StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Oregon

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
746 hrs
Upfront cost
$155
Exam
Barbering written (field of practice) examination, Oregon Laws and Rules written examination, Barbering practical examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology (Oregon Health Authority)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. The HLO barbering certification page and application packet state no minimum age or education prerequisite for certification. Background checks are discretionary, not universal: the packet states the HLO 'may require an applicant to complete a fingerprint check through the Oregon State Police' and 'may also conduct a criminal background check'; applicants on parole/probation must provide an authorization letter from their officer. Two forms of government-issued ID are required. [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 746 hours of training at a state-approved program. Oregon HLO certification packet (rev. 07/01/2024) and the barbering certification page: 746 curriculum hours in barbering plus 465 practical operations, 20 hours of Oregon laws and rules, and 20 hours of career development at a licensed Oregon school. Oregon reduced barbering hours by SB 217 (2023). No apprenticeship path; an experience-based reciprocity pathway exists for out-of-state licensees. [1]

  3. 3

    Barbering written (field of practice) examination

    Pass the Barbering written (field of practice) examination (fee: $45). 100-question written exam; walk-in at the HLO Salem office Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; 90 minutes; offered in Spanish and Vietnamese Fee per the HLO's official Cosmetology Certification Application Information Packet (rev. 07/01/2024): written examination $45 per field of practice. [2]

  4. 4

    Oregon Laws and Rules written examination

    Pass the Oregon Laws and Rules written examination (fee: $45). Written exam on Oregon law and HLO rules; walk-in at the HLO office Fee per the HLO certification application packet. [2]

  5. 5

    Barbering practical examination

    Pass the Barbering practical examination. Board-approved practical exam administered by an Oregon school; scores valid five years The HLO packet states the practical examination is 'administered by an Oregon school' and the school certifies results on the official transcript sent to the HLO — the HLO lists no separate practical exam fee. [2]

  6. 6

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology (Oregon Health Authority) with the $30 application fee. [2]

  7. 7

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Health Licensing Office, Board of Cosmetology (Oregon Health Authority) issues your Barbering Practitioner Certificate for Oregon.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $30
License fee [2] $35
Renewal fee [2] None specified
Barbering written (field of practice) examination [2] $45
Oregon Laws and Rules written examination [2] $45
Barbering practical examination [2] None specified
Reciprocity application (per field of practice) [2] $100
Reciprocity original certification (good for two years) [2] $65

Per the HLO certification packet (Pathway One, Oregon school graduates): application fee $30 per field of practice (non-refundable), certification fee $35 (good for two years). The reciprocity pathway costs $100 application + $65 certification. The renewal fee is not published on the HLO pages reviewed (the packet and fees page defer to the 'Board of Cosmetology - Fees' webpage, whose fee table did not render on fetch), so it is recorded as null rather than estimated.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Certificates expire two years from the date of issuance, with a three-year grace period to renew from inactive status. No continuing-education hour requirement, but all cosmetology certificate holders (including barbering) renewing on or after July 1, 2025 must complete and maintain current bloodborne pathogens (BBP) training (valid one year) and attest to it at renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Out-of-state applicants with an active license substantially equivalent to Oregon's certification requirements may qualify through the reciprocity pathway ($100 application + $65 certification per field of practice) but must still pass Oregon's written field-of-practice exam and the Oregon Laws and Rules exam. No interstate compact covers barbering.

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

Cost calculator

  • $30
  • $35
  • $45
  • $45
Total$155

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does an Oregon barbering certificate require?

746 curriculum hours plus 465 practical operations, 20 hours on Oregon laws and rules, and 20 hours of career development at a licensed Oregon school — one of the lower hour requirements in the country after Oregon's 2023 reduction (SB 217).

Who licenses barbers in Oregon?

The Health Licensing Office (HLO) under the Oregon Health Authority, on behalf of the Board of Cosmetology — barbering is a certified field of practice under cosmetology rather than a standalone barber board.

How do the exams work?

Three components: a board-approved practical exam administered by your Oregon school (scores valid five years), then two written exams at the HLO office in Salem — the 100-question barbering exam ($45) and the Oregon Laws and Rules exam ($45). Written exams are walk-in, weekdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m., with Spanish and Vietnamese versions available.

What does certification cost and how long does it last?

For Oregon school graduates: $30 application, $45 + $45 written exams, and $35 certification, valid for two years from issuance.

I'm licensed in another state — can I get certified in Oregon?

Yes, if your licensure is substantially equivalent to Oregon's requirements: apply through reciprocity ($100 application + $65 certification) and pass Oregon's written barbering and Laws and Rules exams. From July 2025, renewals also require current bloodborne pathogens training.

Sources

  1. [1] oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo/pages/board-cosmetology-barber-license.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Forms/COS-Certification_Application_Information_Packet.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo/pages/license-renew.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo/pages/board-cosmetology-reciprocity.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11