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North Dakota barber license — 1,550 training hours, exam details, fees ($150+), and application steps. Verified 2026 data. Data verified 2026-03-23. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Barber
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68% of data points are verified against official sources. 3 fields based on preliminary research. 3 fields need verification. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
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.
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
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.
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
Varies by school; NOT a government fee. Limited barber schools in ND may affect pricing.
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.
Initial License Term
1 year
Renewal Cycle
1 year (annual — expires June 30/July 1)
Renewal Fee
$100
Continuing Education
6 hours — 6 hours every 2 years. Online video-based CE courses accepted.
Regulatory Board
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.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in North Dakota.
How this state compares to 35 others for this profession
Timeline
#33 of 36
Salary
#27 of 36
Cost
#5 of 36
Processing
#1 of 36
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Barbers (SOC 39-5011)
Entry Level
$28,370
25th percentile
Median
$34,100
-12% vs. national avg ($38,960)Experienced
$46,520
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
50 employed in this state
Note: BLS OEWS data reflects only base wages reported by employers. Barber income often includes tips and booth rental arrangements not captured in these figures.
Source: BLS OEWS – Barbers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+4.1%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+3,100
over 10 years
Annual Openings
8,400
per year (avg.)
76,000 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners — Licensing Requirements
Estimated total: 58–94 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners — Licensing Requirements
2–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: North Dakota Board of Barber Examiners — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and practice tests for the barber licensing exam.
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Accessed 2026-03-23
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
North Dakota requires 1,550 hours of barber training. Find approved schools and programs near you.
Contact your state barber board for a list of approved schools.