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

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Florida makes it easier than most states to become a barber. You need 900 hours at a Florida barber school, or as few as 600 if a school official signs off that you’re competent, plus a two-hour HIV/AIDS course and one written exam through Pearson VUE. A full-time student can be licensed in about six to eight months. Here’s how it works under the Florida Barbers’ Board, and what to buy before day one, starting with a fade clipper like the Wahl 5 Star Legend.

Florida’s 2020 shake-up

On June 30, 2020, Florida signed the Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act (HB 1193), and barbering was one of the trades it opened up most. According to the Barbers’ Board’s Hot Topics page, the law did two big things for barbers:

• From January 1, 2021, the pre-licensure training requirement fell to 900 hours.
• From July 1, 2020, barbers with a current, active license from another state no longer have to take the Florida exam or meet Florida’s education requirements to transfer.

A second law followed in 2024. SB 382, signed on May 17, 2024, exempts long-time barbers from continuing education. More on that below.

Training: 600 or 900 hours

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) checklist gives you two ways to qualify for the exam. You can complete at least 600 hours at a Florida barbering school and have a school official judge you competent to sit for the exam, or you can complete a minimum of 900 hours at a Florida school (DBPR Barber License by Examination checklist). In both cases, the school official signs the part of your application that confirms your hours and your completion date.

In practice, most schools build their programs around the full 900 hours, and some won’t certify a student at 600. Ask any school you’re considering how it handles the 600-hour route. At about 35 hours a week, 900 hours takes roughly six months of class time. Part-time students usually take about a year.

Florida also has a separate restricted barber license with a narrower scope, and some schools offer cosmetology-to-barber crossover courses for licensed cosmetologists. The Barbering Academy in Doral, for example, lists a 600-hour restricted barber course and a 300-hour cosmetology-to-barber course. If you already hold a cosmetology license, ask the board how your existing hours count before you enroll.

Florida’s age floor is 16, one of the lowest in the country. The checklist doesn’t list a high school diploma requirement.

The HIV/AIDS course

This is Florida-specific and easy to overlook. Before you apply, you need to complete a board-approved initial HIV/AIDS course of at least two hours, taken within two years of your application, and send the completion certificate with it. The four-hour course for cosmetologists does not count for barbers. DBPR keeps a list of approved courses, and many schools build the course into their program.

The written exam

Florida’s barber exam is a written test: 100 multiple-choice questions in three hours, closed book, according to DBPR’s candidate booklet, which also lets you choose a Pearson VUE test center or remote online proctoring. DBPR’s checklist points candidates to the Barber License Examination Candidate Information Booklet and to Pearson VUE, which schedules the test, and it doesn’t list a practical exam. If you fail, you file a reexamination application with DBPR before you can book another seat with Pearson VUE. Get the current booklet from DBPR and study its content outline, because that’s what the questions come from.

Application fees

Florida’s fee changes with the calendar, because it includes your initial license, which runs on a fixed two-year cycle. The Barbers’ Board’s BAR 1 application lists $205.50 if you apply between April 1 of an even year and July 31 of an odd year, and $155.50 if you apply between August 1 of an odd year and March 31 of an even year. Pearson VUE’s exam fee is separate, so check the candidate booklet for the current amount. Veterans, their spouses and Florida National Guard members may qualify for a fee waiver, reimbursement or discount through DBPR’s Military Services office.

Renewal and continuing education

Florida barber licenses expire on July 31 of every even year. DBPR lists a $75 renewal fee and at least 2 hours of board-approved HIV/AIDS continuing education per cycle (Barbers’ Board renewal table).

Under SB 382, you’re exempt from continuing education if you hold an active license, have held it continuously for at least 10 years, and have never been disciplined. The exemption took effect July 1, 2024, and you can check your status in your DBPR online account.

Moving to Florida with a license

This is where Florida is unusually open. Since July 1, 2020, applicants who hold a current, active barber license in another state don’t have to take the Florida exam or meet Florida’s education requirements. The endorsement route still requires the application and fee, the two-hour barber HIV/AIDS course taken within the past two years, and you must be at least 16 (DBPR Barber License by Endorsement checklist). If you don’t qualify for endorsement, DBPR says out-of-state or out-of-country barbers who held their license for at least a year may be eligible to take the Florida written exam instead.

What barbers earn in Florida

Florida barbers on payrolls earn more than the national pattern might suggest. BLS’s May 2025 survey puts the state median at $23.76 an hour, or $49,410 a year, and the mean at $52,980, across about 1,240 payroll barbers (BLS OEWS 39-5011, May 2025). That’s one of the higher medians among the big states. Like every OEWS figure, it leaves out self-employed barbers and booth renters, who are common in South Florida.

