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Barber
Exam: Yes
Governing Authority
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
1,500 hrs
Training Hours
Written + Practical
Exam Type
$128
Gov. Fees
Available
Apprenticeship
2 years (expires July 31 of odd-numbered years)
Renewal Cycle
No
CE Required
Minimum Age
16 years old
Education Level
8th grade
Residency
No state residency required
Background Check
Not required
Not sure if you need a barber license? Check whether your state requires one.
Total Training Hours
1,500 hours
Barber school or apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Alternative
3,000 hours required
3,000 hours under licensed barber in registered barber shop.
Online Hours Allowed
Not specified; contact the board
Curriculum Includes
Browse Barber study materials on Amazon →(affiliate link)
Illinois Barber Written Examination
Computer-based written exam available in English and Spanish. Administered by CTS (NOT PSI directly, though PSI testing centers are used).
Illinois Barber Practical Examination
Hands-on demonstration of barbering skills.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 37/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
Practice with realistic exam questions
Barber State Board Exam
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Barber Exam Prep Books
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Haircutting, shaving, trimming beards, shampooing, styling, hair coloring, chemical treatments, scalp treatments, and facial treatments for compensation.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee No separate application fee | No separate application fee is listed on the IDFPR Barber page; applications are submitted through CORE (new system launched Oct 30, 2024) or legacy portal. |
Exam Fee Non-refundable, paid to CTS | $98 |
License Fee Initial license fee | $30 |
Total Government Fees Exam ($98) + license ($30) | $128 |
Barber School Tuition: $5,000-$18,000
Varies by school; NOT a government fee
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
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See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
Endorsement available for out-of-state licensees — apply directly to IDFPR (NOT through CTS).
Additional Requirements: License verification required.
Illinois maintains separate barber and cosmetology licenses under IDFPR.
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Initial License Term
2 years
Renewal Cycle
2 years (expires July 31 of odd-numbered years)
Renewal Fee
$50
Continuing Education
Not required
Regulatory Board
Learn more about the renewal process in our barber license renewal requirements guide.
Shop License Fee: $50 (Shop license fee)
Barbershops must be separately licensed and pass health/safety inspections.
Illinois is notable for using Continental Testing Services (CTS) for exam administration rather than the more common PSI or NIC. The 1,500-hour requirement is completed in about 12 months of full-time study.
Exams administered by Continental Testing Services (CTS), NOT PSI directly (though PSI centers used).
Pre-graduation testing: can sit for exam at 1,200 hours, but need 1,500 to get license.
Application valid for 3 years — must pass exam within that period.
Apprenticeship available: 3,000 hours under licensed barber in registered shop.
Illinois does NOT require CE for barbers (cosmetologists need 14 hours).
Endorsement: apply directly to IDFPR ($45), NOT through CTS.
Exam available in English and Spanish (written); Chinese cosmetology exam available in paper format.
License expires July 31 of odd-numbered years.
Barber Schools in Illinois
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Barber requirements in nearby states
See how Illinois compares: Barber License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
Compare barber requirements across all states →
Barber licensing requirements nationwide →
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How does Illinois compare to other states for barber? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your barber license →
Study guides and practice tests for the barber licensing exam.
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Other professional licenses in Illinois
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Barber requirements in Illinois verified against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Moving to Illinois? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Barber license to Illinois →
Transfer your Barber license from Illinois to: Indiana → | Iowa → | Kentucky → | Missouri → | Wisconsin →