, graduated from a board-approved school requiring at least 1,550 hours (subsequent experience credits 200 hours/year toward any shortfall), holds a license from a state with substantially the same requirements, and certifies 3 years of full-time practice (43-04-38.1). Foreign-trained applicants must pass the written and practical exams. A military-spouse waiver path also exists. No interstate compact covers barbering.
Cost calculator
- $100
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does North Dakota require?
Exam eligibility requires at least 1,100 hours of training including time at a licensed barber school (N.D.C.C. 43-04-32), but approved schools must run curricula of at least 1,500 hours to graduate students, so most candidates complete 1,500+ hours.
Does North Dakota still use the apprentice-then-master-barber system?
No. The apprentice tier was repealed in 2017. Today you test directly for the barber license (the board still calls it a Master Barber license), and restricted, temporary, and retired barber licenses cover special situations.
When are the barber exams held?
The board conducts the practical-plus-written-and-oral exam at least four times a year — 2026 dates are January 18, April 19, July 19, and October 18 — and your application and $100 fee must arrive at least 15 days before the test date.
What are the renewal and continuing-education rules?
All licenses expire June 30 and renew annually for $100. All licensed barbers must complete at least 6 hours of continuing education every two years through board-approved seminars, the annual state barber convention, video courses, or other approved education.
Can I move my out-of-state barber license to North Dakota?
Yes, via the board's reciprocity application. The exam is waived only if you are 18.5+, have a high-school diploma, graduated from a 1,550-hour approved school (experience can offset missing hours), come from a state with substantially similar requirements, and have practiced full-time for 3 years.
Sources
- [1] ndlegis.gov/cencode/t43c04.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] ndbarberboard.com/general-7 — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] ndbarberboard.com/licensing — accessed 2026-07-11