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

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Here’s how to become a barber in Washington, and it’s one of the quicker licenses in the country: 1,000 hours of barber school or a 2,000-hour apprenticeship, then two NIC exams, and you can be cutting legally in well under a year. Washington’s curriculum also expects you to work with scissors, a razor and clippers, so plan your kit around tools like the Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior and a good pair of shears. Below are the requirements, fees and schools, checked against the Department of Licensing’s own pages.

Who licenses barbers in Washington

Washington doesn’t have a separate barber board. Barbers are licensed by the Department of Licensing (DOL) Cosmetology Program, which also handles cosmetologists, hair designers, estheticians and manicurists, with input from a state advisory board. There’s a single barber license, with no master or apprentice tiers to work through after you pass.

State law defines barbering as “the cutting, trimming, arranging, dressing, curling, shampooing, shaving, and mustache and beard design of the hair of the face, neck, and scalp” (RCW 18.16.020). That’s a narrower scope than cosmetology, which is why the barber program needs only 1,000 hours against cosmetology’s 1,600.

Requirement	Washington rule	Source
School hours	1,000	DOL licensing page
Apprenticeship	2,000 hours	DOL licensing page
Age	At least 17	RCW 18.16.100
Exams	NIC written + practical (Prov)	DOL FAQ
Renewal	Every 2 years	DOL renewals

Checked October 2026. Confirm current details with DOL before you apply.

School or apprenticeship: the two routes

Barber school. DOL sets the barber minimum at 1,000 hours and notes that “your school may require you to complete more than the minimum state-required hours.” The curriculum rule, WAC 308-20-080, spells out what those hours cover: theory and business practices, shampooing, scalp and hair analysis, cutting “including scissors, razor, thinning shears, and clippers for all hair and skin types,” styling, shaving and beard and mustache design, disinfection, safety and first aid. It also says “not all training may be on mannequins,” so expect to work on real clients before you graduate. Schools can have at most 20 students per instructor.

Apprenticeship. The second route is a 2,000-hour state-approved apprenticeship, run through an apprenticeship training committee approved by the Washington apprenticeship and training council, in an approved shop. The rules require at least one trainer per apprentice. Theory must be taught in a classroom by a licensed instructor, and the rule is clear about supervision:

“Apprentice trainers and instructors must be physically present where apprentices are receiving practical training.”

WAC 308-20-101, Apprenticeship programs

An apprenticeship takes twice the hours but lets you earn in a shop while you learn. Either way, your training hours expire three years after your last day of attendance (WAC 308-20-090), so finish and test without long gaps.

Already licensed in another Washington category? State law lets a licensee qualify for another category after completing “the crossover training course” and passing the exam. DOL’s pages don’t list the number of cosmetologist-to-barber crossover hours, so check with DOL or your school before you enroll.

The NIC exams and the switch to Prov

Washington uses the national NIC barber exams, written and practical. As of May 1, 2026, they’re run by Prov, which replaced Prometric (D.L. Roope). DOL says Prov offers the same NIC exams that were given before. You don’t have to wait for graduation day to sign up:

“You will be eligible to take your exams when you are within 100 hours of completing the required hours of instruction.”

Washington DOL, Get your license: Cosmetology

DOL’s FAQ lists the written exam at $169 and the practical at $119, both paid to Prov. You can take each exam once per day, and a failed exam means scheduling and paying for a re-exam. DOL’s pages don’t mention a separate state law exam. You must pass both exams and finish all your hours before you apply for the license.

Washington barber license fees

License fees go to DOL and are set in WAC 308-20-210. DOL has also proposed new fees to take effect January 1, 2027 (a public hearing was held October 27, 2026), so check the final amounts with DOL before you apply.

Fee	Current	Proposed for Jan 1, 2027
Barber license	$35	$34 + $10 application fee
Reciprocity license	$60	$65 + $10 application fee
Two-year renewal	$66	$83
Late renewal penalty	$65	$81

Sources: WAC 308-20-210; DOL news and updates (Sept 28, 2026). Exam fees are separate and paid to Prov.

Add it up and a new barber pays about $323 today in license and exam fees ($35 + $169 + $119), before school costs.

Renewal, expired licenses and continuing education

Barber licenses renew every two years, and DOL lets you renew up to 120 days before the expiration date. Miss it and the late fee applies. The bigger risk is letting it lapse too long: DOL says a license expired for more than a year is cancelled, and reinstating means passing the written and practical exams through Prov again. Washington’s renewal page lists background questions, contact details and the fee, with no continuing-education hours.

Moving to Washington with a barber license

Washington is friendly to transfers. If you’re at least 17 with an active barber license from another state, you can apply for a reciprocity license with proof of that license in good standing and proof you passed that state’s exams. DOL lists no minimum years of experience or hour-matching requirement. The reciprocity license is $60. DOL also mentions temporary licenses for military personnel and partners moving to the state with a current license.

What changed in 2026

• New exam vendor. Prov took over the NIC written and practical exams on May 1, 2026.
• Textured-hair training. An amendment effective August 2, 2026 added “cultural competency and historical education on the significance of textured hair in diverse communities” to the curriculum in WAC 308-20-080. Ask any school you’re considering how it covers this.
• Inspection reports. Since April 6, 2026, DOL inspection reports for shops and schools no longer carry number scores or pass/fail grades.
• Fees. The new fee schedule shown above is proposed for January 1, 2027; confirm with DOL whether it was adopted.

