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

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If you want to know how to become a barber in Nevada, here is the short version: finish 1,500 hours at a board-approved barber school, pass the apprentice exam, work 18 months as a licensed apprentice, then pass the registered barber exam. Plan on about two and a half years from day one to a full license, plus a kit that usually starts with a cordless clipper like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip.

Nevada is one of the few states that makes new barbers do both school and an apprenticeship. That makes the path longer than in most places, but it also means every registered barber in the state has spent a year and a half cutting under a licensed barber before working alone. This guide walks through each step using the board’s own rules.

Nevada barber requirements at a glance

Nevada licenses barbers through the State Barbers’ Health and Sanitation Board, a small four-member board based in Las Vegas. The rules live in chapter 643 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and chapter 643 of the Nevada Administrative Code. The table below pulls the core numbers from both.

Requirement	Apprentice license	Registered barber
Minimum age	16½	18
Education	High school diploma or equivalent	10th grade or equivalent
Training	1,500 school hours	18-month apprenticeship
Exam	Apprentice exam	Registered barber exam
Health certificate	Required	Required

Both exams require a physician-signed health certificate. The board’s exam information page says it must include a chest X-ray or skin test and a blood test. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or lawfully able to live and work in the United States. Anyone with a felony conviction has to appear before the board at a hearing before being allowed to test, and the board’s FAQ says the same applies before starting barber school.

School first, then an 18-month apprenticeship

In many states an apprenticeship is an alternative to school. In Nevada it comes after school. Under NAC 643.010, you need 1,500 hours of instruction at a board-approved barber school before you can sit for the apprentice exam. NAC 643.120 adds that you must finish barber school within one year of starting. If more than 12 months pass between graduating and applying, you need a 250-hour refresher course first. The board’s FAQ puts it plainly: your hours expire if you don’t test and get licensed within a year.

Once you pass the apprentice exam, NAC 643.030 requires 18 months of full-time apprenticeship under the direct supervision of a licensed barber. Full time means at least 40 hours a week. The rule allows 12 working days off across the 18 months for vacation, sickness or emergencies. The apprenticeship has to be served in a barbershop licensed by the board.

There are limits on where you can apprentice. You can’t serve it in a shop you or your spouse own. You also can’t serve it in a shop owned by a close relative, unless that relative is a licensed Nevada barber who owns and runs the shop. A shop may employ no more than two apprentices per licensed barber working there, and no more than six in total. After the 18 months, you must take the registered barber exam by the second regularly scheduled exam date, or the board revokes your apprentice license.

The Nevada barber exams

The board runs its own exams rather than using a national testing company. Under NRS 643.100, each exam includes a practical demonstration plus a written and oral test. The written and oral portion covers barber history, the structure and functions of the human body, the chemistry of disinfectants and antiseptics, sanitation, shop management and Nevada law. You need 75% on the written part and 75% on the practical. The board’s FAQ says exams are held six times a year in Las Vegas: January, April, June, August, October and December. If you fail only one part, you retake just that part at the next exam.

The practical is done on a live model you bring yourself, and the model can’t be a barber or an apprentice. According to the board’s exam instructions, the first segment is a shampoo (incline method), a haircut and a shave, in that order, within one hour. The haircut must be a regular taper on the neck and back with a definite outline around the ears. The shave may use a straight or injector-type razor, and lather is required. A second, 10-minute segment covers hair styling.

The board supplies wet sanitizers only. You bring a clean smock or apron, a chair cloth, your own tools and products, and a hair dryer. Many candidates bring a dedicated exam cape such as Barber Strong The Barber Cape and a razor like the Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit so they aren’t borrowing gear on test day.

Fees

Nevada’s fees are low compared with many states, and they are set in regulation:

Fee	Amount	Source
Examination (each exam)	$100	NAC 643.070
License renewal (every 2 years)	$60	NAC 643.160
Restoration (expired under 2 years)	$120	NAC 643.160
Duplicate license	$20	NAC 643.170

Applications filed through the board’s online portal need no deposit; the total is the $100 fee. A paper application takes a $15 deposit, and the remaining $85 is due when you file. The board doesn’t accept personal checks. For the fee on the license issued after you pass, check with the board: the regulations only say it may be prorated at $3 a month when the license is issued within six months of the renewal date.

Step by step: from student to registered barber

1. Enroll in a board-approved school and finish 1,500 hours within one year of starting.
2. Get your graduation letter and diploma from the school, plus a physician-signed health certificate on the board’s form.
3. Create an account in the board’s Barber Portal, apply for the apprentice exam and pay the $100 fee.
4. Pass the apprentice exam (practical plus written/oral, 75% on each) and get your apprentice license.
5. Work 18 months full time in a licensed barbershop under a licensed barber.
6. Apply for the registered barber exam and take it by the second scheduled exam after you finish the apprenticeship.
7. Pass, get licensed and display the license at your chair, as NRS 643.150 requires.

