Master Barber
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About
A barber performs one or any combination of practices listed for payment, directly or indirectly, or without payment for the public generally: shaving or trimming beards, cutting, or styling the hair, giving facial and scalp massages or treatments with oils, creams, lotions or other preparations either by hand or mechanical appliances; singeing, curling, shampooing, coloring, bleaching or straightening the hair, or applying hair tonics; cutting fitting, measuring and forming head caps for wigs or hair pieces; hair weaving (excluding medical or surgical procedures); applying cosmetic preparations, antiseptics, powders, oils, clays or lotions to scalp, face, neck or other parts of the body; or manicuring and nail care. (A technician's license is available that permits a limited number of the above practices.)
Announcement
Per a court order issued by the Davidson County Chancery court on August 5, 2020, the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology & Barber Examiners (Board) is enjoined from enforcing Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-3-110(b)(2) which requires that all master barber registration applicants obtain a high school diploma, GED, or HiSET equivalence. Please note that the director and staff will no longer require that barber schools contain proof of a high school diploma, GED, or HiSET equivalence in a student’s file. For any question please contact the Board office at Cosmetology.Board@tn.gov. Should this status change the notice on this website will be updated.
Requirements
Licensing Requirements
Be at least seventeen (17) years of age, and satisfying education and examination requirements.
Educational Requirements
300 hours of approved training in a registered school of cosmetology can count towards the 1,500 required hours in the registered barber school if a Tennessee Cosmetology License is valid.
Renewal Requirements
Renewal required every two years.
Fees
To apply for an initial license please visit www.core.tn.gov. The fee for an initial application is $60.
License renewals can be done here.
The renewal form and fee must be submitted to the board office prior to the expiration date listed on the license. If the renewal is not processed prior, there is an additional late fee of $60.00 per license. If the late fee is due, your license is not renewed.
Licenses expired for more than three (3) years become invalid. In order to reinstate an invalid license, the licensee must take reinstatement exams. There are no waivers to this provision.
Additional
Reciprocity
Any licensee from another state or U.S. territory must complete an application for reciprocity. Only reciprocal applicants who meet the minimum Tennessee requirements for licensure will be considered.
Students who completed education outside of the United States, in an out of state school, college or university, and have never been issued this license type in Tennessee need complete the application to test and provide the following:
- Copy of Driver’s License or birth certificate
- Copy of Social Security card
- Certificated Transcript of education
Reinstatement
Individuals needing reinstatement of Tennessee Master Barber Examiners Licensure expired for three (3) or more years need complete the application to test.