Barber License Requirements in Vermont
- Training hours
- 750 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $120
- Exam
- Barber Theory (Written) Examination, Barber Practical Examination
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State) — Barbers & Cosmetologists
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
High school diploma or GED (upload required with the application). OPR's application instructions require a copy of a high school diploma or GED for barber applicants. No minimum age is stated in the instructions or 26 V.S.A. chapter 6, so minAge is null. No criminal background check is required for licensure; OPR offers an optional $25 pre-application criminal background determination (3 V.S.A. § 125(a)(5)). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 750 hours of training at a state-approved program. Two pathways per OPR's application instructions (March 2026 edition): a minimum of 750 school hours, or a 1,125-hour apprenticeship. Apprenticeships must be completed in Vermont under a Vermont apprenticeship license, supervised by a Vermont licensee in a Vermont-licensed shop. Crossover pathway for already-licensed cosmetologists: 150 school hours or 300 apprenticeship hours. [1]
- 3
Barber Theory (Written) Examination
Pass the Barber Theory (Written) Examination. After OPR approves the application it submits the candidate's information to Prometric, which emails registration instructions. Licensed schools and technical centers approved as testing sites may administer the exams. The exam fee is set by the Secretary and paid to the vendor; it is not published on OPR's pages, so fee is null. sos.vermont.gov blocks automated fetches (Incapsula) — FAQ verified via archive snapshot 2025-05-27. [2]
- 4
Barber Practical Examination
Pass the Barber Practical Examination. Practical component registered through Prometric after OPR approval (or administered at a licensed school approved as a testing site). Fee paid to the vendor and not published on OPR's pages. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-05-27. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State) — Barbers & Cosmetologists with the $120 application fee. Typical processing time: 3-5 business days for application processing. [1]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Vermont Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State) — Barbers & Cosmetologists issues your Barber for Vermont.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $120 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $155 |
| Barber Theory (Written) Examination [2] | None specified |
| Barber Practical Examination [2] | None specified |
3 V.S.A. § 125(b) sets OPR's fees: application for licensure for barbers, cosmetologists, nail technicians, and estheticians is $120, and biennial renewal is $155. No separate license-issuance fee exists beyond the application fee, so license is null. Examination fees are set by the Secretary and paid to the exam vendor. Statute page verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-14 (legislature.vermont.gov timed out on direct fetch).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Barber licenses renew biennially at $155 (3 V.S.A. § 125(b)(4)(E)). No continuing-education requirement for barbers appears in OPR's statutes, rules, or FAQ, so ceHours is null. Statute page verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-14 (legislature.vermont.gov timed out on direct fetch).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Apply by Endorsement: for applicants licensed/certified in a jurisdiction with qualifications substantially equivalent to Vermont's; official license verification must be sent directly to OPR from the initial and most recent states of licensure. If the other state's requirements are not substantially equivalent, the applicant must instead show 1,500 documented hours of practice over not less than one year (Affidavit of Experience). Fast Track Endorsement is available for applicants actively licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction for three or more years preceding the application. Out-of-state apprenticeship hours are not accepted. No interstate barbering compact exists.
1 state-approved training provider in Vermont — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $120
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Vermont require for a barber license?
750 hours at a school, or 1,125 hours through a Vermont apprenticeship. Licensed cosmetologists can cross over with 150 school hours or 300 apprenticeship hours.
Can I complete my barber apprenticeship in another state?
No — Vermont apprentices must hold a Vermont apprenticeship license and train under the supervision of a Vermont licensee in a Vermont-licensed shop.
What is the process to take the national exams in Vermont?
Apply with OPR and submit all required documentation. Once approved to sit, OPR submits your information to Prometric, which emails you registration instructions for the theory and practical exams. Licensed schools approved as testing sites may also administer the exams.
How much does a Vermont barber license cost?
The application for licensure is $120 and biennial renewal is $155, per 3 V.S.A. § 125. Exam fees are paid separately to the exam vendor.
Can I transfer an out-of-state barber license to Vermont?
Yes — by endorsement if your state's qualifications are substantially equivalent, or via Fast Track Endorsement if you have been actively licensed in good standing for three or more years. Otherwise you can qualify with proof of 1,500 documented practice hours over at least one year.
Sources
- [1] outside.vermont.gov/dept/sos/office_professional_regulation/professions/barber_cosmetologist/barber_cosmetologist_nail_technician_esthetician_application_instructions.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] sos.vermont.gov/barbers-cosmetologists/barber-cosmetology-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/03/005/00125 — accessed 2026-07-11