StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Tennessee

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$60
Exam
Master Barber Theory Examination (National Exam), Master Barber Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Department of Commerce and Insurance)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old. The Board's Master Barber page lists a single licensing prerequisite: be at least sixteen (16) years of age. No general-education requirement is stated for the Master Barber license, and no criminal background check is listed among application requirements. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-11. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Satisfactory completion of 1,500 hours in a registered barber school (Tenn. Code Ann. Title 62, Chapter 3). Up to 300 hours of approved training in a registered cosmetology school can count toward the 1,500 hours if the applicant holds a valid Tennessee cosmetology license. Tennessee also issues a limited Barber Technician license (fewer permitted practices, shorter training); the Master Barber license is the full-scope barbering credential. tn.gov intermittently refuses automated connections — page verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-11. [1]

  3. 3

    Master Barber Theory Examination (National Exam)

    Pass the Master Barber Theory Examination (National Exam). Written/theory exam; offered at PSI test centers or via remote proctoring (effective February 1, 2022 Tennessee adopted the National Exam content). The school submits the candidate's exam application to PSI, which approves eligibility and sends payment/scheduling instructions. The exam fee is paid directly to PSI and is not published on the Board's pages (PSI fee information at test-takers.psiexams.com), so fee is null. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-11. Tennessee restructured this section of tn.gov and retired the page previously cited; the citation above is its current location. [2]

  4. 4

    Master Barber Practical Examination

    Pass the Master Barber Practical Examination. Practical (skills) exam; a Virtual Practical exam option is available in addition to in-person testing at PSI centers. Fee is paid directly to PSI and not published on the Board's pages, so fee is null. Exam fees are forfeited if the candidate does not test within 6 months of PSI receiving payment. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-11. Tennessee restructured this section of tn.gov and retired the page previously cited; the citation above is its current location. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Department of Commerce and Insurance) with the $60 application fee. [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Department of Commerce and Insurance) issues your Master Barber for Tennessee.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $60
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $60
Master Barber Theory Examination (National Exam) [2] None specified
Master Barber Practical Examination [2] None specified

Initial application fee is $60, paid through the state's CORE licensing portal (core.tn.gov); the Board publishes no separate license-issuance fee beyond the application fee, so license is null. Renewal is $60 per two-year cycle (Rule 0200-1-.11(3)). PSI exam fees are paid separately to PSI. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-11 (master-barber page) and directly on the live Renewal, Reciprocity & Other Resources page 2026-07-11 (Individuals renewal fee listed as $60), which replaced the now-404 renewal help article.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Master Barber licenses expire every two years and renew for $60 through the CORE portal (renewal window opens 60 days before expiration). No continuing-education requirement applies to Master Barbers — the Board's CE requirements apply to instructors, not practitioners — so ceHours is null. Original sourceUrl (support.commerce.tn.gov renewal help article 209705797) now 404s; replaced with the live Renewal, Reciprocity & Other Resources page on tn.gov, fetched directly 2026-07-11, which restates the same $60 individual renewal fee and 60-day renewal window and confirms no CE requirement for non-instructor licensees. Fact unchanged.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Out-of-state Master Barber applicants apply through CORE with a non-refundable application fee and a certification of license sent directly by their state board (only one license must be current). Tennessee's reciprocity benchmark for Master Barber is 1,500 school hours; applicants below that may instead submit acceptable work-history proof (tax returns showing occupation, or an employer letter on letterhead) showing practice as a licensee for at least 1 of the last 3 years, or at least 2 of the last 5 years. No interstate barbering compact exists. CORRECTED 2026-07-11: the prior note described this alternative pathway as 'notarized affidavits proving five years of continuous licensed barbering work' and also cited a Tennessee-practical-exam requirement for applicants from no-practical-exam states plus a Texas-transcript requirement — none of which the current live source supports, so those details have been removed pending re-verification. Original sourceUrl (tn.gov .../reciprocal.html) now 404s; replaced with the live Renewal, Reciprocity & Other Resources page on tn.gov, fetched directly 2026-07-11.

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

Cost calculator

  • $60
Total$60

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of barber school does Tennessee require for a Master Barber license?

1,500 hours in a registered barber school. If you hold a valid Tennessee cosmetology license, up to 300 hours of approved cosmetology-school training can count toward the 1,500 hours.

Who administers Tennessee's barber exams?

PSI Services LLC. Your school submits your exam application to PSI, which approves eligibility and sends instructions to pay and schedule. Theory exams can be taken at a PSI center or by remote proctoring, and a virtual practical option is available.

How do I renew my Tennessee barber license?

Renew online through the CORE portal (core.tn.gov). The renewal option appears in your account within 60 days of expiration, and the fee is $60 for the two-year renewal.

Can I transfer an out-of-state barber license to Tennessee?

Yes — apply as an out-of-state applicant in CORE, pay the non-refundable fee, and have your state board send a certification of license. You need 1,500 school hours, or work-history proof (tax returns or an employer letter) showing you practiced as a licensee for at least 1 of the last 3 years or 2 of the last 5 years.

What is the difference between a Master Barber and a Barber Technician in Tennessee?

The Master Barber license covers the full scope of barbering (haircutting, shaving, coloring, chemical services, and more), while the Barber Technician license permits only a limited set of those practices.

Sources

  1. [1] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo/license/individual/master-barber.html — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo/license/psi-exam-info.html — accessed 2026-07-27
  3. [3] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/cosmo/license/renewal-reciprocity-other-resources.html — accessed 2026-07-11