How to Become a Barber in Colorado: Hours, Cost & Schools

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To become a barber in Colorado, you need 1,500 contact hours (or 50 credit hours) of approved barber training, then the PSI practical and theory exams, which switched to PSI’s national barber content on January 6, 2026. The practical includes a straight-razor shave on a mannequin with a live blade, so a replaceable-blade razor like the Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit belongs in your kit early. Most full-time programs take 9 to 13 months.

Colorado does things its own way: there’s no barber board (a director in the state’s regulatory agency licenses you), you apply for the exam through PSI, and you must pass the practical before you can even book the written test. Here’s the full path, from the state’s rules, PSI’s current candidate guide and the schools’ own pages.

Who licenses barbers in Colorado

Colorado has no barber board. Licenses come from the Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations, where a program director rather than a board makes licensing decisions. The same office licenses cosmetologists, hairstylists, estheticians and nail technicians. There is one barber license, with no master or apprentice tiers.

The law behind it, the Barber and Cosmetologist Act, was renewed in 2026. HB26-1181 continues the Act for seven years, until 2033, repeals the advisory committee, updates definitions and spells out which services and providers are exempt. DORA’s 2025 sunset review had recommended 11 years; the legislature chose seven.

Steps to a Colorado barber license

1. Meet the basics. Be at least 16 and graduate from an approved barber or beauty program, per DORA’s 2025 sunset review of the Act.
2. Complete 1,500 contact hours (50 credit hours) at a school approved by the Division of Private Occupational Schools or the community college system, or through a registered apprenticeship.
3. Apply through PSI. Colorado has authorized PSI to process licensure-by-exam applications, and since October 14, 2025 everyone applies through PSI’s online application. The application fee is $32.
4. Pass the practical, then the theory exam. The theory test can’t be paid for or scheduled until you’ve passed the practical.
5. Get licensed and renew every two years by March 31 of even-numbered years.

Training hours and what they cover

Colorado’s rule, 4 CCR 731-1, Rule 1.2, sets the barber program at 50 credit hours or 1,500 contact hours. It names the course topics, including scalp and hair treatment, facial massage, facial shaving, haircutting and hairstyling, and, for students enrolling since February 28, 2018, permanent waving and relaxing, hair coloring, laws and rules, management and ethics, and disinfection.

Topic (older curriculum)	Credits	Hours
Haircutting	9	270
Hairstyling	9	270
Chemical hair services	8	240
Hair coloring and tinting	8	240
Disinfection, cleaning and safe work	6	180
Shaving	3	90

Partial list. Source: 4 CCR 731-1, Rule 1.2 (Cornell LII copy), checked Oct 2026. Programs total 50 credits / 1,500 hours.

Chemical work is a bigger share of the hours than many students expect, and it shows up on the practical exam too (see below).

Crossover credit. Rule 1.2 lets hours earned for one license type count toward the subject areas and hours of another, which is the basis for cosmetologist- and hairstylist-to-barber programs. Otero College, for example, lists a 3-credit Barber Endorsement for Cosmetologists and a 6-credit Barber Endorsement for Hairstylists.

Out-of-state students short of 1,500 hours can finish the remainder at a Colorado-approved school, and training from outside the US needs a credential evaluation from an approved evaluator.

Is there a barber apprenticeship in Colorado?

Yes, but it’s a registered one. Rule 1.2 lets you complete training through an apprenticeship program approved by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship or Colorado’s State Apprenticeship Agency. The rule doesn’t set a separate hour count for apprentices, so expect the same 1,500-hour standard and confirm the details with the program sponsor before you start.

The PSI practical and theory exams

Since January 6, 2026, Colorado uses PSI’s national cosmetology and barber exams. Two things stand out in PSI’s Colorado barber candidate guide: the practical comes first, and the theory test can’t be scheduled until you pass it.

The practical runs about 195 minutes and needs 70% to pass. Its topic areas are: workstation preparation, haircutting, straight razor shaving, chemical wave, sodium hydroxide relaxer application, color lift, permanent hair color deposit, and preparation for the next client. It’s graded on safety and infection control, not on how good the haircut looks. Colorado candidates can take it in person or virtually.

The theory test is 85 scored questions plus 10 unscored ones in 120 minutes, also with a 70% pass mark. The biggest content area is safety and infection control (31%), followed by client consultation and hair and skin analysis (15%). It can be taken online with a remote proctor.

You get unlimited attempts within a one-year eligibility period, with a 14-day wait between practical attempts and 30 days between theory attempts.

