How to Become a Barber in Kansas
- 1,200 education hours are required to become licensed.
- You must renew your license every year.
- 0 continuing education hours are required to renew your license.
- The average salary for barbers in Kansas is $38,960.
- There is a predicted 4% job increase for barbers between 2024-2034 nationally.
To become a barber in Kansas, you must complete certain steps, such as meeting age and demeanor requirements, completing 1,200 training hours at a board-approved school, and passing exams.
According to the Kansas Board of Barbering (KBB), barbers in Kansas work with clients to help improve their appearance by washing and cutting hair, shaving and grooming facial hair, giving facial or scalp massages or treatments, coloring or applying permanent waves, and more.
A barbering career not only involves the technical know-how needed to perform these treatments but also calls for good interpersonal skills to work alongside other barbers and provide excellent customer service. It means adhering to schedules, working on your feet for much of the day, and paying close attention to detail.
To become a barber in Kansas, you need a license. Here's how to do that:
- Meet the age and demeanor requirements: All applicants must be at least 16 years old and "of good moral character and temperate habit."
- Complete your education: Aspiring barbers must undergo 1,200 to 1,500 training hours in a state-approved barber program.
- Take the licensing exam: Once you graduate, you can apply for your exams and pay the $100 exam fee.
- Pass the exam: You must score at least 80% on each part of the three-part exam to get your license.
- Get your license: Submit your application and pay an $80 fee.
- Renew your license: You need to renew your license every year to remain in good standing.
What to Expect From a Barber Program in Kansas
1,200 Education Hours
Required to earn a barber license
All Kansas barber programs must include 1,200 to 1,500 training hours completed within nine months, with no more than eight hours daily.
The state board requires that barber schools in Kansas cover the following courses in their curriculum:
- Anatomy: 10 hours
- Bacteriology: 5 hours
- Chemistry, sterilization, and antiseptics: 10 hours
- Coloring, bleaching, tinting, and dyeing: 25 hours practice, 17 hours demo and lecture
- Economics, equipment, and shop management: 15 hours
- Electricity as applied to barbering: 2 hours
- Facials, massages, and packs: 20 hours practice, 5 hours demo and lecture
- Hair cutting: 600 hours practice, 25 hours demo and lecture
- Hair styling and arranging: 30 hours practice, 10 hours demo and lecture
- Histology: 10 hours
- History of barbering: 5 hours
- Honing and stropping: 1 hour practice, 1 hour demo and lecture
- Hygiene and first aid: 5 hours
- Instruments: 5 hours
- Law and ethics: 25 hours
- Permanent waving: 20 hours practice, 10 hours demo and lecture
- Products: 5 hours
- Sanitation and sterilization: 10 hours practice, 10 hours demo and lecture
- Scalp, skin, and hair disorders: 10 hours
- Science: 150 hours
- Shaving: 100 hours practice, 20 hours demo and lecture
- Singeing and hair tonics: 1 hour practice, 1 hour demo and lecture
Kansas Barber Licensing Requirements
You must take your licensing exam once you graduate from a Kansas barber school. You need proof you completed your required schooling, then submit an application, a $100 exam fee and an $80 license fee, an email address, and a copy of a government-issued ID.
There are three barber license exams in KS: a written and a practical exam developed by the National Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, or NIC, and a Kansas Rules and Regulations exam.
The practical and rules and regulations tests are usually given on the same day, while the written exam is conducted at a separate time and location. Practical exams are offered at least twice a year, and the written exam is scheduled directly with a testing center.
You must score at least 80% on each part of the exam to receive your license. It's a good idea to study, which is why the board offers exam aids and practical exam kit requirements on its website.
If you don't pass the exam on the first try, you can reapply and get a temporary license to practice. You can only do this three times before you're denied a license. If you fail only one part, you must apply to retake that part before you can get your license.
Can I Apprentice as a Barber in Kansas?
No, there are no Kansas barber apprenticeships available.
Kansas Barber License Reciprocity
If you're already licensed to work as a barber in another state, you can get a license in Kansas if you meet these requirements:
- You're at least 18 years old
- You demonstrate good character and professional behavior
- You've been working as a licensed barber for at least two years
- You provide a letter from your current licensing board verifying that you're in good standing
- You've met the equivalent training requirements needed in Kansas
- Your license is in a state that has a reciprocity agreement with Kansas. Currently, 32 states have reciprocity agreements for barbers in Kansas
If you haven't met the required training hours, you need to apply to take the exam and pay the $180 fee. Military barbers must complete 500 hours of training to get their Kansas licenses.
Barber License Renewal in Kansas
1 Year
License renewal period
0 Hours
Continuing education required
You must renew your license by its expiration date each year. As long as you stay in good standing, you can do this by simply completing the barber license renewal application and mailing it to the Kansas Board of Barbering with your $80 renewal fee.
You'll be charged late fees if you fail to renew on time. If your license isn't renewed within three years, you must retake your exams. There is no continuing education requirement to renew your license.
Barber Salary and Projected Job Growth in Kansas
$38,960
Average yearly salary for barbers in Kansas
Barbers in Kansas earn an average annual salary of $38,960. Nationwide, the barber industry is expected to grow by 4% between 2024 and 2034.
Contact the Kansas State Board of Barbering
Resources for Barbers in Kansas
Kansas Barber Association
State chapter of the American Barber Association that offers credentialing, support for business owners, networking, and more
Kansas Barber Professionals
A Facebook group for Kansas barbers to share ideas and advice, post job opportunities, and network
