As an Amazon Associate, TrustedBarber earns from qualifying purchases.
To become a barber in Delaware, you need 1,250 hours of barber school (1,500 for a master barber) or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship, then NIC written and practical exams through Prometric. Delaware even writes a supply list into its apprenticeship rules, including a straight razor with changeable blades such as the Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit. Budget roughly a year for school, or 18 to 36 months as an apprentice.
Delaware is one of the few states with two barber licenses, and the difference is chemicals: a master barber can do chemical services, a barber can’t. Here’s how each works, with every rule taken from the Delaware Code, the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering and its exam pages.
Quick answer
- Barber: 1,250 school hours or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship
- Master barber: 1,500 school hours or a 3,000-hour master apprenticeship (licensed barbers can add a 600-hour chemical apprenticeship)
- Exams: NIC theory and practical through Prometric; practicals held in Newark
- Education: 10th grade or equivalent
- Renewal: Every two years; licenses expire March 31 of even years
Barber school kit picks
- Straight razor, changeable blades: Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit, about $50–60 · Check Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit Price
- Shears: Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors, about $12–20 · Check Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors Price
- Neck strips: Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack), about $12–18 · Check Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) Price
- Disinfection container: Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz), about $25–35 · Check Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) Price
Who licenses barbers in Delaware
The Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, part of the Division of Professional Regulation, licenses both barbers and cosmetologists. The law is Title 24, Chapter 51 of the Delaware Code, and the board’s rules are 24 Del. Admin. Code 5100.
The two barber licenses split on one question:
“In Delaware, a Master Barber is allowed to perform chemical processing, but a Barber is not.”
Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, apprenticeship page
If you want to color, relax or perm in a barbershop, aim for master barber from the start. If you only plan to cut, shave and style, the barber license takes fewer hours.
Training hours for barber and master barber
| License | School | Apprenticeship |
|---|---|---|
| Barber | 1,250 hours | 3,000 hours |
| Master barber | 1,500 hours | 3,000 hours |
| Barber to master | — | +600-hour chemical apprenticeship |
Source: Delaware Code Title 24, Chapter 51, Subchapter I, checked Oct 2026.
The statute requires the 1,250 school hours to be “continuous training for a complete course in barbering.” A licensed barber can move up to master barber with an additional 600-hour apprenticeship in chemicals and the master barber exam.
Switching from apprenticeship to school. An apprentice barber can transfer up to 1,800 apprentice hours into a 1,500-hour barbering program, at a rate of two apprentice hours for every one transfer hour. That’s useful if a shop placement falls through partway.
For cosmetologists. Delaware doesn’t offer a shortcut to the barber license, but a cosmetologist can add a shaving certification with a 35-hour shaving course from a licensed barbering instructor (the certification fee is $55).
The Delaware barber apprenticeship
Delaware’s apprenticeship rules are detailed. Under board rule 3.0:
- apprentice hours must take at least 18 months and no more than 36 months;
- hours count only in a licensed shop, and only after your apprentice license is issued;
- apprentices can’t be charged for their hours, and hour logs go to the board every three months;
- the statute caps apprentice hours at 40 a week;
- your apprentice teacher needs an active Delaware license and at least 36 months of licensed experience.
How many apprentices one teacher can take is unclear: rule 3.0 says up to three, while the board’s apprenticeship page says a maximum of two. Ask the board before you sign on with a busy shop. The apprenticeship application is $40.
The 3,000 hours follow a curriculum set in rule 4.0. A few examples: haircutting is 220 theory and 200 practical hours, shaving is 125 theory and 50 practical hours, and bacteriology is 200 theory hours.
Delaware’s required apprentice supply list
Unusually, Delaware’s rules spell out what a barbering apprentice must have. Rule 4.4 lists: a mannequin and a bearded mannequin; brushes; shears and thinning shears; a straight razor with changeable blades; a mug, shaving brush and shaving cream; clippers, guards and trimmers; a dusting brush; neck strips; a hair cloth and clip; a textbook and workbook; a blow-dryer and styling brush; tweezers; a shampoo cape; a disinfection container; ten towels; closed linen containers; alcohol; and a copy of the laws and rules.