Cosmetologist crossover

Licensed Nevada cosmetologists get a much shorter route. Under NRS 643.085 and NAC 643.020, a cosmetologist who completes 400 hours of specialized training at an approved barber school can take the registered barber exam directly, skipping the apprentice license and the 18 months. If more than 12 months pass after those 400 hours, a 250-hour refresher is required before applying. A cosmetologist who fails can retake the exam up to three times within six months without more school; after that, NRS 643.110 requires 250 more school hours before each retake. The Original Barber School notes that people holding only a hair design license aren’t eligible for its crossover program.

Renewal and continuing education

Nevada barber and apprentice licenses renew every two years, on or before April 1 of each even-numbered year (NRS 643.140). A license not renewed by May 1 expires. The renewal fee is $60, and you can restore an expired license within two years by paying the $120 restoration fee. The board’s FAQ says that after that window you must retake the exam.

The Nevada rules don’t set a continuing education requirement for barbers or apprentices. CE applies to barber instructors: since June 2023 (NAC 643.462), instructors must complete 16 board-approved hours in the 12 months before each renewal, including two hours on teaching methods.

Moving to Nevada with a license

Nevada has two routes for barbers licensed elsewhere. Under NAC 643.025, the board may issue a license by endorsement to someone who holds a valid, unrestricted barber license from another state, DC or a U.S. territory with substantially similar qualifications. You submit a copy of the license, an attestation, your high school diploma or GED, and fingerprints for a background check. The board’s exam page also describes a registered barber exam route for out-of-state barbers. It requires notarized affidavits showing at least five years of licensed experience within the last ten years, plus a current license from the state where you earned it. Nevada does not issue temporary permits (NAC 643.150).

One caution for transfers: the board’s school locations page says it voted to stop recognizing several out-of-state schools after finding data discrepancies. It names Arizona Barber Styling College (AZ), American Barber School (CA), Beyond Institute and Career Center (FL) and Headlines Barber College (TX). If you trained at one of them, call the board before you move.

Recent changes

Nevada’s school-plus-apprenticeship system nearly changed in 2025. Assembly Bill 225 would have revised the barber apprenticeship rules, added a federally registered apprenticeship pathway and dropped some moral-character and medical-certificate requirements. It never passed: the Legislature’s record for AB225 shows no further action allowed after April 12, 2025. For now, 1,500 hours plus 18 months remains the law. The most recent rule change that did take effect is the instructor CE requirement adopted in June 2023.

What barbers earn in Nevada

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t publish a Nevada estimate for barbers in its May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (SOC 39-5011); the state figure is suppressed. For context, the national figures are about 15,000 employed barbers, a mean annual wage of $47,070 and a median of $38,210. OEWS counts only wage-and-salary employees, so booth renters, shop owners and other self-employed barbers (a large share of the trade) aren’t in these numbers, and tips may be under-reported. In a tourism economy like Las Vegas, tips and a steady book can matter as much as the base rate.

Barber schools in Nevada

The board’s school locations page lists six board-registered barber schools: five in the Las Vegas area and one in Sparks. Below are the facts their own websites publish (checked October 2026). Tuition changes, so confirm the current figure before you sign. One thing to plan around: a search of the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator for barber schools in Nevada returns no results, so don’t count on federal Pell Grants or federal student loans. Ask instead about payment plans, school scholarships and veterans’ benefits. For what separates a good program from a weak one, see our guide to choosing a barber school near you.

Masterpiece Barber School (Las Vegas)

Masterpiece lists its 1,500-hour barbering program at $15,000, with a $200 non-refundable application fee, a $3,000 deposit and $600 monthly payments (per the school’s program page, Oct 2026). The program takes about 8.5 months at 37.5 hours a week, with 10 months allowed on the contract, and includes a smock, textbook and law book, name badge and barbering kit. Masterpiece also offers a 400-hour cosmetologist crossover ($5,000), a 250-hour refresher ($3,000) and a 600-hour instructor course.

The Art of Barbers School (Las Vegas)

The Art of Barbers School on Maryland Parkway lists a 1,500-hour course of about 38 weeks for students with no prior training. The course price is $15,000, plus a $125 registration fee, a $25 student license and an optional $1,000 tools and supplies package, with a $3,500 deposit and $500 monthly payments (Oct 2026). It also runs a 250-hour refresher ($4,000), a cosmetologist-to-barber course ($5,000) and an instructor course.

Nevada’s First Barber School (Las Vegas)

Nevada’s First Barber School on North Decatur lists its Basic Barber Course at $16,000 for about 38 weeks, plus a $125 registration fee and a $25 student license, with a $3,500 deposit and $500 monthly payments. It takes $1,000 off if you bring your own instructor-approved tools, and it says it offers individual scholarships of $1,500 to $3,500 for students who qualify. The page also shows an $8,000 promotional price, but that offer ended September 30, 2026.

