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

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Here’s how to become a barber in Maine: finish 800 hours at a licensed school (at least five months) or 1,600 hours as a licensed trainee in a shop, then pass the national written and practical exams. Most full-time students are licensed in six to nine months, one of the shortest routes in New England, and most arrive at the exam with a kit built around a cordless clipper such as the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior.

Maine’s rules changed shape in 2019, and plenty of older guides still quote the old 1,500-hour barber requirement. Below is the current path from the state’s Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program and the statutes behind it, the real exam and license costs, what Maine barbers earn, and two schools with published prices.

Maine’s barber license: what it covers

Maine doesn’t issue a license called simply “barber” anymore. Under 32 MRSA §14227-A, the license is Barber Hair Stylist, and only people who hold it may call themselves barbers or barber hair stylists. The state’s definition of barber hair styling covers shaving and trimming beards and mustaches, cutting, arranging and styling hair, shampooing and conditioning, scalp and facial massage and treatments, and cutting or fitting hairpieces and wigs.

What it doesn’t include is chemical work. Perms, relaxers and color fall under cosmetology, which in Maine takes 1,500 school hours over at least nine months or 2,500 trainee hours over at least 18 months. If you want to color clients’ hair as well as fade it, you’re looking at a cosmetology license instead of, or on top of, the barber license. The program’s own forms still call the 800-hour school route and the 1,600-hour traineeship “limited barber”, so don’t be thrown when you see that label.

Requirements at a glance

Requirement	Maine rule
School route	800 hours, at least 5 months
Trainee route	1,600 hours, at least 10 months
Exams	NIC Barber 1 written + practical
Exam deadline	Pass both within 1 year
License term	1 year, renews October 31
Annual fee	$20
Continuing education	None listed

One thing you won’t find in that table is a minimum age or a schooling requirement written into the licensing law. The 2019 rewrite of the statute (Public Law 2019, chapter 373) repealed the age and education subsections from the barber hair styling section. Individual schools still set their own entry rules, though: Spa Tech Institute’s program listing, for example, requires a high school diploma or equivalent.

Route 1: 800 hours at a licensed school

The school route is 800 hours spread over no fewer than five months, at a school licensed by the program director. In practice, programs run longer than the legal minimum. The Aveda Institute Maine prices its program on finishing in six to eight months, and Spa Tech Institute says full-time students can be ready for the exam in as little as eight months.

When you finish, your school completes the program’s affidavit/transcript showing the 800 hours. The affidavit also has a box for a career and technical education (CTE) course, so some Maine students build hours through a high school CTE program. Ask your local CTE center whether it runs one.

Route 2: 1,600 hours as a trainee

Maine is one of the states where you can learn entirely in a working shop. The trainee route takes 1,600 hours over at least ten months, and the rules are tighter than many people expect. According to the program’s qualified supervisor packet:

• You must hold a trainee license before any hours count. Hours logged before it’s issued are treated as unlicensed practice.
• Your supervisor (or a secondary supervisor) must be present and in line of sight whenever you’re logging hours, and training happens in a Level 1 establishment.
• The supervisor keeps records of every hour and topic and files the completion affidavit within ten days of finishing.

Under 32 MRSA §14232, a Level 1 shop can have no more than five trainees at once, a Level 2 shop only one, and any single supervisor no more than two. A trainee barber license costs $10, lasts 18 months from issue, and can be renewed no more than twice. Pay is between you and the shop; the program’s FAQ points shop owners to the Department of Labor for wage questions.

The NIC exams through Prov

Maine uses the National-Interstate Council (NIC) Barber 1 written and practical exams, administered by Prov, Inc. The details are in the state’s candidate information bulletin (February 2026):

• The written exam costs $99 and can be taken remotely or at a Prov testing center.
• The practical costs $149, and every practical is taken remotely, on camera, from your own setup.
• You need a full-size mannequin head for the practical; “minikin” or “junior” heads aren’t allowed, and your kit must fit under your work area.
• You must pass both exams within one year, or retake both.
• The remote system runs on a Mac, PC or Chromebook, not an iPad or tablet.