School students’ kits are set by the school, but the list is a good checklist for anyone. The barbering kit section below covers the tools on it that are worth buying with care.
The Delaware barber exams
Delaware uses the National-Interstate Council (NIC) written theory and practical exams for your license type, administered by Prometric. Since August 1, 2024, all Delaware NIC exams use the 2022 version. You apply online through Prometric, and your high school transcript goes directly to Prometric, per the board’s exam page.
Practical exams are held at the Hilton Wilmington Christiana (100 Continental Drive, Newark), roughly monthly; the board’s tentative 2026 calendar runs from January 12 to December 7.
NIC’s own suggested supply list for the national barber styling practical includes fully charged clippers, guards or detachable blades, shears, straight razors, non-aerosol shaving cream, a steam towel, a mannequin head with a clamp or tripod, capes, neck strips, combs, simulated color and relaxer products, EPA-registered disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer and gloves, in a closeable kit. The board page doesn’t say which NIC barber practical each Delaware license takes, so confirm with Prometric when you register.
Temporary permit. While you wait to test, you can apply for a $40 temporary permit to practice under supervision. It’s valid until 30 days after the next exam date, and you must pass both exams within two years of applying for it.
Delaware barber fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Apprenticeship application | $40 |
| Temporary permit | $40 |
| Reciprocity application (barber or master) | $128 |
| Reinstatement | $128 + practical exam fee |
| Shaving certification (cosmetologists) | $55 |
| Late renewal | 50% late fee |
Source: Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering fee page, checked Oct 2026.
Exam fees are paid to Prometric, and the board’s page doesn’t list the amounts; check the Prometric candidate handbook when you apply. The renewal fee is announced at renewal time.
Renewal and continuing education
Barber and master barber licenses expire March 31 of even-numbered years, per the board’s renewal page. You can renew late for up to five years after expiration; after that, you must reapply by reciprocity (if you hold a current license elsewhere) or apply for reinstatement, which costs $128 plus the practical exam fee. The statute lets the board set continuing education by rule, but we found no CE requirement in the board’s current rules.
Moving to Delaware: reciprocity
You can get a Delaware license by reciprocity if you hold a current license in good standing from a state with substantially similar standards. If your state’s standards are less strict, you’ll need proof of one continuous year of licensed work within the last five years, via notarized employer statements (rule 5.0, amended June 2023). The application fee is $128.
What barbers earn in Delaware
There’s no official barber-specific wage figure for Delaware. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 state data has no barber row for Delaware, and the state Labor Department’s Delaware Wages 2024 report doesn’t list barbers either. The closest official number is for hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists: about 1,340 employed statewide, with a mean of $21.14 an hour and a median of $14.90. Treat that as a loose reference only, since it’s a different occupation and leaves out self-employed workers.
Barber schools in Delaware
The programs we verified are in Newark and Dagsboro, all checked on College Navigator or the school’s own site (Oct 2026). Our best barber schools guide covers what to compare.
Schilling-Douglas School of Hair Design (Newark)
Schilling-Douglas runs a 1,500-hour barbering program (master barber track): full time is 32.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., over 49 weeks; part time is 19 hours a week (Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 9 p.m. plus Saturday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) over 19 months. Applicants must be 16 or older with a high school diploma or GED (program page). College Navigator lists tuition and fees of about $8,400 plus about $1,100 in books and supplies, and federal aid recipients.
The Salon Professional Academy (Dagsboro)
Per College Navigator, this academy’s 1,500-hour barbering program takes 13 months, with tuition and fees of about $20,300 and books and supplies of about $2,500 (2024–2025). Students receive federal aid.
Hair Academy School of Barbering & Beauty (Newark)
Located at 160 Pencader Plaza, this school appears in College Navigator’s Delaware barbering results and reports federal aid recipients (College Navigator). Navigator doesn’t show its barber program hours or cost, so ask admissions directly.
