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Maryland · Board of Barbers

Maryland Barber License Requirements

Maryland licenses barbers through its own board, separate from cosmetology and under a different title of the law. A barber licence takes 1,200 hours of school training or 2,250 hours as a registered apprentice, and the master barber licence is a second step on top of that, not an alternative to it.

1,200

school hours for a barber

or 2,250 apprentice hours

900

hours for barber-stylist limited

or 1,650 as an apprentice

15 mo

licensed before master barber

plus both exams

Requirements by licence

Barber

1,200 school hours2,250 apprentice hours

Must submit proof of completion of 1200 hours of barber student training in a barber school or 2250 hours as a registered apprentice in a licensed barbershop and qualify by examination given by the Board.

Barber-Stylist Limited

900 school hours1,650 apprentice hours

Must submit proof of completion of 900 hours of barber student training in a barber school or 1,650 hours as an apprentice barber-stylist limited in a licensed barbershop and qualify by examination given by the Board.

Master Barber

Must have 15 months of experience as a licensed barber and a passing grade on the master barber exam and the barber exam.

Shop Owner

Must provide approved use and occupancy permit from the local zoning board with the shop permit application.

Wording taken from the Board of Barbers's own requirements page rather than paraphrased.

Fee schedule

LicenceCatOriginalRenewalLate
Barber Shop Owner01$225$56$112 — after 45 days $225
Master Barber05$56$56$112
Barber04$56$56$112
Limited Barber Stylist11$56$56$112
Apprentice — Barber10$11
Apprentice — Barber Stylist12$11
Duplicate licence — shop$28
Duplicate licence — barber$28
Licence certification$28

The board states fees are set by law and regulation, are subject to change with public notice, and are all nonrefundable.

Where these figures come from

Read from the Board of Barbers on 2026-08-10. Maryland publishes this as web pages, not PDFs, and those pages carry no version and change without notice — so check the source before relying on a figure.

Barber licence renewalTwo-year cycle, $56, and no continuing education requirement.Practical exam kit listWhat PSI requires you to bring into the exam room.Cosmetology requirementsThe other board — different hours, different fees, and CE on renewal.Maryland hubEvery Maryland licensing guide in one place.