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Barber
Exam: Yes
Governing Authority
Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences — Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL)
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.
1,550 hrs
Training Hours
Written + Practical
Exam Type
~$72
Gov. Fees
Available
Apprenticeship
2 years (expires June 30 of even-numbered years)
Renewal Cycle
6 hrs
CE Required
Minimum Age
16 years old
Education Level
10th grade or equivalent
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
1,550 hours
Barber school, apprenticeship, or Establishment Training Program
Apprenticeship Alternative
Available — certificate of completion from Iowa Office of Apprenticeship required. A new Establishment Training Program (2025 law) also allows trainees to perform services under supervision with only 2 hours of initial law/sanitation training.
Online Hours Allowed
Theory hours may be completed online through approved programs; practical hours must be in-person
Curriculum Includes
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NIC Barber Theory Examination
National theory exam administered by NIC. Must achieve a passing score of 75% or higher.
NIC Barber Practical Examination
Hands-on demonstration of barbering skills administered by NIC.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 39/100
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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Barbering in Iowa includes haircutting, shaving, trimming beards and mustaches, shampooing, styling, and hair coloring for compensation. Since July 1, 2023, a separate shaving certificate is required to perform shaving services. Iowa operates under a combined Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Application fee | $60 |
Exam Fee Theory exam ($83) + practical exam ($108), paid separately | $191 |
License Fee The $72 initial fee covers the license issuance | Included in application fee |
Total Government Fees Application ($60) + exam fees paid separately to PSI | ~$72 |
Barber School Tuition: $12,000–$25,000
Tuition ranges are estimates and vary by school. Contact individual schools for current pricing.
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.
Iowa accepts licensed barbers from other states by endorsement. Applicants must hold a valid barber license in another state and provide proof of meeting Iowa's training requirements.
Additional Requirements: Out-of-state applicants must provide evidence of passing a national examination (NIC) with a score of 75% or higher.
Iowa does not offer a crossover program between barbering and cosmetology. Separate training and testing must be completed for each license type. However, both professions are governed by the same combined Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Iowa with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Initial License Term
2 years (expires June 30 of even-numbered years)
Renewal Cycle
2 years (expires June 30 of even-numbered years)
Renewal Fee
$60
Continuing Education
6 hours — 6 hours per renewal (one license): 4 hours discipline-specific + 2 hours Iowa laws/rules/infection control. First renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CE requirements.
Learn more about the renewal process in our barber license renewal requirements guide.
Shop License Fee: $144 (Establishment license/reactivation fee; exact initial fee may differ)
Barbershop establishments must be licensed through DIAL. The board provides a self-inspection checklist to help owners comply with statutes and rules. Owners are encouraged to use the checklist every six months.
Iowa's 2,100-hour barber training requirement is among the highest in the nation. The state also implemented a unique shaving certificate requirement effective July 1, 2023, which is separate from the barber license itself. Barbers licensed before that date are grandfathered in and do not need the separate certificate. Iowa is one of the few states that requires continuing education for barbers (3 hours per cycle).
CRITICAL: Training hours REDUCED from 2,100 to 1,550 under new Iowa law.
A new Establishment Training Program (2025 law) allows trainees to perform services under supervision with only 2 hours of initial law/sanitation training — separate from traditional licensing.
Iowa merged barbering and cosmetology licensing into Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences.
Cosmetologists who held an Iowa barber license before July 1, 2023 are exempt from the separate shaving certificate requirement.
First renewal period after initial license is EXEMPT from CE requirements.
Endorsement available for out-of-state licensees with 12 months of practice in last 24 months.
6 hours CE per renewal: 4 discipline-specific + 2 Iowa laws/rules/infection control.
Barber Schools in Iowa
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Barber requirements in nearby states
See how Iowa compares: Barber License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
Study guides and practice tests for the barber licensing exam.
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Other professional licenses in Iowa
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Iowa.
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Official Sources
Barber requirements in Iowa verified against Iowa Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Arts & Sciences — Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL), April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Establishment licensing requirements
Accessed 2026-02-26
No crossover program available
Accessed 2026-02-26
Moving to Iowa? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Barber license to Iowa →
Transfer your Barber license from Iowa to: Illinois → | Minnesota → | Missouri → | Nebraska → | South Dakota → | Wisconsin →