What barbers earn in Washington

Washington is one of the better-paying states for barbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ OEWS survey (May 2025) puts the median at $61,150 a year, or $29.40 an hour, and the mean at $67,540, based on about 1,220 employed barbers. The national median in the same survey is $38,210. Keep in mind that OEWS counts wage-and-salary workers only. Self-employed barbers and booth renters, a large share of the trade, aren’t in those figures.

Barber schools in Washington

Washington has private barber academies, beauty-and-barber colleges and public technical colleges with barber certificates. Here are five, with facts from each school’s own site, College Navigator or the state’s Career Bridge listings. For a broader comparison, see our guide to the best barber schools.

Bates Technical College (Tacoma)

Bates offers a Barber Certificate of Competency (80 credits, three to four quarters) and an associate degree in barbering (four to five quarters). You can start in fall, winter, spring or summer, with day and evening classes at the downtown campus. The college says students buy two barbering kits, included in tuition and fees. The program page doesn’t publish a total program cost. College Navigator lists Bates’ in-state tuition and fees at about $6,000 a year college-wide for 2024–25 and shows that it reports federal aid.

Clover Park Technical College (Lakewood)

Clover Park’s Barber Certificate runs about four quarters with a winter start, and the catalog ties it to DOL’s 1,000-hour requirement. It’s a public college that reports federal aid on College Navigator. Ask the college for program-specific costs.

Paul Mitchell The School Spokane (Spokane Valley)

Matching Washington’s 1,000-hour rule, College Navigator puts this barbering course at 1,000 clock hours across 10 months, with roughly $11,600 in tuition and fees plus about $2,400 for books and supplies (2024–25). It’s among the schools that report federal financial aid figures to the Education Department.

028 Barber School (Seattle)

028’s program page describes a 1,000-hour barber license course built around Washington’s requirement. The school doesn’t post tuition on its site, but the state’s Career Bridge listing shows a total program tuition of $10,000, eight months of training and evening and weekend availability. It isn’t listed on College Navigator, so don’t count on federal aid there.

Evergreen Beauty and Barber College (multiple campuses)

Evergreen runs barbering at campuses from Bellingham to Yakima. Its barbering page describes an “EverFlex” schedule of as little as four hours a day, and the Seattle campus page says the course takes about eight months. Evergreen says federal student aid is available to students who qualify. Barber tuition isn’t published on the pages we read, so request it from admissions.

Still deciding where to train? Our barber school near me guide lists the questions to ask on a tour.

Barber school kit: what students need

Washington’s curriculum names the tools outright: scissors, razor, thinning shears and clippers, plus shaving and beard design. Some schools bundle kits into tuition (Bates includes two), but most students still add or upgrade a few pieces. Here’s where to put your money.

A cordless clipper that can carry a full day

The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior is a heavier cordless clipper that barbers reach for when removing bulk. If you mostly do fades, the lighter Wahl Professional 5 Star Magic Clip Cordless costs a little less and has a stagger-tooth blade made for blending.

Shears for the scissor portion

Since the rule calls out scissor cutting for all hair types, you’ll want shears of your own early on. The Equinox Razor Edge Series barber shears are an inexpensive Japanese stainless pair that’s fine for learning scissor-over-comb. Upgrade once you know your preferred length and grip.

A razor for shaves and razor cutting

Shaving and beard design are part of Washington’s barber curriculum. The Feather Standard Styling Razor kit uses replaceable blades and handles both razor cuts and detail work. For straight shaves, many students also carry a Black Widow Professional shavette.

A trimmer for outlines

The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Detailer is a cordless T-wide trimmer for line-ups and beard edges. If you’d rather save money and don’t mind a cord, the Andis 04780 T-Outliner does the same job for less.

Disinfection basics

Disinfection is part of the curriculum and of every shop inspection. A Barbicide Disinfecting Jar (37 oz) filled from a pint of Barbicide Disinfectant Concentrate (16 oz) keeps combs and guards ready between clients.

For blade care between cuts, a can of Andis Cool Care Plus 5-in-1 spray cleans, cools and lubricates. Our essential barber tools guide covers the rest of a beginner setup.

Is barbering in Washington worth it?

On the numbers, Washington stands out. Training is short (1,000 hours), license fees are low, out-of-state barbers transfer with little friction, and the state’s median wage is well above the national figure. The trade-offs are school costs, which range from technical-college tuition of about $6,000 a year to around $10,000–$12,000 at private schools, and a curriculum that now includes textured-hair training. Pick a school that teaches it well. Start with a clipper you’ll keep after graduation. The Wahl Professional 5 Star Cordless Senior or the Wahl Professional 5 Star Magic Clip Cordless will both last well past your first year behind the chair.

FAQ

How many hours is barber school in Washington? The state minimum is 1,000 hours, or 2,000 hours in an approved apprenticeship. Schools can require more than the minimum.

How long does it take to get a barber license in Washington? Several schools quote about eight months full-time, and you can test once you’re within 100 hours of finishing. Exam scheduling with Prov and DOL processing add a little time after that.

Do you need a high school diploma to be a barber in Washington? State law requires applicants to be at least 17 and doesn’t list a diploma or GED. Individual schools can set their own admission rules, though.

How much does the Washington barber exam cost? DOL lists $169 for the written exam and $119 for the practical, both paid to Prov. The barber license itself is $35.

Can I transfer my barber license to Washington? Yes. With an active license from another state and proof you passed that state’s exams, you can apply for a $60 reciprocity license. DOL lists no minimum years of experience.

Do Washington barbers need continuing education? DOL’s renewal requirements don’t include continuing-education hours. You renew every two years and pay the renewal fee.

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.