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

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Arizona is one of the faster states to become a barber in. You need 1,200 hours of barber school, which is 300 fewer than many states, or a registered apprenticeship. Then you pass two computer-based NIC exams with a 75. Arizona has no hands-on practical exam, so your clipper skills, built on tools like the Wahl 5 Star Cordless Senior, are proven in school rather than in front of examiners.

Who licenses barbers in Arizona

The Arizona Barbering and Cosmetology Board licenses barbers (bcb.az.gov). It was created in 2021 when the Legislature merged the old Board of Barbers and Board of Cosmetology. The board has nine governor-appointed members, including a barber and a barber-school owner. It’s based at 1740 W Adams St in Phoenix but doesn’t offer in-person services, so plan to apply and ask questions online or by phone (480-784-4539).

The law changed again in 2024. HB 2168 repealed Arizona’s separate barbering statutes and moved barbers into the cosmetology chapter, Title 32, Chapter 5. Barber licensing is now in A.R.S. 32-512.02. Older guides that cite the former barber chapter (Chapter 3 of Title 32) are out of date (Senate fact sheet).

Three ways to qualify

Under A.R.S. 32-512.02, you qualify for the barber exams in one of three ways:

• Arizona barber school: finish a barbering course of at least 1,200 hours at a school the board licenses.
• Out-of-state school: graduate from a barbering school in another state that had substantially the same requirements.
• Apprenticeship: complete a barbering apprenticeship approved by the US Department of Labor or the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). It must include at least 250 hours of infection protection and law review instruction.

At 1,200 hours, Arizona’s school requirement is lighter than the 1,500 that states such as Tennessee and Louisiana require. A full-time student at 30 hours a week finishes in about 40 weeks, and College Navigator lists a 10-month average at International Barber College.

In an apprenticeship, you train under a board-approved “mentor,” a licensed barber or cosmetologist, in a board-licensed shop (A.R.S. 32-501). The statute doesn’t set the total apprenticeship hours. DES or the sponsoring program sets the term, so get it in writing before you commit.

Licensed Arizona cosmetologists and hairstylists have a short crossover. A 200-hour barbering-techniques course at a board-licensed school qualifies them for the barber license. Many schools run it as a short program, and some list it for about $1,600 to $3,600.

Age and education

You must meet one of two standards. You can be at least 16 with credit for at least two years of high school or the equivalent. Or you can be at least 18, with no education requirement. That makes Arizona one of the more open states for adults who didn’t finish high school.

The NIC exams: no hands-on practical

Arizona’s board contracts with Professional Credential Services (PCS) to run the national NIC exams. You take them on a computer at an Iso-Quality Testing center (PCS Arizona Barber Candidate Handbook, rev. 9/2024). There are two:

• NIC National Barber Styling Theory exam: 110 questions (100 scored) in 90 minutes.
• NIC National Barber Written Practical exam: 60 questions (50 scored) in 120 minutes. It asks about practical procedures on screen, with no model or mannequin.

You need 75 on each exam. If you fail one, the board says you only retake that part. But if more than a year passes between your first attempt and the retake, you have to take both again (board exam information). The order is: register with PCS, pass both exams, then apply to the board for your license.

No hands-on exam doesn’t mean less skill is expected. It means your school is where you prove it, so choose a school with a busy clinic floor.

Fees

• Exams (PCS): $177 for theory and practical together ($100 theory, $77 practical), the same for retakes.
• Initial license: $40 under the board’s fee rule, R4-10-102 (A.A.C. R4-10-102).
• Renewal: $80 every two years, plus a late penalty of $25, $50 or $75, depending on how many times you’ve renewed late in five years.

A new barber pays about $217 in exam and license fees. Note that the statute (A.R.S. 32-507) caps the one-time application fee at $80 and the reciprocity fee at $100, while the older rule lists $175 for reciprocity. Check the board’s current fee schedule before you pay.

Renewal

Arizona barbers renew every two years, on or before their birthday (A.R.S. 32-517). A license that isn’t renewed becomes inactive, and one that stays inactive for five years is automatically suspended. We found no continuing education requirement for barbers in the statute or on the board’s pages, but check with the board when you renew.

Licensed in another state or country?

Arizona is one of the easiest states to move to with a barber license. Under A.R.S. 32-513, a barber licensed in another state or country is entitled to an Arizona license after applying, showing proof of the license, completing a board infection protection and law review class, and paying the reciprocity fee. There’s no exam and no minimum years of experience. Arizona’s fee rule also lists a universal recognition license.

