StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in South Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$225
Exam
NIC Written Theory Examination (Barber Styling), South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor and Regulation)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old. SDCL 36-14-13: applicant must be at least eighteen years old, submit an application, complete 1,500 approved hours, and pass the written and practical exams. No minimum general-education requirement and no criminal background check appear in the statute, rules, or exam application. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. SDCL 36-14-13 requires 1,500 hours of education (or equivalent credit hours) in a Board-approved barber college or school; approved schools must run a course of at least nine months (SDCL 36-14-17). Curriculum rules (ARSD 20:39:03) split this into 1,200 hours of practical work and 300 hours of theory. South Dakota's former apprentice-barber provisions were repealed (apprentice registration sections of SDCL 36-14 repealed; apprentice renewal fee rule repealed effective 2017-11-01), so there is no apprenticeship alternative to school hours. [1]

  3. 3

    NIC Written Theory Examination (Barber Styling)

    Pass the NIC Written Theory Examination (Barber Styling). A score of 75% or greater is required. Current students may register for the theory exam before graduation. The Board's exam application carries a single $225 fee (recorded under fees); no separate per-component exam fee is published, so this field is null. [2]

  4. 4

    South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners Practical Examination

    Pass the South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners Practical Examination. State practical (hands-on) demonstration; 75% or greater required to qualify for licensure. Covered by the single $225 exam-application fee recorded under fees, so no separate fee is listed here. After passing both exams and receipt of school records, the license is mailed within 48 hours (excluding weekends/holidays). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor and Regulation) with the $225 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners (Department of Labor and Regulation) issues your Registered Barber for South Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $225
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $75
NIC Written Theory Examination (Barber Styling) [2] None specified
South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners Practical Examination [2] None specified
License transfer (reciprocity) fee [3] $150
Restoration of expired certificate (plus $12 penalty per expired year, plus the annual renewal fee) [3] $15

The Barber Exam Application requires a non-refundable $225 payment covering examination and initial licensure; the Board publishes no separate initial-license fee beyond this, so license is null. Annual renewal is $75 (ARSD 20:39:05:01).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

All barber licenses renew annually by May 31 per the Board's licensing page; certificates expire June 30 each year under SDCL 36-14-22. No continuing-education requirement for barbers appears in the Board's statutes, rules, or website, so ceHours is null. A license lapsed three or more years requires re-taking the written and practical exams.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

SDCL 36-14-14 allows transfer for applicants at least 18 years old who hold a barber license from a state or country with substantially the same requirements, or who prove by affidavits at least five years of practice as a barber elsewhere. Transfer fee is $150. If the issuing jurisdiction required fewer than 1,500 instruction hours, the applicant receives 50 hours of credit toward the 1,500-hour requirement for each month of licensed practice. No interstate barbering compact exists.

Cost calculator

  • $225
Total$225

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does South Dakota require for a barber license?

1,500 hours of education in a Board-approved barber college or school, delivered over a course of at least nine months (1,200 practical hours plus 300 theory hours).

What exams must I pass to become a barber in South Dakota?

Two exams: the NIC written theory examination for Barber Styling and the South Dakota Board of Barber Examiners practical examination, both scheduled through Prov. You need a score of 75% or greater on each.

How much does it cost to get licensed?

The Board's exam application carries a non-refundable $225 fee, and annual renewal costs $75. Transferring an out-of-state license costs $150.

How often do I renew a South Dakota barber license?

Annually — licenses must be renewed by May 31 and expire June 30 each year. There is no continuing-education requirement.

What happens if I let my license lapse?

You can restore it by paying a $15 restoration fee plus a $12 penalty per expired year plus the annual renewal fee. If the license has lapsed three or more years, you must re-take the written and practical exams.

Sources

  1. [1] dlr.sd.gov/barber/documents/license-law-book-barber.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] dlr.sd.gov/barber/exams.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] dlr.sd.gov/barber/forms/BarberExamApplicationForm.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] dlr.sd.gov/barber/licensing.aspx — accessed 2026-07-11