What to bring to the Colorado practical

PSI doesn’t publish a supply list for the national practical. Its guide says to bring what you’d use to perform each topic area professionally, in a closable, unlabeled kit (suggested maximum of 24 by 24 by 24 inches). PSI’s national test-kit tutorial lists daily supplies: paper towels, a manufacturer-labeled disinfectant, gloves, hand sanitizer, a first aid kit, and single-use and multi-use bags. Aerosols aren’t allowed.

“Must the razor have a live edge? Answer: Yes. A live razor blade or dermaplaner is acceptable.”

PSI, national cosmetology and barber exam Q&A

The shave is done on a mannequin, never a live model, using free-hand, back-hand and reverse free-hand strokes. Small cans of shaving cream are allowed, and a steam towel can be pre-moistened in a zip-top bag. For the disinfectant, note that PSI’s test-kit tutorial lists “wet disinfectant or disinfectant jars” under things not to bring, so keep a jar setup with Barbicide Disinfectant Concentrate (16 oz) for the school clinic floor and ask your school which manufacturer-labeled disinfectant form to pack for test day. Leave aerosol clipper sprays at home on exam day.

Colorado barber license costs

Fee (paid to PSI)	Amount
Application, licensure by exam	$32
Barber practical	$69 ($67 retake)
Barber theory	$62 ($60 retake)

Source: PSI Colorado Barber Test Taker Guide (v1.4, Oct 21, 2025). Fees are non-refundable and valid for one year.

That’s $163 to test if you pass both on the first try. DORA’s own license and renewal fee amounts weren’t available on its fee pages when we checked (Oct 2026), so confirm them with the office.

Renewal and continuing education

All Colorado barber licenses expire on March 31 of even-numbered years, per DORA’s applications page. Renewal opens about four to five weeks before, and there’s a 60-day grace period after expiration. Colorado doesn’t require continuing education for a routine renewal. CE only comes in at reinstatement, under Rule 1.5: 16 hours if your license has been expired two to five years, and 24 hours if longer (other options exist).

Moving to Colorado: licensure by endorsement

If you hold an active barber license in another state or territory, you can apply for licensure by endorsement online through DORA. Under Rule 1.4, you qualify with training hours equal to Colorado’s, or at least 65% of the hours plus five hours of licensed work experience for each missing training hour, or at least one year holding a substantially similar license elsewhere. Verification must come from every state where you’ve been licensed (DORA notes California verifications can take up to three months). If you don’t meet the standard, you may have to take all or part of the Colorado exams.

What barbers earn in Colorado

Colorado is one of the better-paying states for employed barbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 OEWS estimates put the state’s median barber wage at $29.57 an hour, about $61,500 a year, with a mean of about $59,100 and roughly 480 barbers on payrolls. The lowest-paid 10% earned under about $33,100 a year and the top 10% more than about $81,100.

Those figures cover wage-and-salary barbers only. Self-employed barbers and booth renters, a big share of the trade, aren’t counted, so your real income depends heavily on your book of clients.

Barber schools in Colorado

Colorado has an unusual mix: public technical colleges with low tuition and federal aid, and private academies with all-in pricing. These are verified on each school’s site and College Navigator (checked Oct 2026). To compare more widely, see our best barber schools guide.

Emily Griffith Technical College (Denver)

Emily Griffith publishes a cost of about $10,200 for the current year, and the program takes 11 months full time or 17 months part time in a hybrid format. Full-time classes run Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the part-time evening option is Monday to Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. (program page). It’s marked eligible for financial aid, and College Navigator lists the program at 50 credit hours over nine months, with a lower tuition figure from an earlier year.

Pickens Technical College (Aurora)

Pickens runs a two-semester, 50-credit barbering program with a morning class (8:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m.) or an afternoon class (1:15 to 5:15 p.m.), Monday to Friday, plus an internship option (program page). It’s a public two-year college that reports federal aid on College Navigator. Costs are on the school’s separate program-costs page.

Summit Barber Academy (Aurora)

Summit’s 1,500-hour barber course lists tuition of $16,500, a $2,300 kit, a $425 book and a $250 registration fee: about $19,500 all in. It takes 10, 12 or 13 months depending on schedule, and a payment plan is available (program page). We couldn’t find it on College Navigator, so ask admissions about federal aid.

Otero College (La Junta)

Otero offers a two-semester, 50-credit barbering certificate in person, plus the barber endorsements for licensed cosmetologists (3 credits) and hairstylists (6 credits) mentioned above (catalog). It’s a public two-year college with campus housing that reports federal aid (College Navigator).

