Barber / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania data shows for Barbers

Becoming a licensed barber in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,284 training hours, a passing score on State Barber Board Exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 16. Pennsylvania regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Barber School".

Budget $106 to get started, plus $56 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Pennsylvania, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

For barbers, the reciprocity picture is: Varies by state — check with state board.

Licensing Ease Score

B-
Licensing Ease Score
67/100
Barber · Pennsylvania

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 F
1,284 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$106
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B+
$28/yr
$56 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 Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Barber School
1,284 hours
Exam Requirement
State Barber Board Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$106
Renewal Fee
$56
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 Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Barber in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania's requirements cover 1284 hours of education or training, the State Barber Board Exam exam, and an initial fee of $106. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Barber in Pennsylvania? ▼
Certification as a barber in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist: 1284 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Barber license to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Barber licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for barber licensing in Pennsylvania. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this barber license

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

  • See how Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Pennsylvania overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Pennsylvania 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.