Barber License Requirements in Pennsylvania
- Training hours
- 1250 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $173
- Exam
- Barber theory (written) examination, Barber practical examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Pennsylvania State Board of Barber Examiners (Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Eighth grade education or equivalent (no degree requirement). The board's current requirements snapshot and information sheet state the 8th-grade education requirement and proof-of-age submission but publish no minimum age on the pages reviewed, so minAge is left null rather than assumed. No criminal background check is required to sit for licensure; criminal conviction or license discipline disqualifies applicants from the Act 41 endorsement path only. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1250 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,250 hours instructed according to the PA state curriculum, earned either in a licensed barber school under a licensed barber teacher OR in a licensed barber shop under a licensed barber manager or barber teacher (shop-based student training is a distinctive PA alternative). Hours must be earned within no less than nine months. Licensed cosmetologists get 555 hours of crossover credit and complete 695 additional barber-specific hours. [1]
- 3
Barber theory (written) examination
Pass the Barber theory (written) examination (fee: $63). Written/computer-based theory exam Per the board's licensing-requirement information sheet (42-INFO100, 11/21/24), Pennsylvania's theory and practical exams are developed, administered and scored by a professional testing organization — Pearson VUE since July 2011. Pennsylvania does not participate in the NIC national exam. [2]
- 4
Barber practical examination
Pass the Barber practical examination (fee: $77). Hands-on practical examination; passing grades required in both practical and written sections before licensure Fee per the board's official requirements snapshot ($173 initial total = $33 application + $63 theory + $77 practical). [1]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Pennsylvania State Board of Barber Examiners (Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs) with the $33 application fee. [1]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Pennsylvania State Board of Barber Examiners (Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs) issues your Barber License for Pennsylvania.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $33 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $184 |
| Barber theory (written) examination [2] | $63 |
| Barber practical examination [1] | $77 |
| Reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application [1] | $65 |
The board's snapshot lists the initial cost as $173 total — $33 application fee plus the two exam fees — with no separate initial license issuance fee published. Biennial renewal is $184.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 0 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Biennial renewal, $184. The board's snapshot states explicitly: 'No continuing education requirement for licensure.'
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Three routes ($65 fee): (1) reciprocity without examination for holders of a current license from a state with a PA reciprocity agreement; (2) license by endorsement examination (theory only) for barbers licensed in non-agreement states, with a certification letter from the home-state board; (3) Act 41 endorsement for out-of-state licensees with substantially equivalent requirements who are active, in good standing, and without discipline or criminal conviction. No interstate compact covers barbering.
12 state-approved training providers in Pennsylvania — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $33
- $63
- $77
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Pennsylvania require for a barber license?
1,250 hours under the PA state curriculum, earned over at least nine months — either in a licensed barber school or, uniquely, as a student in a licensed barber shop under a licensed barber manager or teacher.
Who administers the Pennsylvania barber exams?
Pearson VUE has developed, administered, and scored Pennsylvania's theory and practical barber exams since July 2011 ($63 theory, $77 practical). Pennsylvania does not use the NIC national exam.
What does licensure cost?
$173 initially ($33 application + $63 theory exam + $77 practical exam), then $184 for each biennial renewal. There is no continuing-education requirement.
I'm a licensed cosmetologist — is there a shortcut to a PA barber license?
Yes. The crossover program credits licensed Pennsylvania cosmetologists with 555 hours; you complete 695 additional hours in barber-specific subjects such as shaving, honing, and stropping.
Can I transfer my out-of-state barber license to Pennsylvania?
Yes ($65 fee): via reciprocity without exam (agreement states), an endorsement theory-only exam (non-agreement states), or Act 41 endorsement if your state's requirements are substantially equivalent and your license is in good standing without discipline or criminal conviction.