Florida barbering is regulated by a completely separate agency from the Board of Cosmetology — the Florida Barbers' Board, also under DBPR, but distinct forms, distinct CE requirements, and a different renewal cycle. If you're used to states where barbers and cosmetologists are regulated together, this split matters for paperwork and renewal.
Florida's barber exam is written-only — 100 questions, 3 hours, administered by Pearson VUE. The examination is written only. This is one of Florida's most accessible features compared to most other states, which still require practicals for barbers.
The basics: who qualifies
- Age 16 or older. Age alone qualifies; a diploma or GED is optional.
- Two training pathways:
- Option 1 (900 hours): Complete 900 hours at a DBPR-licensed barber school. Standard pathway.
- Option 2 (600 hours + competency certification): Complete 600 hours and receive a competency certification from your school. This allows you to sit for the exam early. If you fail, you may need to complete additional hours before retesting — confirm current rules with DBPR.
- 2-hour HIV/AIDS course from a DBPR-approved provider, completed within two years before application. Note: The barber-specific 2-hour course is its own requirement, separate from the cosmetology 4-hour HIV/AIDS course.
The Restricted Barber option
Florida offers a Restricted Barber license covering cutting, shearing and styling alone. The Restricted Barber license requires the 600-hour pathway with competency certification. Restricted barbers work within cutting, shearing and styling; colour, perms, relaxers and bleach need the full licence. The written exam content differs from the full barber exam.
The Florida barber examination
Important · Florida uses its own exam
Florida's barber examination is developed by DBPR and administered by Pearson VUE — it is not the NIC National Barber Theory Examination. Content coverage overlaps substantially (haircutting, shaving, scalp anatomy, infection control, Florida laws), but the item bank and structure are DBPR-specific. NICPrep's barber question banks are calibrated to the NIC format. For Florida specifically, our content is useful supplementary study material — domain coverage matches broadly — but differs from DBPR's exam blueprint.
Florida examines in English only
Florida's written examination is administered in English. If you are studying in Spanish, you will still sit the paper in English — plan for that.
Written examination
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- 3 hours
- Passing score: 75%
- Administered by Pearson VUE at testing centers throughout Florida and worldwide, and available via online remote proctoring (OnVUE)
- No practical exam component
Written exam content areas
- Florida laws and rules — Chapter 476 (The Barber Act) and Florida Administrative Code Rule 61G3
- Haircutting — cutting techniques, tapering, clipper work, razor cutting, shear work, and styling
- Shaving and facial hair services — straight razor shaving, beard/mustache trimming and design, facial massage
- Chemical services — coloring, bleaching, permanent waving, chemical straightening
- Scalp and hair analysis — hair structure and chemistry, scalp conditions
- Sanitation, sterilization, and safety
- HIV/AIDS awareness
Infection control, sanitation, and Florida laws together make up the largest portion of the exam. Candidates who fall short usually do so in these areas, with technical hair service knowledge intact.
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Step-by-step: how to get licensed in Florida
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Complete 900 hours (or 600 with competency cert) at a DBPR-licensed barber school
Verify the school's current DBPR approval. At 600 hours with a competency certification from your school, you become eligible to sit for the written exam. Full-time students typically complete 900 hours in 6–9 months.
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Complete the 2-hour HIV/AIDS course
Take the barber-specific 2-hour course from a DBPR-approved provider (typically $10–$25 online). The barber-specific version is the one required. Certificate must be issued within two years of your application.
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Submit the BAR 1 application and pay the DBPR fee
Apply online at MyFloridaLicense.com or by mail using the BAR 1 form. Include your school's verification of training hours and your HIV/AIDS certificate. Processing takes 1–4 weeks.
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Receive authorization and schedule the written exam with Pearson VUE
Once DBPR approves your application, you receive a candidate number. Schedule at pearsonvue.com/fl/dbpr or call (888) 204-6289. Choose a test center or online remote proctoring (OnVUE).
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Pass the written examination
100 questions in 3 hours. 75% required to pass. You receive your result at the testing center immediately after the exam.
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Receive your license and display it at your workstation
DBPR emails your license. Florida Rule 61G3-19.009 requires all barbers to permanently laminate their license with a 2″ × 2″ photograph taken within the previous two years, displayed at their work station. It must be displayed as issued, outside a picture frame.
Endorsement: if you're licensed in another state
Florida offers license by endorsement for barbers licensed in other states. DBPR evaluates whether your out-of-state training hours and exam meet Florida's requirements. Active license required. Contact the Florida Barbers' Board directly at MyFloridaLicense.com for current endorsement requirements, as the process for barbers is managed separately from the cosmetology board.
Retakes
To retake, submit a Re-Examination Application (BAR 1 retake) and pay the re-examination fee. Retakes are unlimited; each attempt requires a new application and fee. If you originally qualified under the 600-hour pathway with competency certification, DBPR may require you to complete additional hours before retesting — confirm current rules.
Continuing education at renewal
Florida barber CE is administered separately from cosmetology CE and requires 2 hours every two years — significantly less than most states. CE must include an HIV/AIDS component. Barber licenses renew on July 31 of even-numbered years — a different cycle from the cosmetology board's October 31 deadline.
License renewal in Florida
Florida barber licenses expire on July 31 of even-numbered years (e.g., July 31, 2026, July 31, 2028). Renewal through MyFloridaLicense.com. The barber board is a distinct entity from the cosmetology board — renewal is handled separately.
Other Florida beauty licenses
Other Florida licensing guides
Official Florida barber resources
Last verified May 2026 against the Florida Barbers' Board and Pearson VUE candidate information bulletins. Fees and requirements change — always confirm current information with DBPR before applying. NICPrep is an independent prep resource and is not affiliated with DBPR, Pearson VUE, or the State of Florida.
🇪🇸 NICPrep's barber styling prep is also available in Spanish.