School graduates register at provexam.com, and the school is notified electronically to confirm the hours. Since 2012 there’s been no separate Maine laws-and-rules exam; instead you attest on your application that you’ll read and follow the state’s barbering and cosmetology laws and rules.

Fees

Maine’s license fees are set in the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation’s fee rule (02-041 CMR chapter 10), and exam fees are paid to Prov.

Fee	Amount
Trainee license	$10 (per term)
NIC written exam	$99
NIC practical exam	$149
Barber Hair Stylist license	$20 per year
Late renewal	$50 (plus $25 after 90 days)

That puts the state-side cost of licensing at roughly $270 for a school graduate, which is very low. Check the current application for any additional processing fee before you file.

Renewal and continuing education

Barber Hair Stylist licenses renew every year on October 31 for $20, and the program emails a reminder with your access code at least 30 days before. Renew late and there’s a $50 late fee. More than 90 days late, you file a new application with the fee, the $50 late fee and a $25 penalty, and once a license has lapsed four years or more you pay the required fee and retake the exam. The program’s continuing-education page lists no requirement for barbers.

The program’s FAQ adds two useful notes: you can keep a Maine license while living out of state as long as your contact details stay current, and a licensed barber can work in clients’ homes (including nursing homes and hospitals) within the scope of their license without an extra license.

Moving to Maine with an out-of-state license

Maine is unusually open here. Under 32 MRSA §14231, the director may license anyone who shows proof of a license from another U.S. state or jurisdiction, as long as there’s no ground to deny it. People licensed in another country can qualify if that country’s standards are equivalent or higher, and the program publishes a list of accepted credentialing agencies. If you trained elsewhere but never got licensed, you can still qualify for Maine’s exams with proof of equivalent schooling or trainee experience. Section 14231-A separately sets up licensure by endorsement under the state’s general endorsement law. Out-of-state candidates who need to test register with Prov, and the program decides eligibility.

What changed recently

2019: barbering became barber hair styling. Public Law 2019, chapter 373, repealed the old barbering and limited barbering licenses and created the Barber Hair Stylist license with the 800/1,600-hour routes, and removed the age and education requirements from the statute. If a guide quotes 1,500 hours for a Maine barber license, it’s out of date.

Remote practicals. The 2026 candidate bulletin confirms that all practical exams are now remote, which saves a trip but means your camera, lighting and kit setup matter on exam day. Read the remote practical instructions attached to the bulletin before you book.

What barbers earn in Maine

Maine had roughly 50 barbers on payrolls in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Their median pay was $16.97 an hour, or $35,300 a year, while the mean reached $22.50 an hour ($46,800); a mean that far above the median points to a handful of top earners lifting the average. The national median sits at $38,210.

That survey covers wage-and-salary employees only. Booth renters and shop owners aren’t counted, and tips are often under-reported, so treat these as a floor for employed barbers rather than a ceiling.

Barber schools in Maine

Maine has only a handful of barber hair stylist programs, so most students choose between a school and a traineeship. Here are two schools with published costs, checked in October 2026.

Aveda Institute Maine (Capilo School of Hair Design), Augusta

Operating as Capilo School of Hair Design at 43 Bridge Street in Augusta, the Aveda Institute Maine runs an 800-hour barber hair stylist course covering fades, line-ups, scissor cuts, straight-razor shaves, face and head shaves, and state exam prep. Its published total is about $14,100: $11,900 in tuition, a $1,500 student kit, $595 in books and a $100 registration fee, with tuition based on finishing in six to eight months. College Navigator lists the school as eligible for Pell Grants and federal loans.

Spa Tech Institute, Westbrook

Spa Tech’s Westbrook campus at 100 Larrabee Road runs an 800-hour Barber Hair Stylist program that mixes live online classes with on-campus training. On the state’s Maine JobLink training registry, the program listing shows a 34-week daytime program at about $13,700 all-in: about $11,000 in tuition, about $2,200 for supplies and tools, about $400 for books and a $50 application fee. It’s approved for WIOA workforce funding, NACCAS-accredited, and accepts Pell Grants and federal Direct Loans, per the same listing and College Navigator. Spa Tech’s program page says full- and part-time schedules are available.