The Original Barber School (Las Vegas)

The Original Barber School on South Pecos describes its 1,500-hour Basic Barbering program as 200 hours of theory and 1,300 hours of practical training. It also offers a 250-hour refresher for graduates who haven’t yet passed the board exam, a 400-hour cosmetology crossover and a 600-hour instructor program. Its site doesn’t publish tuition, so call for pricing.

Northern Nevada Barber Academy (Sparks)

The only board-listed school outside Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada Barber Academy offers a 1,500-hour barber course, a 400-hour crossover, a 600-hour instructor course and a 250-hour refresher. It charges a one-time $150 non-refundable registration fee and says it is approved for veterans’ educational training. Its site doesn’t list full tuition. For Reno-area students it avoids a move of more than 400 miles to Las Vegas.

Barber school kit: what students need

Some Nevada schools include a kit in tuition (Masterpiece does), and others give a discount if you bring your own. Either way, your tools follow you from school into the apprenticeship and onto the board’s practical, so these are the pieces worth getting right. Our guide to the best clippers for barber school goes deeper on clippers.

A cordless workhorse clipper. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip is a common first clipper in barber programs because its adjustable blade handles fades and blending on everything from tight tapers to longer tops. It usually runs about $135–155.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip Price

A detail trimmer for outlines. Nevada’s practical calls for a definite outline around the ears, and that is trimmer work. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Detailer Li has a wide T-blade for lineups and necklines and sits around about $110–130.

Check Wahl Professional 5 Star Detailer Li Price

A straight razor for the shave. The board exam includes a full lathered shave with a straight or injector-type razor. A replaceable-blade razor such as the Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit lets you practice with the same feel you’ll have on test day, for about about $50–60.

Check Feather Standard Styling Razor Kit Price

A cape you can keep clean. You must bring your own chair cloth to the practical. Barber Strong The Barber Cape is a durable, washable choice in the about $30–40 range.

Check Barber Strong The Barber Cape Price

Neck strips. Examiners grade patron protection along with the cut, and a fresh neck strip under the cape is part of that. A 12-pack of Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) runs about about $12–18 and lasts through a lot of practice clients.

Check Graham Sanek Neck Strips (12-pack) Price

Disinfection at your station. The board supplies wet sanitizers at the exam, but in school and during your apprenticeship you’ll keep your own. A Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) (about $25–35) is the standard station jar for combs and guards.

Check Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) Price

Blade care between clients. Sanitation is graded on Nevada’s practical and inspected in shops. A can of Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 Clipper Spray (about $10–15) cools, lubricates and disinfects clipper blades between cuts, which also keeps your clipper running longer.

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

For a full checklist beyond these seven items, see our essential barber tools guide for beginners.

How to choose a Nevada barber school

• Confirm it’s on the board’s list. Only hours from board-approved schools count toward the apprentice exam.
• Do the full math. Add registration, student license, kit and deposit to the course price. The published 1,500-hour prices above run about $15,000 to $16,000.
• Check the pace. You must finish within a year of starting, so a program built around 37.5 to 40 hours a week keeps you safely inside that window.
• Ask about exam prep. The board doesn’t supply study texts, so ask how the school prepares students for the written/oral portion and the timed practical.
• Think about the apprenticeship. Ask whether the school helps graduates find a licensed shop to apprentice in, since that is the next 18 months of your career.

FAQ

How long does it take to become a barber in Nevada?
Usually about two and a half years: roughly 8 to 10 months for the 1,500-hour school program, then an 18-month full-time apprenticeship, plus waiting time for exam dates. Licensed cosmetologists can finish much faster through the 400-hour crossover.

Can you become a barber in Nevada through an apprenticeship alone?
No. Nevada requires 1,500 hours of barber school before you can get an apprentice license. The 18-month apprenticeship comes after school, not instead of it.

How much does barber school cost in Nevada?
Published prices for the 1,500-hour course at Las Vegas schools run about $15,000 to $16,000 as of October 2026, before registration, student license and kit fees. Some schools offer scholarships or payment plans.

How much is the Nevada barber exam?
$100 per exam. Since you take two exams (apprentice and registered barber), budget at least $200, plus any retakes.

Do Nevada barbers need continuing education?
Not under the current rules; no CE requirement applies to barbers or apprentices. Barber instructors need 16 board-approved hours in the 12 months before each license renewal.

Can I transfer my barber license to Nevada?
Possibly, through licensure by endorsement if your license is valid and unrestricted and your state’s requirements are substantially similar. Otherwise, five years of licensed experience in the past ten qualifies you for the registered barber exam.

Final take

Nevada asks more of new barbers than most states: 1,500 hours of school and then 18 months as an apprentice. In return you get low board fees and a clear, board-run process. Pick a board-listed school you can finish within a year, line up a licensed shop for your apprenticeship early, and build your kit around tools you’ll use on the practical, starting with a reliable clipper like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Magic Clip. If you’re still deciding where to train, our roundup of the best barber schools is a good next read.

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.