StateLicensed

Barber License Requirements in Utah

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
130 hrs
Upfront cost
$60
Exam
ICA Barber Permit Examination (Integrated Competency Assessment), NIC Theory Examination, NIC Practical Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. Neither DOPL's barber/cosmetology application pages nor SB 330's qualification sections state a minimum age or general-education prerequisite for the barbering credentials, so minAge is null. No routine criminal background check is required; DOPL offers a pre-application criminal history determination process and reviews disclosed criminal history case-by-case. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 130 hours of training at a state-approved program. Utah restructured barbering licensure under SB 330 (enacted 2025, effective 2026-01-01). The practice of barbering now requires a Barbering Permit: a curriculum covering hair safety and barbering with a minimum of 130 hours of instruction at a licensed/recognized school, OR completion of an approved barber apprenticeship (Utah Code 58-11a-302.10). The full-scope Cosmetologist License (holder may be known as a cosmetologist or a barber) requires 1,250 hours or an approved cosmetologist apprenticeship (58-11a-302.9, reduced from the former 1,600). Standalone 1,000-hour Barber licenses are no longer issued to new school entrants; DOPL still processes legacy barber applications (e.g. by endorsement). Applicants who graduate with fewer than the required hours may count hours practiced in another jurisdiction toward the total. [1]

  3. 3

    ICA Barber Permit Examination (Integrated Competency Assessment)

    Pass the ICA Barber Permit Examination (Integrated Competency Assessment). Required for the Barbering Permit created by SB 330. DOPL's exam-information page lists Prov as the administrator of the ICA permit exams (Barber, Basic Esthetics, Chemical Hair Services, Facial Hair Removal, Hair Cutting); a separate Hair Safety Permit course and exam (75% or higher to pass) is also required. Exam fees are paid to Prov and not published on DOPL's pages, so fee is null. [2]

  4. 4

    NIC Theory Examination

    Pass the NIC Theory Examination. Required for the Cosmetologist/Barber license path and for legacy Barber-license applicants (e.g. by endorsement). DOPL's FAQ accepts NIC examinations passed with a score of 70% or greater within one year prior to the application date. Exam fees are paid to Prov and not published on DOPL's pages. [2]

  5. 5

    NIC Practical Examination

    Pass the NIC Practical Examination. Practical component required alongside the NIC theory exam for the Cosmetologist/Barber license path and legacy Barber-license applicants. Fee paid to Prov; not published on DOPL's pages. [2]

  6. 6

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Board with the $60 application fee. [3]

  7. 7

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Cosmetology and Associated Professions Licensing Board issues your Barbering Permit for Utah.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $60
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $52
ICA Barber Permit Examination (Integrated Competency Assessment) [2] None specified
NIC Theory Examination [2] None specified
NIC Practical Examination [2] None specified

DOPL's cosmetology professions application lists a $60 non-refundable application processing fee for both Barber and Cosmetologist/Barber; no separate license-issuance fee is charged beyond the application fee, so license is null. Renewal is $52 for Barber and Cosmetologist/Barber licenses. Fee amounts for the new SB 330 permit categories (e.g. the Barbering Permit) were not yet published on DOPL's fee pages at research time. Effective 2026-01-31 cosmetology applications are online-only via the MyLicenseOne portal.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Licenses expire on September 30 of odd-numbered years (two-year cycle); renewal is $52 for Barber and Cosmetologist/Barber. DOPL mails a renewal notice at least 60 days before expiration. No continuing-education requirement for barbers or cosmetologist/barbers appears on DOPL's renewal page, so ceHours is null.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Applicants currently licensed as the equivalent of a barber in another US state, territory, or district may qualify for licensure by endorsement, submitting license verification from the other jurisdiction (or verification of graduation) per DOPL's 'Endorsement to Utah: Barber' guidance. Out-of-state applicants must meet the educational or experience requirement and the examination requirements; NIC exams passed at 70% or greater within one year prior to application are accepted. No interstate barbering compact exists.

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

Cost calculator

  • $60
Total$60

Frequently asked questions

What license do I need to work as a barber in Utah?

Since January 1, 2026 (SB 330), the practice of barbering requires a Barbering Permit — a minimum 130-hour curriculum covering hair safety and barbering, or an approved barber apprenticeship. Alternatively, the full 1,250-hour Cosmetologist License covers barbering, and its holder may be known as either a cosmetologist or a barber.

What happened to Utah's standalone 1,000-hour barber license?

Utah's SB 330 restructured licensing effective January 1, 2026. New entrants pursue either the 130-hour Barbering Permit or the 1,250-hour Cosmetologist License; DOPL still handles legacy barber-license applications such as licensure by endorsement for out-of-state barbers.

Who administers Utah's barber exams?

Prov, Inc. administers both the NIC theory and practical examinations (for the license path) and the ICA permit exams, including the Barber permit exam. A separate Hair Safety Permit course and exam (75% or higher to pass) is also required for permit holders.

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

Yes — if you are currently licensed as the equivalent of a barber in another state, territory, or district, you may qualify for licensure by endorsement by submitting license verification and meeting Utah's education/experience and examination requirements.

How often do Utah barber licenses renew?

Licenses expire September 30 of odd-numbered years. Renewal costs $52 for Barber and Cosmetologist/Barber licenses, and Utah requires no continuing education for these credentials.

Sources

  1. [1] le.utah.gov/Session/2025/bills/enrolled/SB0330.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  2. [2] commerce.utah.gov/dopl/cosmetology/exam-information/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  3. [3] commerce.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/cosmo_application_ALL.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
  4. [4] commerce.utah.gov/dopl/cosmetology/renew-a-license/ — accessed 2026-07-11
  5. [5] commerce.utah.gov/dopl/cosmetology/apply-for-a-license/barber/ — accessed 2026-07-11