Barber school kit: what students need
Delaware’s apprentice supply list (above) is a ready-made shopping list, and school kits cover similar ground: Schilling-Douglas lists about $1,100 in books and supplies, The Salon Professional Academy about $2,500. These are the items on that list worth choosing carefully. For more clipper picks, see our best clippers for barber school roundup.
Andis 01815 Master Adjustable Blade Clipper
A corded clipper like the Andis 01815 Master Adjustable Blade Clipper can’t run flat on exam day, and its adjustable blade covers tapers without a guard change for every step. Price: about $90–110 on Amazon at the time of writing.
Check Andis 01815 Master Adjustable Blade Clipper Price
Andis 04780 T-Outliner
Crisp edges finish almost every haircut, so an outliner earns its spot early in a Delaware program. The Andis 04780 T-Outliner is corded and carries a wide T-blade for necklines, hairlines and around the ears, and it costs less than most of the kit on this page. Roughly $60–80 on Amazon as of this writing.
Check Andis 04780 T-Outliner Price
Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit
Delaware’s apprenticeship rules put a straight razor with changeable blades on their supply list, and that same type suits any school training in shaves or razor outlines. The Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit fits, since it uses disposable blades. Roughly $50–60 on Amazon as of this writing.
Check Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit Price
Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors
Delaware’s barber and master barber programs both cover scissor cutting and shear-over-comb, so a personal pair of shears is a must. A budget 6.5-inch practice choice is the Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors; save the premium set for later. Amazon priced it around $12–20 as of this writing.
Check Equinox Professional Razor Edge Barber Scissors Price
Equinox Razor Edge Thinning Shears
Thinning shears soften lines and remove bulk. The Equinox Razor Edge Thinning Shears is a low-cost pair that works with your cutting shears. Price: about $12–18 on Amazon at the time of writing.
Check Equinox Razor Edge Thinning Shears Price
Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack)
Neck strips keep the cape from touching the client’s skin, a basic sanitation step. The Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) come as 12 packs of 60, enough for a full program. Price: about $12–18 on Amazon at the time of writing.
Check Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) Price
Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz)
The Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) is a 37-ounce glass immersion jar with a lid and tray, sized for combs and shears at your station. Price: about $25–35 on Amazon at the time of writing.
Check Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) Price
Bottom line: decide on chemicals first
In Delaware, the key choice is barber or master barber, so decide early whether you want to offer chemical services. Then pick school (1,250 or 1,500 hours) or a 3,000-hour apprenticeship, and pass the NIC exams through Prometric. Delaware’s own supply list makes kit planning easy; start with a replaceable-blade razor like the Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit and reliable clippers, and see our barber starter kit guide for the rest.
FAQ
What is the difference between a barber and a master barber in Delaware? A master barber can perform chemical processing (color, relaxers, perms) and a barber can’t. The master license takes 1,500 school hours instead of 1,250, or a licensed barber can add a 600-hour chemical apprenticeship.
How long is a barber apprenticeship in Delaware? 3,000 hours, completed in no less than 18 and no more than 36 months, at no more than 40 hours a week, in a licensed shop under an apprentice teacher with at least 36 months of licensed experience.
Where do you take the Delaware barber practical exam? Prometric holds practical exams at the Hilton Wilmington Christiana in Newark, roughly monthly.
Can I work while waiting for my Delaware barber exam? You can apply for a $40 temporary permit to practice under supervision. It lasts until 30 days after the next exam date, and both exams must be passed within two years.
Can a cosmetologist shave clients in Delaware? Yes, with a shaving certification: a 35-hour shaving course from a licensed barbering instructor and a $55 fee.
Sources
- Delaware Board of Cosmetology and Barbering
- Delaware Code Title 24, Chapter 51
- Board rule 3.0 (apprenticeship), Cornell LII
- Board rule 4.0 (curriculum and supplies)
- Board exam page
- Board fees
- Board renewal
- NIC barber styling practical supply list
- Delaware Wages 2024 (DE Dept. of Labor)
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.
