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

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If you want to know how to become a barber in Montana, the short answer is an 1,100-hour barber course at a licensed school (or 900 hours for a “nonchemical” barber license), then the national written and practical exams through Prov, with at least 75% on each. Since November 2025 a registered apprenticeship counts too. Montana schools report about 10–11 months of full-time study, and most students start with a cordless clipper such as the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip.

Montana barber requirements at a glance

Montana licenses barbers through the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, which sits inside the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) in Helena. The core rules are in section 37-31-304 of the Montana Code and in chapter 24.121 of the Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM). The board’s barber application checklist lists the same four basics: age, education, the course, and the exams.

Item	Montana rule
Training	1,100 hrs (barber) or 900 hrs (nonchemical)
Minimum age	18
Education	High school diploma or equivalent
Exams	NIC theory + practical via Prov, 75%
Application	$100
Renewal	Every 2 years, $100

Two details set Montana apart. The minimum age is 18, a year older than many states, and the statute also requires good moral character, so expect personal history questions on the application. Montana also counts a school “hour” as 50 minutes of instructional time under the board’s definitions rule, which matters when you compare schedules.

Barber vs. barber nonchemical

Montana has a separate barber nonchemical license. Under section 37-31-304, a barber needs an 1,100-hour course, while a nonchemical barber needs 900 hours. The difference shows up in the required course content in ARM 24.121.604: both cover haircutting, shampoo and scalp treatments, hairstyling, blow drying and flat ironing, straight-razor facial shaving and skin care, but only the full barber course adds hair coloring, lightening, waving and relaxing.

If you know you only want to cut, fade and shave, the nonchemical license saves about 200 hours. If you might ever offer color or texture services, the full barber license keeps that door open without going back to school.

Montana also lets students take theory and classroom practical education through distance learning, as long as it is two-way, interactive and real time; all floor work on the public must be in person (ARM 24.121.604). Ask any school you visit how much of its course runs online.

School vs. the new apprenticeship route

Until late 2025, school was the only way to a Montana barber license. That changed with House Bill 336, passed by the 2025 Legislature, which requires the board to license a person who completes a registered apprenticeship in barbering or barbering nonchemical. The apprentice must still meet the same exam and fee requirements as a school graduate.

The board adopted rules putting the law into practice, and they took effect November 22, 2025. Apprenticeships run through DLI’s Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program, which oversees the employer, the mentor and the apprentice. Under the board’s updated definitions rule, a mentor must hold an active license in that field, have been licensed for at least six years, and have worked at least 1,500 hours a year for the previous six years.

How long does it take? The state program says a registered apprenticeship occupation requires a minimum of 2,000 hours of experience, plus related instruction. Get the exact barber curriculum from the Registered Apprenticeship Program before you commit, because the details sit in brand-new rules and the board says updated FAQs are still coming.

The Montana barber exams

Montana uses the national theory and practical exams from the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC), and all NIC exams for Montana are administered by Prov, Inc. The order is unusual: you apply for your license first, and if you meet every requirement except the exams, board staff approve you to register with Prov. You need at least 75% on each exam (ARM 24.121.611, per the checklist).

Exam fees are paid to Prov when you register, not to the board, so check Prov’s Montana page for the current amounts. The NIC barber practical is a hands-on test, so plan to practice timed haircuts and a straight-razor shave on a mannequin before your date, and bring every tool and supply the bulletin lists.

Fees

The board’s barber license page lists these fees, all nonrefundable. The application fee rose from $80 when the November 2025 rules took effect, so older checklists still show the lower number.

Fee	Amount
License application	$100
Renewal (2 years)	$100
Theory and practical exams	Paid to Prov; see Prov
Late renewal window	45 days, to April 15

Paying the fee is what actually submits your online application. Staff say they will email you within ten business days if they need more documents, so use an inbox you check.

Step-by-step: getting licensed in Montana

1. Decide between the barber (1,100 hours) and barber nonchemical (900 hours) license.
2. Enroll at a board-licensed school, or find a sponsor through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
3. Finish the course and get your diploma or completion record.
4. Apply online through the state licensing portal and pay the $100 fee.
5. Once staff approve you, register with Prov for the NIC theory and practical exams.
6. Pass both with 75% or better and send proof of passage to finish your license.

Renewal and continuing education

Montana barber licenses renew every two years. The regular renewal window for individuals runs January 2 to March 1, with online late renewal for 45 days until April 15, and the renewal fee is $100. The good news: the board’s education page says only teachers have continuing-education requirements, so working barbers do not need CE hours to renew.

Moving to Montana with a license

Section 37-31-304 requires the board to license an out-of-state barber without an exam if the other state’s required hours are equal to or greater than Montana’s and the license is current and free of pending or final discipline. Because Montana requires 1,100 hours, a barber from a state that required 1,100 hours or more clears that test. The 2025 Legislature also passed House Bill 246, which defines “substantial equivalency” for people already licensed elsewhere; the board implemented it in the November 2025 rules and publishes its substantial equivalency determinations on its site.

If you only need to work in Montana briefly, the board now offers a 21-day temporary registration for people licensed in good standing elsewhere, limited to reasons such as providing education or serving underserved clients. It is not a way to start a regular job, so check the eligibility list before applying.

Cosmetologist to barber

A Montana-licensed cosmetologist does not have to repeat a full barber course. ARM 24.121.807 defines a “supplemental barbering course” of at least 125 hours of clipper cuts and 25 hours of facial, neck and outline shaving, taken at a licensed barber school by someone already licensed, before the barber exam. Both federally aided schools below list a 150-hour barbering program on College Navigator, which matches that course. Because the board updated curricula in November 2025, confirm the current hours with the board.

