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Barber
Exam: Yes
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
$165–$240
Gov. Fees
Available
Apprenticeship
Annual (by birthday)
Renewal Cycle
No
CE Required
Minimum Age
16 (school) / 17 (apprenticeship) years old
Education Level
High school diploma or GED 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
1,500 hours
Board-approved barber school (1,500 hours within 9 months, max 8 hours/day) or apprenticeship (4,000 hours)
Apprenticeship Alternative
4,000 hours required
4,000 hours (2-year program via UFCW Local 496, includes 288 theory hours). Apprenticeship hours expire after 3 years if license application not completed.
Online Hours Allowed
Theory hours may be available online; practical hours must be in-person
Curriculum Includes
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Louisiana Barber Written Examination
NIC written exam, 1 hour.
Louisiana Barber Practical Examination
Practical exam, 3 hours. Requires 3 live models (1 female, 2 male) — unusual requirement.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 37/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Barber State Board Exam
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
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Barbering in Louisiana includes haircutting, shaving, trimming beards and mustaches, shampooing, styling, and hair coloring for compensation. The Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners is a separate entity from the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Initial application fee; a second payment of $40 may also apply | $57 |
Exam Fee Exam registration fee covering written and practical exams | $90 |
License Fee Range per sources | $50–$100 |
Total Government Fees Range per sources | $165–$240 |
Barber School Tuition: $8,000–$20,000
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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Title: Master Barber
Master barber status in Louisiana is associated with the ability to supervise apprentices. Licensed barbers can oversee apprentices in the Louisiana Barber Apprenticeship Program. Specific additional hour or exam requirements for the master barber designation should be verified with the Board.
Reciprocity available but applicants without a practical exam in their original state must take the LA practical exam.
Additional Requirements: Out-of-state applicants must provide verification of licensure and may need to pass the Louisiana barber exam.
Licensed cosmetologists can transition to barbering through the apprenticeship program under a licensed barber. However, the barbering and cosmetology boards are entirely separate in Louisiana (Board of Barber Examiners and State Board of Cosmetology). A cosmetology license does not permit straight-razor shaving.
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Initial License Term
1 year (expires on birthday)
Renewal Cycle
Annual (by birthday)
Renewal Fee
$25/year
Continuing Education
Not required
Regulatory Board
Learn more about the renewal process in our barber license renewal requirements guide.
Shop License Fee: $50–$100 (Barbershop license fee; exact amount should be verified with the Board)
Barbershops must be licensed by the Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners and must meet health and safety standards. Each shop can have up to three apprentices, each working under their own licensed barber.
Louisiana's barber apprenticeship program is notably long at 4,000 practical hours (approximately 2 years), making it one of the longest apprenticeship requirements in the country. The program is organized in partnership with UFCW Local 496. Louisiana's Board of Barber Examiners offers exams only four times per year, similar to Hawaii. The license renewal is uniquely tied to the licensee's birthday rather than a fixed calendar date.
Louisiana has one of the highest apprenticeship hour requirements at 4,000 hours (2 years).
Apprenticeship administered through UFCW Local 496 (union program, includes 288 theory hours).
Apprenticeship hours expire after 3 years if license application not completed.
Practical exam requires 3 live models (1 female, 2 male) — unusual requirement.
Louisiana barber and cosmetology boards are SEPARATE entities.
Annual renewal by birthday — one of the lowest renewal fees at $25/year.
Reciprocity applicants without a practical exam must take the LA practical.
CE requirement of 16 hrs/year applies to INSTRUCTORS only, NOT regular barbers.
Barber Schools in Louisiana
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Barber requirements in nearby states
See how Louisiana 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 Louisiana compare to other states for barber? See the full comparison →
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Study guides and practice tests for the barber licensing exam.
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Other professional licenses in Louisiana
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Barber requirements in Louisiana verified against Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners, April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Accessed 2026-03-23
Official Louisiana Board of Barber Examiners page
Accessed 2026-02-26
Official 1,500-hour school requirement
Accessed 2026-02-26
Moving to Louisiana? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Barber license to Louisiana →
Transfer your Barber license from Louisiana to: Arkansas → | Mississippi → | Texas →