Barber License Requirements in South Carolina
- Training hours
- 1500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- NIC Barber Theory Examination, NIC Barber Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
At least a 9th-grade education or its equivalent. The Board's licensure page (archive snapshot 2025-05-23) states no minimum age for the Registered Barber pathway (the Barber Assistant permit requires age 16), so minAge is null. No routine criminal background check is listed among application requirements; the Board's FAQ notes it may request a SLED criminal-history report and court dispositions case-by-case when an applicant has a criminal record. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Three pathways: 1,500 hours in a Board-approved barber college/school, OR 1,920 hours of on-the-job training in a licensed barbershop under a licensed barber instructor, OR 1,540 hours in an approved barber high-school program. A $35 student/OJT permit is required before training. After passing the exam, candidates first receive a barber apprentice license and must work under a barber or master hair care specialist for one year before the unrestricted Registered Barber license. Board pages verified via archive snapshots (licensure page 2025-05-23, FAQ 2026-05-19) because llr.sc.gov refuses automated connections. [1]
- 3
NIC Barber Theory Examination
Pass the NIC Barber Theory Examination. The Board's FAQ (verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-19) directs candidates to schedule theory and practical exams with Prov (provexam.com, 801-733-4455); an earlier fee schedule (snapshot 2025-05-23) listed PSI, indicating a vendor change — Prov is the current vendor. Exam fee is paid to the vendor and is not published on the Board's pages, so it is recorded as null. [2]
- 4
NIC Barber Practical Examination
Pass the NIC Barber Practical Examination. Practical (hands-on) component of the NIC examination, scheduled through Prov after the Board authorizes the exam application with a completed training affidavit. Early testing is allowed at 1,350 hours (barber college), 1,728 hours (OJT), or 1,386 hours (high-school program). Fee is paid to the vendor and not published on the Board's pages. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-19. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). [3]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, South Carolina Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) issues your Registered Barber for South Carolina.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | None specified |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $125 |
| NIC Barber Theory Examination [2] | None specified |
| NIC Barber Practical Examination [2] | None specified |
| Student permit / on-the-job training permit [3] | $35 |
| Registered Barber upgrade from apprentice to barber [3] | $80 |
| Barber license by reciprocity [3] | $140 |
| Registered Barber reinstatement (lapsed license) [3] | $150 |
The Board's fee schedule (BARBER_FEES.pdf, verified via archive snapshot 2025-05-23) lists no separate state application or initial-license fee for the Registered Barber credential — the entry for 'Registered Barber License and Examination' directs candidates to the testing vendor, so the initial cost is the vendor's exam fee plus the $35 permit and the $80 apprentice-to-barber upgrade. Renewal is $125 per two-year cycle.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Registered Barber licenses expire June 30 of odd-numbered years (current cycle ends June 30, 2027). No continuing-education requirement for Registered Barbers appears on the Board's renewal or education pages. A lapsed license may be reinstated within 3 years by paying the reinstatement fee; after 3 years the examination must be retaken. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-02-10.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
License by reciprocity ($140) requires a current license in good standing from a state or country with similar or higher requirements, verification of licensure sent by the issuing state, a passed NIC theory and practical examination (candidates who did not pass the NIC exam must test in South Carolina), and active practice during the preceding calendar year. South Carolina does not accept apprentice licenses or out-of-state on-the-job/apprentice hours, and has no grandfather clause. No interstate barbering compact exists. Verified via archive snapshots (2025-05-23 licensure page, 2026-05-19 FAQ).
5 state-approved training providers in South Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a barber in South Carolina?
Complete 1,500 hours at an approved barber college, 1,920 hours of on-the-job training under a licensed barber instructor, or 1,540 hours in an approved barber high-school program, then pass the NIC theory and practical exams. You first receive a barber apprentice license and must work supervised for one year before getting the unrestricted Registered Barber license.
Who administers South Carolina's barber examination?
Prov, Inc. administers the NIC theory and practical examinations. After the Board authorizes your exam application with a training affidavit, you schedule directly with Prov (provexam.com, 801-733-4455).
Can I take the exam before finishing all my training hours?
Yes — early testing is allowed at 1,350 hours for barber-college students, 1,728 hours for on-the-job trainees, and 1,386 hours for high-school program students, once your instructor submits a training affidavit.
Do my barber training hours expire?
No — the Board's FAQ states there is currently no expiration date on barber hours.
Can I transfer an out-of-state barber license to South Carolina?
Yes, by reciprocity ($140) if your license is current and in good standing, your state's requirements are similar or higher, you passed the NIC theory and practical exams, and you actively practiced during the preceding calendar year. South Carolina does not accept apprentice licenses or out-of-state on-the-job training hours.
Sources
- [1] llr.sc.gov/bar/licensure.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] llr.sc.gov/bar/faq.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] llr.sc.gov/bar/Forms/BARBER_FEES.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] llr.sc.gov/bar/Renewals.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11