What barbers earn in Arizona

BLS’s May 2025 survey put Arizona’s median barber wage at $16.53 an hour, or $34,380 a year, with a mean of $35,050 (BLS OEWS 39-5011, May 2025). BLS didn’t publish a statewide employment count. The survey covers payroll employees only. Booth renters and shop owners aren’t counted, and tips aren’t fully captured, so what you actually take home depends heavily on how you work.

Arizona barber schools

Here’s Bori Barber Academy from our research list, plus three schools we checked on their own sites and College Navigator. Our guide to the best barber schools explains what to compare.

Bori Barber Academy (Pinetop-Lakeside)

Bori Barber Academy, at 20 E White Mountain Blvd in Pinetop-Lakeside, serves the White Mountains area. Its site also names nearby Show Low and Snowflake. It offers the 1,200-hour Arizona barber license course, a 200-hour barber/cosmo crossover and a 350-hour barber instructor course. You can attend full-time (30 hours a week) or part-time (20 hours a week). Tuition isn’t published, so contact the school for it, but payment plans start at $150 a month. The school says it’s newly established and not yet eligible for federal Title IV aid, and it isn’t on College Navigator (school site, checked Oct 2026).

Bori rates 5.0 on Google (8 reviews, Oct 2026). Graduates say instructor Isaias teaches both cutting and the business side, and that they passed state boards and got help finding jobs. Clients call the work professional and detailed.

“They even helped me get employment after graduation as well!”

— Kasandra S., Google reviewer, about Jul 2026

“He also tutors the students on the business side of the craft.”

— Malachi P., Google reviewer, about Jun 2026

Other Arizona barber schools

School	Program and federal aid	Cost (source)
International Barber College (Chandler and Phoenix)	1,200 hrs, avg 10 months; federal aid: Yes (Title IV)	about $18,400 tuition and fees + about $2,000 books (College Navigator, 2024–25)
Phoenix Barber School (Phoenix)	1,200 hrs, five days a week; federal aid: Not on College Navigator	$9,500 course total (school site)
Make’ N The Cut Barber College (Goodyear)	1,200 hrs; federal aid: Not on College Navigator	$6,800 total incl. $800 tool kit (school site)

Sources: College Navigator for International Barber College; Phoenix Barber School; Make’ N The Cut’s tuition page. All checked Oct 2026. The price spread is wide: the two schools without federal aid cost a third to a half as much as International Barber College’s sticker price, but you’d pay out of pocket. College Navigator lists International Barber College’s 200-hour crossover at about $3,600, and Make’ N The Cut lists its crossover at $1,600. Our barber school near me guide has questions to ask on a tour.

Barber school kit: what students need

Because Arizona’s exams are on a computer, your kit matters most on the school clinic floor, where you’ll build speed on real clients. Check whether your school’s price includes a starter kit; Make’ N The Cut, for example, includes an $800 tool kit in its $6,800 total. These are the upgrades students most often buy.

For fades and bulk work, the cordless Wahl 5 Star Cordless Senior is a long-running favorite. The corded Wahl 5 Star Balding Clipper gives you a close, smooth finish on skin fades.

For lines and beards, the Andis GTX-EXO trimmer cuts sharp outlines. A foil shaver like the StyleCraft Absolute Zero foil shaver cleans up the finish on a skin fade.

Infection protection runs through Arizona’s rules, including the 250 hours that apprentices must complete. Keep Graham Sanek Neck Strips on every client and spray blades with Clippercide 5-in-1 spray (3-pack) between cuts.

A Gamma+ Magnetic Mat and Station Organizer keeps everything organized at your station. Prices above are recent Amazon ranges. Our barber starter kit guide compares complete kits by budget.

FAQ

How many hours is barber school in Arizona?
1,200 hours at a board-licensed school. Licensed Arizona cosmetologists and hairstylists need a 200-hour barbering course.

How long does it take to become a barber in Arizona?
About 10 months full-time for the 1,200-hour course (International Barber College’s College Navigator average), plus a few weeks to schedule exams and get your license.

How much does barber school cost in Arizona?
From about $6,800 (Make’ N The Cut, including the kit) to about $18,400 in tuition and fees at International Barber College (College Navigator, 2024–25). Exams and the license add about $217.

Does Arizona have a practical barber exam?
Not a hands-on one. Arizona uses the NIC written practical, a 60-question computer exam, along with the NIC theory exam. You need 75 on each.

Can you become a barber in Arizona through an apprenticeship?
Yes, through a US DOL- or DES-approved apprenticeship that includes at least 250 hours of infection protection and law review, trained by a board-approved mentor in a licensed shop.

Can I transfer my barber license to Arizona?
Yes. If you’re licensed in another state or country, you take the board’s infection protection and law review class and pay the reciprocity fee, with no exam required.

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.