For more on comparing programs, see our guide to the best barber schools and how to compare them.

Barber school kit: what students need

Both Maine schools above charge for a kit (Aveda’s is $1,500, Spa Tech budgets about $2,200 for supplies and tools), so find out what’s in it first. Then think about the remote practical: you’ll work on a full-size mannequin, on camera, with everything within reach of your station. These are the tools students most often add or upgrade.

A cordless clipper with power to spare. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior is a full-size cordless clipper that handles bulk removal and tapers on thick mannequin hair. Expect about $175–195.

Check Wahl Cordless Senior Price

A detailing trimmer. Outlines and neck work are where examiners look closely. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Detailer Li has a wide T-blade for crisp lines, at about $110–130.

Check Wahl Detailer Li Price

Shears for the scissor portion. Barber hair styling includes scissor cutting, and you’ll practise scissor-over-comb constantly. The Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors are an inexpensive Japanese stainless pair for daily practice, at about $12–20.

Check Equinox Barber Scissors Price

A razor for shaves and outlines. Shaving is squarely inside Maine’s barber scope. The Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit uses replaceable blades and runs about $50–60.

Check Feather Styling Razor Price

Guards that stay put. If your kit clipper is an Andis Master-style clipper, the Andis 01410 Master Dual Magnet Comb Set are magnetic guards that snap on and stay on, at about $30–40.

Check Andis Master Guards Price

Sanitation basics. On Maine’s remote practical, the graded disinfection steps happen on camera at your setup. A Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) (about $25–35) handles combs and guards, and a can of Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 Clipper Spray (about $10–15) covers blades.

Check Barbicide Jar Price

For budget-tiered ideas, see our best barber starter kit picks and our list of essential barber tools for beginners.

Choosing between school and a traineeship

School is faster and more structured. With an 800-hour minimum, a full-time student can finish in six to eight months and gets exam prep built in. Both schools above accept federal aid.

A traineeship costs less in tuition but takes longer. You’ll need 1,600 hours over ten months or more, a willing Level 1 shop and a qualified supervisor who has room (each can supervise only two trainees). The upside is building a clientele while you learn.

Decide about chemical services up front. If you want to do color or texture work, the barber license won’t cover it. Price out a cosmetology program before you commit.

Plan for the remote practical. Ask any school how it prepares students for testing on camera with a full-size mannequin.

FAQ

How many hours do you need to be a barber in Maine? 800 hours at a licensed school over at least five months, or 1,600 hours as a licensed trainee over at least ten months, under 32 MRSA §14227-A.

How long does barber school take in Maine? Usually six to nine months full time. Aveda Institute Maine prices its program on six to eight months, and Spa Tech’s state listing shows 34 weeks.

Can you become a barber in Maine without going to school? Yes. The trainee route lets you train in a licensed Level 1 shop under a qualified supervisor for 1,600 hours, with a trainee license from day one.

What exam do Maine barbers take? The NIC Barber 1 written ($99) and practical ($149), both through Prov, Inc. The practical is taken remotely with a full-size mannequin, and you must pass both within one year.

Can a Maine barber do hair color? Not on a Barber Hair Stylist license. Chemical services fall under cosmetology, which requires 1,500 school hours or 2,500 trainee hours.

Does Maine accept barber licenses from other states? The director may license anyone with a current license from another U.S. state when there’s no ground for denial, under 32 MRSA §14231. Contact the program before you move.

The bottom line on becoming a barber in Maine

Maine has one of the shortest, least expensive paths to a barber license in New England: 800 hours, two NIC exams and a $20 license. The trade-off is scope, since chemical services need a cosmetology license. Choose school or a traineeship based on how fast you want to finish, prepare early for the remote practical, and build your kit around a dependable clipper like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior. For more on finding the right program, read our guide to choosing a barber school near you.

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.