Barber schools in Florida

Here are two South Florida schools from our research list. Our guide to the best barber schools covers how to compare programs anywhere.

The Barbering Academy (Doral and Miami Gardens)

The Barbering Academy runs campuses at 10442 NW 31st Terrace in Doral and 829 NW 167th St in Miami Gardens. Its programs include a 900-hour barber course (36 weeks), a 600-hour restricted barber course (24 weeks), a 300-hour cosmetology-to-barber course (12 weeks) and the Florida two-hour HIV/AIDS course. The school doesn’t publish tuition online. It says books, supplies, tuition and fees are bundled into one price, so call admissions for the figure. It isn’t listed on College Navigator for federal aid; it offers personal loans, scholarships and direct repayment plans, and accepts VA benefits (school site, checked Oct 2026).

The Doral campus rates 4.9 on Google (120 reviews, Oct 2026). Reviewers keep coming back to patient, hands-on instructors who demonstrate and step in. They also mention bilingual staff and low-cost student cuts (bring cash to tip).

“Instructors are very patient and easy going which I feel takes the pressure off of the student barbers so they can learn more effectively.”

— Google reviewer, about Oct 2026

“As a student at this academy, I only have positive experiences to share about the staff and the course content.”

— Joshua R., Google reviewer, about Oct 2025

Signature Barber Academy (West Palm Beach)

Signature Barber Academy at 3111 45th St, Suite 8 in West Palm Beach offers a 900-clock-hour barbering diploma in a hybrid format, combining virtual lessons with hands-on floor time. It lists the program cost at about $7,500, with interest-free financing, and says the program takes about 6 months full-time or 12 months part-time. It isn’t listed on College Navigator for federal aid (program page, checked Oct 2026).

Signature rates 4.6 on Google (36 reviews, Oct 2026). Graduates credit the director with getting them through the state exam fast, and they describe a real-shop feel. One 1-star reviewer from about six months ago says their tool kit hadn’t arrived after paying; that is one reviewer’s claim, not something we could verify. Either way, ask for your kit’s delivery date in writing when you enroll.

“The instructors care about more than just fades and putting hair on the floor.”

— Pasquale B., Google reviewer, about Sep 2026

Florida schools vary a lot on format. Hybrid programs like Signature’s cut commuting time, while full-day floor programs give you more clinic reps. Our barber school near me guide has a checklist for comparing them.

Barber school kit: what students need

Florida’s exam is written, so your tools are mainly for clinic floor work and your first shop job. In South Florida, that means plenty of tight fades and tapers. A corded fade clipper never dies mid-cut. The Wahl 5 Star Legend has been a barbershop staple for years, and pairing it with a cordless Wahl 5 Star Magic Clip Cordless gives you both power and freedom to move.

For edges, the Andis GTX-EXO trimmer has a wide blade that suits line-ups and beard work. To take a fade to the skin, the Wahl 5 Star Vanish foil shaver finishes clean on heads and faces.

Florida’s heat makes hygiene items work harder. Wrap every client with Graham Sanek Neck Strips under a Barber Strong The Barber Cape.

Keep blades running cool with Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 spray between cuts.

Disinfect combs and shears in Barbicide Disinfectant Concentrate (16 oz) the way your instructors and state inspectors expect.

Ranges above reflect recent Amazon prices and change often. For a full beginner kit at three price points, see our best barber starter kit guide.

FAQ

How many hours do you need for a barber license in Florida?
900 hours at a Florida school, or at least 600 hours if a school official certifies you as competent to take the exam. The 900-hour figure took effect January 1, 2021.

Does Florida have a practical barber exam?
DBPR’s licensing checklist lists only the barber written exam, which you schedule through Pearson VUE. Check the current candidate booklet for format and fees.

How old do you have to be to get a barber license in Florida?
16. Florida’s exam and endorsement checklists both set 16 as the minimum age.

How much does a Florida barber license cost?
The application and initial license fee is $205.50 or $155.50, depending on when in the two-year cycle you apply, plus Pearson VUE’s exam fee. Renewal is $75 every two years.

Can I transfer my barber license to Florida?
Yes, if it’s current and active. Since July 1, 2020, endorsement applicants don’t take the Florida exam or meet its education requirements. They file the endorsement application and pay the fee.

Do Florida barbers need continuing education?
Yes, 2 hours of board-approved HIV/AIDS training each renewal cycle. The exception is barbers who have held an active license for at least 10 years with no discipline; they’ve been exempt since July 1, 2024.

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.