Barber License Requirements in Oklahoma
- Training hours
- 1000 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $70
- Exam
- Oklahoma barbering examination (written and practical)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 17 years old, Statute: at least 17 years of age OR a high school graduate to sit for the exam; board pages also cite an eighth-grade education minimum for course enrollment. 59 O.S. § 199.7 as amended by HB 2141: 'No person shall be eligible to take the Board-issued examination for a license unless such person is at least seventeen (17) years of age or a high school graduate.' The board's barbering exam page still displays the legacy 'over 16 and eighth-grade education' language — an unresolved conflict between the current statute and unrefreshed board pages. No criminal background check requirement appears in the statute or on board pages. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1000 hours of training at a state-approved program. HB 2141 (2024, enrolled), amending 59 O.S. § 199.7, required the Board to adopt on or before July 1, 2025 a basic barbering curriculum of 1,000 clock hours for nonchemical-use licensure or 1,250 hours for chemical-use licensure (or equivalent credit hours); the prior requirement was 1,500 hours, and some board pages (e.g. the barbering exam page) still display the legacy 1,500-hour language. Apprenticeship alternative: 2,250 hours of apprentice training in an approved licensed establishment under a Master Barber or licensed instructor (per HB 2141 § on 199.8 and the board's licenses page), with a board-approved hardship-based apprenticeship program. [1]
- 3
Oklahoma barbering examination (written and practical)
Pass the Oklahoma barbering examination (written and practical) (fee: $50). Written and practical sections; minimum 75% required on each The Board administers its own examination; register with the board's exam form. The exam fee was raised from $35 to $50 by HB 2141 (59 O.S. § 199.14) and the board's barbering exam page lists $50. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering with the $20 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering issues your Barber License (chemical-use or nonchemical-use) for Oklahoma.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $20 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $80 |
| Oklahoma barbering examination (written and practical) [2] | $50 |
| Examination fee [3] | $50 |
| Late renewal penalty (two months after expiration) [3] | $10 |
| Reciprocity license (initial) [3] | $45 |
| Reciprocity processing fee [3] | $45 |
The board's licenses page lists a $20 application/initial fee and an $80 renewal on a 2-year cycle. No separate initial license issuance fee is published beyond these — the HB 2141 statutory fee schedule expresses the barber license as $40 annually (chemical/nonchemical), i.e. $80 per biennial cycle. The board's older FAQ still shows the legacy $40 annual renewal.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month; HB 2141 transitioned practitioner licenses from annual to biennial renewal ($80 per 2-year cycle per the board's licenses page). $10 late penalty applies two months after expiration; renewal possible up to 5 years, after which 250 review hours in a barber school are required before re-examination (59 O.S. § 199.10). No continuing-education requirement for barbers appears on the board's pages or in the statute.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Out-of-state licensees obtain a certification of records from their home-state board and complete a 34-question open-book Oklahoma rules-and-regulations test (board FAQ). HB 2141 sets the reciprocity license (initial) at $45 plus a $45 processing fee. No interstate compact covers barbering.
15 state-approved training providers in Oklahoma — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $20
- $50
Frequently asked questions
How many barber school hours does Oklahoma require?
Under HB 2141, effective July 1, 2025 the basic barbering curriculum is 1,000 clock hours for a nonchemical-use license or 1,250 hours for a chemical-use license (previously 1,500 hours). Some board pages still show the old 1,500-hour figure.
What is the difference between chemical-use and nonchemical-use licenses?
Oklahoma's 2024 law split barbering/cosmetology licensure into two tiers: nonchemical-use (1,000 training hours) and chemical-use (1,250 hours), which covers services involving chemical products such as coloring, relaxing, and perming.
Can I apprentice instead of attending barber school?
Yes — Oklahoma allows 2,250 hours of apprentice training in an approved licensed establishment under a Master Barber or licensed instructor, via a board-approved hardship apprenticeship program (letter of hardship plus instructor and salon-owner participation letters).
Who gives the Oklahoma barber exam and what does it cost?
The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering administers its own written and practical exam; you need at least 75% on each section, and the exam fee is $50.
How does reciprocity work for out-of-state barbers?
Request a certification of records from your original licensing state and pass a 34-question open-book test on Oklahoma's rules; the reciprocity license is $45 plus a $45 processing fee.
Sources
- [1] webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2023-24%20ENR/hB/HB2141%20ENR.PDF — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] oklahoma.gov/cosmo/exams/barbering.html — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] oklahoma.gov/cosmo/licenses.html — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] oklahoma.gov/cosmo/resources/faqs.html — accessed 2026-07-11