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

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If you want to know how to become a barber in Nebraska, the short answer is 1,800 hours at one of the state’s board-approved barber schools, then a written test and a live-model practical exam run by the Nebraska Board of Barber Examiners itself. Nebraska’s two barber schools say the course takes about 12 to 13 months, and the board tests only four Sundays a year. The clipper most students reach for first is a cordless model like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip.

Nebraska barber requirements at a glance

Nebraska runs barbering through its own standalone board. The Board of Barber Examiners in Lincoln is separate from the cosmetology licensing office, writes and gives its own exam, and licenses every barber, shop and school under the Barber Act (sections 71-201 to 71-261 of the Nebraska statutes). Its home page lists five requirements for a barber license.

Item	Nebraska rule
Education	High school diploma or GED
Minimum age	17
Training	1,800 hours at an approved barber school
Exam	Written + practical, given by the board
Exam and license	$300 (includes 2-year license)
Renewal	$150; all licenses expire June 30 of even years

A Nebraska barber license is tied to barbershops. The board’s FAQ says a person licensed only as a barber may work only in a licensed barbershop, though one location can hold both a barbershop and a cosmetology salon license. The Barber Act also recognizes licensed mobile barber shops, defined as self-contained, enclosed mobile units, if you picture yourself cutting on the road someday (section 71-202.01).

Barber school in Nebraska

Under section 71-208, an approved barber school must require at least 1,800 hours of instruction before graduation, with no more than 10 hours counted in any one working day. The law spells out the core subjects: the scientific fundamentals of barbering, hygiene, massage, sterilization, haircutting and shaving. Postsecondary barber schools must require a high school diploma or GED before admission, and every new student’s start date must be registered with the board.

Nebraska does not offer a barber apprenticeship route; the board’s requirements list graduation from an approved barber school, and the Barber Act defines a student as someone attending a licensed barber school. The board also says it does not issue temporary barber licenses, so you cannot cut for pay between graduation and your exam results.

The 10-hour daily cap matters for planning. Even at the 10-hour maximum every day, 1,800 hours takes at least 180 school days, which is why both Nebraska schools quote a year or more.

The Nebraska barber exam

Nebraska’s board conducts the barber exam itself rather than sending candidates to a national testing vendor. Section 71-210 requires both a practical demonstration and a written test, offered at least four times a year, and if you fail one part you retake only that part. The board’s 2026–2027 exam calendar shows exams on Sundays in January, April, July and October, alternating between Xenon Academy in Omaha and College of Hair Design in Lincoln, with a filing deadline about two weeks before each date.

The practical is done on live people, not mannequins, and you bring two of them. Per the board’s practical exam instructions (dated March 2026):

• First model (1 hour): long hair, 4 to 6 inches preferred. Scalp massage and shampoo, roll ten permanent wave rods, a haircut checked while still wet, then a blow-dry style.
• Second model (1 hour): tapered hair. A shave, a facial using movements only with no lubricant cream, and a tapered haircut; block haircuts are not allowed.

The board inspects both models and can reject one that does not fit the test, and you must remove at least half an inch of hair from all parts of the scalp. You supply your own instruments and supplies, including haircutting and shaving tools, lather, styptic, a dryer and styling tools, perm rods and end papers, a hair cloth and neck strips, steam and paper towels, shampoo, gloves and isopropyl alcohol. Phones are not allowed for examinees or models, and no barber instructors may be in the practical area. Results usually come within a week, according to the board.

If you fail: the 2025 retake law

Nebraska changed its retake rules in 2025. LB 160, approved by the governor on March 11, 2025, amended section 71-216.01. Before, a graduate who failed twice had to complete another 500 hours of school before a third attempt. Under the new law, you can take the exam up to two more times after a first failure without more schooling. If you fail a third time, you must complete 500 more hours of barber school (no more than 10 a day) before testing again.

There is a shortcut built in: after 250 of those extra hours, the board may let you demonstrate proficiency to waive the rest. If you then fail again, you finish the remaining 250 hours before a fifth attempt. Since exams come only four times a year, each retake can cost you a season, so it pays to practice on real models well before your first date.

Fees

The board’s fee schedule lists these barber fees.

Fee	Amount
Student exam (includes 2-year license)	$300
Re-exam, practical only	$90
Renewal (2 years)	$150
Late fee	$60
Restoration, per year	$65
Reciprocity or credentials application	$295
License issuance	$10

The $300 exam fee activates your license through the next June 30 of an even-numbered year, so the exam and your first license are one payment. Tuition, your kit and the cost of bringing two models are separate.

Step-by-step: getting licensed in Nebraska

1. Earn your high school diploma or GED, and be at least 17.
2. Enroll at one of the board-approved barber schools; the school registers your start date with the board.
3. Complete 1,800 hours and graduate.
4. Send the student exam application to the board at least 15 days before the exam, with the $300 fee, two signed photos, and copies of your birth certificate, diploma or GED, and barber school diploma.
5. Line up two models who fit the practical requirements.
6. Pass the written test and the practical; the board then issues your license.

Renewal

Every license the board issues, whether barber, shop, school or instructor, expires on June 30 of even-numbered years. The next deadline is June 30, 2028. Renewal is $150 for two years; after the deadline you add a $60 late fee, and long-expired licenses carry a $65-per-year restoration fee. You can pay online through the state’s payment portal, by mail, or in person in Lincoln, but not by phone. The board’s FAQ and fee schedule list no continuing-education requirement for barbers; confirm with the board if you are unsure.

