Barber / Michigan
2026 data Michigan board official source

Michigan Barber License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Cuts and styles hair. Licensed in all 50 states and DC.

What the Michigan data shows for Barbers

Michigan sets the entry bar for barbers at 1,236 training hours and a passing score on State Barber Board Exam. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 16 or older. The credential is administered under Michigan's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Barber School".

Upfront cost is $94, with renewal running $51 on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Michigan, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

On reciprocity, barbers should know: Varies by state — check with state board.

Licensing Ease Score

B-
Licensing Ease Score
69/100
Barber · Michigan

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,236 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C
$94
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden A-
$26/yr
$51 every 2 years
Continuing Education A+
None required
No continuing-education mandate
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Michigan

Education / Training Hours
Barber School
1,236 hours
Exam Requirement
State Barber Board Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$94
Renewal Fee
$51
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
16 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Barber All Michigan licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Michigan licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Barber in Michigan? ▼
Michigan requires 1236 education/training hours, passing an exam (State Barber Board Exam), and an initial fee of $94. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Barber in Michigan? ▼
Certification as a barber in Michigan means clearing the state's checklist: 1236 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Michigan licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Barber license to Michigan from another state? ▼
For barbers, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: Varies by state — check with state board. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Michigan licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Michigan require a background check for Barber licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the barber licensing process in Michigan. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this barber license

Barber in Michigan, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a barber-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Michigan's barber requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Barber in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state barber license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Michigan's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Michigan overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Michigan licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.