Recent changes

2025 was a big year for Montana’s barber rules. The board adopted a rule package (MAR Notice 2025-221) that took effect November 22, 2025 and did four things for barbers: created the registered apprenticeship route under HB 336; raised application and renewal fees to $100; made minor updates to school curricula and equipment; and implemented HB 246 on substantial equivalency for licensees from other states. The board also dropped the requirement for public restrooms inside licensed premises, which matters if you plan to open a small shop later.

What Montana barbers earn

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish a Montana estimate for barbers in its May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release; the state figure is suppressed. For context, the national figures for barbers were a mean of $47,070 a year and a median of $38,210, with about 15,000 employed nationwide.

One limit applies to any federal pay figure here: OEWS surveys payroll workers only. Montana barbers who rent a booth or own their shop, which in a state this small is most of them, never show up in it, and tip income is often under-reported.

Barber schools in Montana

Montana has only a handful of schools that teach barbering, and the board’s licensee lookup lists every licensed one. These were checked on the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator in October 2026. For more on picking a program, see our guide to finding the right barber school near you.

Aveda Institute Montana (Billings)

Aveda Institute’s Billings campus, at 901 24th Street West, teaches barbering as an 1,100-clock-hour program. For 2024–25, College Navigator reports tuition and fees near $13,300, with roughly $2,500 more for books and supplies; students take 11 months on average, and the school qualifies for federal aid. A shorter 150-hour barbering program shows up in the same listing.

Montana Academy of Salons (Great Falls)

Up in Great Falls, the campus at 501 2nd Street South runs its barbering course over 1,100 clock hours as well. Its College Navigator entry puts 2024–25 tuition and fees around $14,500 and books and supplies near $2,200, reports a typical finish in 10 months, and confirms the school can award federal aid. Navigator also shows a 150-hour barbering option here.

Crevier’s Academy of Cosmetology Arts (Kalispell)

This Kalispell school at 240 West Idaho reports barbering among its programs on College Navigator, which also lists it as federal aid eligible. Navigator does not show a barber tuition figure, so ask the school directly for barber hours, cost and start dates.

Barber school kit: what students need

Most Montana schools include a kit in tuition, so check yours before buying extras. The list below covers what the course content in ARM 24.121.604 asks you to learn, from clipper cuts to straight-razor shaves. For more options, see our guide to the best clippers for barber school.

The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip is a common first clipper for fades and tapers. Its adjustable blade and cordless design suit clinic floor work, where you move around the chair.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip Price

A trimmer handles outlines, beards and detail work. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Detailer Li is a cordless trimmer many students use for the clean edges that the supplemental course’s outline shaving hours also focus on.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Detailer Li Price

Guards keep your lengths consistent while you learn to blend. The Andis 01410 Master Dual Magnet Comb Set fits Andis Master-style clippers.

Check Andis 01410 Master Dual Magnet Comb Set Price

Straight-razor facial shaving is required content for both barber licenses. The Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit uses replaceable blades, which makes sanitation simpler.

Check Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit Price

Shear work is part of every haircut course. The Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors is an affordable pair for students still finding their preferred length.

Check Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors Price

Blade care matters when a clipper runs all day on the clinic floor. Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 Clipper Spray cools, lubricates and cleans blades between clients.

Check Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 Clipper Spray Price

Client setup counts on practical exams. The Barber Strong The Barber Cape is a popular student cape, and Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) keep hair off the client’s neck on every service.

Check Barber Strong The Barber Cape Price

How to choose a Montana barber school

• Pick your license first. Make sure the school offers the full 1,100-hour barber course if you want chemical services, or a 900-hour nonchemical course if not.
• Ask about distance learning. Theory can be taught live online in Montana, which can help if you live far from Billings, Great Falls or Kalispell.
• Compare the full cost. Navigator lists books and supplies separately from tuition.
• Check aid. Confirm federal aid eligibility on College Navigator if you need Pell Grants or loans.
• Weigh an apprenticeship. If a shop near you will sponsor you, the new apprenticeship route may let you earn while you train.

FAQ

How many hours do you need to be a barber in Montana?
An 1,100-hour course for a barber license, or 900 hours for a barber nonchemical license, both at a licensed school. A registered apprenticeship is also allowed since November 22, 2025.

Can you become a barber in Montana through an apprenticeship?
Yes, since November 22, 2025. House Bill 336 and the board’s new rules recognize registered apprenticeships run through DLI’s Registered Apprenticeship Program. You still pass the same NIC exams and pay the same fees.

How old do you have to be to get a barber license in Montana?
At least 18, with a high school diploma or equivalent, under section 37-31-304. The board can grant exceptions to the diploma requirement by rule.

Do Montana barbers need continuing education?
No. The board says only teachers have continuing-education requirements. Barbers renew every two years for $100.

Can I transfer my barber license to Montana?
Usually. Montana licenses out-of-state barbers without an exam if their state required equal or more hours and their license is current and free of discipline. If your state required at least 1,100 hours, you meet the hours test.

How much do barbers make in Montana?
BLS did not publish a Montana barber wage estimate for May 2025. Nationally, barbers earned a mean of $47,070 and a median of $38,210, and those figures leave out self-employed barbers.

Final take

Montana is a lighter-hour state with real choices: an 1,100-hour full barber license, a 900-hour nonchemical license, and since late 2025 a registered apprenticeship. Decide which license fits the work you want, line up a school or sponsor, and get comfortable with the NIC practical before you book Prov. A dependable clipper such as the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip is a solid first buy; our barber starter kit guide covers the rest.

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.