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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.
1,550 hrs
Training Hours
Written + Practical
Exam Type
$150+
Gov. Fees
Available
Apprenticeship
1 year (annual — expires June 30/July 1)
Renewal Cycle
6 hrs
CE Required
Minimum Age
17 years old
Education Level
High school diploma or GED
Residency
No state residency required
Background Check
Good moral character is required. The board may evaluate criminal history as part of the application.
Not sure if you need a barber license? Check whether your state requires one.
Total Training Hours
1,550 hours
Barber school + mandatory 12-month apprenticeship
Apprenticeship Alternative
MANDATORY 12-month apprenticeship AFTER completing 1,550 school hours + passing apprentice exam. Sequential — NOT an alternative. Tiered passing: 70% apprentice exam, 75% master barber exam.
Online Hours Allowed
Theory hours only; practical hours must be in-person
Curriculum Includes
Browse Barber study materials on Amazon →(affiliate link)
North Dakota Barber Written Examination
Board-administered exams — ND does NOT use NIC or Prov. Held at least 4 times/year (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct) in Fargo. Failure penalty: apprentice exam fail = 160 additional school hours; master exam fail = 6 more months as apprentice.
North Dakota Barber Practical Examination
Hands-on demonstration of barbering skills. Two hours allotted. Must score at least 75% for master barber.
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Overall licensing difficulty: 38/100
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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Shaving, trimming of beards and mustaches, cutting and styling hair, shampooing, applying hair tonics and treatments, scalp massage, and related barbering services for compensation.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee Master barber license fee | $100 |
Exam Fee Apprentice ($50) + master ($100) | $150 |
License Fee The $100 application fee covers both the application and license issuance; no separate license fee | Included in application fee |
Total Government Fees Minimum in exam fees; additional license fees may apply | $150+ |
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
The Master Barber license is the full license in North Dakota. After completing 1,550 hours of school and passing the apprentice exam, barbers must work under supervision for 1 year. They then take the master barber exam (written + practical, 75% passing score) to receive full licensure.
Requires 18.5 years old, HS diploma, certification from approved school (1,500+ hours equivalent), 3+ years experience. Each year of experience can substitute for 200 training hours.
Additional Requirements: Must have at least 3 years of full-time practice. Each year of experience counts as 200 hours toward the 1,550-hour education requirement if training hours are lacking.
Barber and cosmetology are separate licenses in North Dakota regulated by different boards. A licensed cosmetologist can work in a barber shop only if a licensed barber is also working there, and vice versa. No combined license is available.
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Initial License Term
1 year (annual renewal)
Renewal Cycle
1 year (annual — expires June 30/July 1)
Renewal Fee
$100
Continuing Education
6 hours — 6 hours every 2 years for all licensed barbers and instructors. Online courses accepted.
Regulatory Board
Learn more about the renewal process in our barber license renewal requirements guide.
Shop License Fee: $100 (Shop inspection and license fee)
A $100 fee must be paid by mail to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board before a Barber Examiner will inspect a new shop.
North Dakota is one of the few states that includes essay questions on the barber licensing exam. The state requires a 75% passing score for the master barber exam, which is higher than the standard 70% in most states. The quarterly exam schedule means applicants may need to wait several weeks for their testing date. North Dakota also allows professional experience to count toward education hours for reciprocity applicants (200 hours per year of experience).
TWO-STAGE LICENSING: 1,550 school hours → apprentice exam (70%) → 12-month mandatory apprenticeship → master barber exam (75%). Sequential process.
CE REQUIRED: 6 hours every 2 years — online video courses accepted.
Different passing scores per stage: 70% apprentice, 75% master — unusual tiered scoring.
Board-administered exams — ND does NOT use NIC or Prov. Held 4x/year in Fargo.
Failure penalties: apprentice fail = 160 additional school hours; master fail = 6 more months apprentice.
Annual renewal — $100/year.
Reciprocity: 18.5+ years old, 3+ years experience, 1,500+ equivalent hours. Each year exp = 200 hrs credit.
HB 1317 (pending): Bill to modernize ND barber licensing with new categories.
Barber Schools in North Dakota
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Barber requirements in nearby states
See how North Dakota 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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Study guides and practice tests for the barber licensing exam.
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Other professional licenses in North Dakota
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Barber requirements in North Dakota verified against North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners, April 2026.
Accessed 2026-03-23
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Accessed 2026-03-23
1,550-hour training requirement
Accessed 2026-02-26
Training details
Accessed 2026-02-26
License fee from ND board shop
Accessed 2026-02-26
Separate cosmetology board
Accessed 2026-02-26
Moving to North Dakota? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Barber license to North Dakota →
Transfer your Barber license from North Dakota to: Minnesota → | Montana → | South Dakota →