Moving to Nebraska with a license

Nebraska offers two out-of-state routes, both with a $295 application that includes the two-year license. The board can license barbers from states it has a reciprocal agreement with, and under section 71-239.01 it can license someone without an exam if they show that their state’s requirements are substantially equivalent to Nebraska’s. The board must decide within 60 days. You submit the board’s “Licensure by Reciprocity or Credentials” form plus a license certification from your current state, and the FAQ notes that each case differs, so call before you move.

Cosmetologist to barber

A Nebraska cosmetologist with a current license gets 1,000 hours of credit toward barber school, according to the board’s FAQ, and then must pass the barber exam. In practice that means roughly 800 more hours. College of Hair Design runs this as an 826-hour “Barber Arts Dual License Program” for licensed Nebraska cosmetologists.

What Nebraska barbers earn

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, Nebraska barbers earned a mean wage of $43,950 a year ($21.13 an hour) and a median of $39,090 ($18.79 an hour); BLS did not publish a state employment count. Nationally, the barber mean was $47,070 and the median $38,210, so Nebraska’s median sits slightly above the national figure while its mean is a bit lower.

OEWS counts wage-and-salary employees only, so booth renters, shop owners and other self-employed barbers, a large share of the trade, are not in these numbers, and tips may be under-reported.

Barber schools in Nebraska

The board’s home page lists just two Nebraska schools of barbering, and they are also the state’s two exam sites. Facts below are from each school’s own site and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator, checked in October 2026. For tips on comparing programs, see our guide to finding the right barber school near you.

College of Hair Design (Lincoln)

Based at 304 South 11th Street downtown, College of Hair Design says its barber program is 1,800 hours over a 12-month period, covering haircutting, styling, shaving and product knowledge. It also runs the 826-hour Barber Arts Dual License Program for licensed cosmetologists. College Navigator lists the school as federal aid eligible, shows a 13-month average and 2024–25 tuition and fees of about $20,000 (plus about $3,000 for books and supplies) for the 1,800-hour program, and about $8,200 plus about $3,000 for the 826-hour program.

Xenon Academy (Omaha)

Xenon Academy’s Omaha campus at 8516 Park Drive offers the 1,800-hour barbering course. The school lists tuition of about $19,300, a $100 registration fee and a kit fee of about $2,900, with classes Tuesday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and no classes on Mondays or weekends. It offers financial aid to those who qualify, and College Navigator lists it as federal aid eligible with a 13-month average completion.

Barber school kit: what students need

Both Nebraska schools charge for a kit, so check what it includes before you buy. Because the board’s practical has you bring every tool for a shave, a taper and a wet haircut on live models, the list below doubles as exam prep. Our guide to essential barber tools covers more.

The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip handles the tapered haircut on your second model and daily fades on the clinic floor. Its adjustable blade lets you blend without constant guard changes.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip Price

Clean outlines count on a taper. The Andis 04780 T-Outliner is a long-running shop standard for necklines and edges.

Check Andis 04780 T-Outliner Price

The practical includes a shave on a live model, and the Barber Act lists shaving as a core subject. The Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit uses replaceable blades, which helps with sanitation.

Check Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit Price

Your first model gets a long-hair haircut checked while wet, so shear control matters. The Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors is an affordable student pair.

Check Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors Price

The supply list calls for a hair cloth and neck strips. The Barber Strong The Barber Cape is a popular student cape, and Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) cover the neckline on every service.

Check Barber Strong The Barber Cape Price

Disinfection runs through the whole exam. A Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) keeps combs and tools immersed between clients on the school floor.

Check Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) Price

Clippers run hot over long clinic days. Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 Clipper Spray cools, cleans and lubricates blades between clients.

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

Choosing between Nebraska’s schools

• Location and schedule. Lincoln or Omaha is the first filter. Xenon publishes a Tuesday–Friday day schedule; ask College of Hair Design for its current barber start dates and hours.
• Full cost. Compare tuition plus kit, registration and the $300 exam fee.
• Aid. Both are listed as federal aid eligible on College Navigator; ask each school about its own scholarships.
• Crossover. If you already hold a cosmetology license, ask about the shorter dual-license route.
• Exam prep. Ask how the school helps you practice the two-model practical and find models.

FAQ

How long does it take to become a barber in Nebraska?
The 1,800-hour course takes about 12 to 13 months at Nebraska’s two schools, and the board tests only four times a year, so plan on 13 to 15 months from your first day to a license.

How many hours is barber school in Nebraska?
At least 1,800 hours, with no more than 10 hours counted in a single day, under section 71-208. Licensed cosmetologists get 1,000 hours of credit.

Can you do a barber apprenticeship in Nebraska?
No. Nebraska requires graduation from a board-approved barber school, and the board does not issue temporary barber licenses.

Do you need models for the Nebraska barber exam?
Yes, two live models: one with 4–6 inch hair for a shampoo, perm-rod wrap, wet haircut and blow-dry, and one with tapered hair for a shave, facial and taper. The board can reject a model that does not fit.

How much does a Nebraska barber license cost?
The student exam fee is $300 and includes your first two-year license. Renewal is $150 every two years, due June 30 of even-numbered years.

How much do barbers make in Nebraska?
BLS reported a May 2025 mean of $43,950 and a median of $39,090 for Nebraska barbers on payroll. Self-employed barbers are not included.

Final take

Nebraska asks a lot: 1,800 hours, only two schools, and a live-model practical given by the board four times a year. The upside is a clear path and, since LB 160, more forgiving retakes. Pick Lincoln or Omaha, line up your two models early, and build a kit that can handle a shave and a taper, starting with a dependable clipper like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip. 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.