According to Education-Portal.com, many states require barbers to earn a high school diploma or GED, although a few states only require barbers to have an eighth grade education. Cosmetology courses are offered in many high schools through vocational education programs. In addition to high school cosmetology classes, aspiring barbers should take classes in health, biology and chemistry, as well as basic business classes, such as small business management and accounting. Depending on the amount of hours required for state licensure, some students may meet all of their barber licensing requirements through high school coursework.
To be eligible for licensing in most states, a degree or diploma from a cosmetology, barber school or community college is required. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time barbering and cosmetology programs typically take about nine months and are designed to meet state regulations, which generally include 500-1,500 hours of instruction and experience. Students in barber and cosmetology programs take courses in hair and scalp care, cutting and styling men's hair, hair coloring, facial hair design and shaving, customer relations and barbershop management. Most classes are offered in both classroom and laboratory settings, so students view demonstrations and get hands-on experience under the guidance of a trained instructor. Before enrolling in a barber or cosmetology school, students should make sure their program is approved by the state licensing board.
In some states, a barber apprenticeship can take the place of barber or cosmetology formal schooling. Barbers in apprenticeship programs learn under the direction of a licensed barber in a state-approved, licensed barber shop. In most states, barber apprentices assist the barber and perform supervised services. Many states, including New York, require students who earn a barber's license through an apprenticeship program to complete at least two-years of a supervised apprenticeship. According to Alex Campbell, a master barber, some states allow only one apprentice per barber shop at a time. Most barber apprenticeship programs last about 12 months.