Barber school kit: what students need

Colorado’s practical covers more than cutting, so your kit has to handle shaving, chemical services and a full disinfection setup. Summit Barber Academy, for one, folds a $2,300 kit into its price; community-college students often buy tools separately. These are the cutting and sanitation tools worth owning, beyond the chemical supplies your school will specify. Our best clippers for barber school roundup goes deeper on clippers.

Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip

If a cordless fade clipper is next on your list, the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip makes a sensible first purchase. Its stagger-tooth blade was designed with blending in mind, and the cordless body lets you move freely around the chair on packed clinic days during Colorado’s 1,500-hour training. Roughly $135–155 on Amazon as of this writing.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip Price

Andis 04780 T-Outliner

Hairlines, necklines and the area around the ears are what the wide T-blade on the Andis 04780 T-Outliner, a corded trimmer, handles best. You’ll outline on nearly every cut during Colorado’s 1,500 training hours, and it’s among the least expensive tools on this list. Amazon had it near $60–80 at last check.

Check Andis 04780 T-Outliner Price

Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit

Where a shave or razor outline is part of training, you need a replaceable-blade straight razor rather than a fixed blade. The Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit is a common choice and takes disposable blades. Price: about $50–60 on Amazon at the time of writing.

Check Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit Price

Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz)

Sized for station combs and shears, the Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) is a lidded glass immersion jar holding 37 ounces, tray included; handy for Colorado’s 180-hour disinfection block. Around $25–35 on Amazon as of this writing.

Check Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) Price

Wahl Professional 5 Star Vanish Foil Shaver

A clean skin-fade finish takes a foil shaver, and Wahl’s cordless option for head and face is the Wahl Professional 5 Star Vanish Foil Shaver. You can skip it early in Colorado’s 1,500 hours and pick it up once fades are a regular part of your cutting. Roughly $110–135 on Amazon when this was written.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Vanish Foil Shaver Price

Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors

Shear-over-comb and scissor cuts are part of every barber curriculum, so you’ll want your own shears. The Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors is a low-cost 6.5-inch pair for practice before you buy a premium set. Price: about $12–20 on Amazon at the time of writing.

Check Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors Price

BeautifyBeauties Continuous Spray Bottle

A continuous-mist bottle keeps hair damp for scissor work. The BeautifyBeauties Continuous Spray Bottle holds 16.9 ounces and sprays a fine, even mist. Price: about $8–12 on Amazon at the time of writing.

Check BeautifyBeauties Continuous Spray Bottle Price

Bottom line: train for the practical, not just the haircut

Colorado’s path is 1,500 hours, the PSI practical, then the theory test, and the practical’s chemical, color and razor-shave topic areas are where unprepared candidates get surprised. Pick a school with strong chemical training, practice your shave strokes on a mannequin with a live blade, and build a kit around a dependable cordless clipper like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip. Our barber starter kit guide covers the rest of the setup at three budgets.

FAQ

How many hours is barber school in Colorado? 1,500 contact hours, or 50 credit hours at a college. Full-time programs we checked run 9 to 13 months, and Emily Griffith’s part-time evening schedule takes 17 months.

Which exam do you take first in Colorado? The practical. PSI’s Colorado guide says you must pass the practical before you can pay for and schedule the theory test.

Is a straight razor shave on the Colorado barber exam? Yes. Straight razor shaving is one of the practical’s topic areas, done on a mannequin with a live blade or dermaplaner.

Do Colorado barbers need continuing education? Not for a routine renewal. CE applies only when reinstating a license that’s been expired at least two years: 16 hours for two to five years, 24 hours beyond that.

Can a cosmetologist become a barber in Colorado? Yes. Colorado lets hours from one license count toward another, and some colleges, such as Otero College, offer short barber endorsement programs for licensed cosmetologists and hairstylists.

Sources

• DORA Office of Barber and Cosmetology Licensure
• DORA barber applications and renewal info
• 4 CCR 731-1 Rule 1.2 (Cornell LII)
• 4 CCR 731-1 Rule 1.4
• 4 CCR 731-1 Rule 1.5
• DORA 2025 sunset review
• Colorado HB26-1181
• PSI Colorado barber candidate guide
• PSI national exam Q&A
• BLS OEWS: Barbers (39-5011), May 2025

Licensing rules, fees and hours can change. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with your state barber board before you enroll or apply.