Maybe you have a mortgage in Boardman, kids enrolled in Canfield schools, or a lease you are not about to break. A new career should not require a new address. GOAT Barber Academy trains future barbers out of Wedgewood Plaza in Austintown, close enough to both communities for a daily trip, so you can work toward an Ohio Master Barber license and still come home to the same street every night.
A career change that stays local
If you are reading this from Boardman or Canfield, there is a good chance you are not starting from zero in life. You may be leaving a job that stopped going anywhere, or finally chasing something you have thought about for years. Barbering is a trade you can learn in a defined number of hours, at a school near where you already live.
The requirement is clear. Ohio asks for 1,800 clock hours of training at a Board licensed school before you can test for a Master Barber license. GOAT holds Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board License No. SCHL.000792, so the hours you put in here count.
Counting the real cost of switching careers
A career change carries two price tags. The first is the school bill. At GOAT that comes to $16,762.50 altogether, made up of $15,000 in tuition, $1,612.50 for your tools and supplies with tax included, and a $150 registration fee that is paid when you sign and is not refunded.
The second price tag is time. Every month in school is a month of rearranging work, family and money, which is why the schedule you pick deserves as much thought as the tuition. We wrote a longer piece on what barber school costs in Ohio and another on how long it takes. Both are worth ten minutes before you decide.
Financing available. There is no FAFSA or federal aid at GOAT because we are not Title IV approved, but the school offers its own payment plans and some students qualify for outside funding; Ways to Pay spells them out.
Picking a pace that fits the life you already have
Three standard schedules are offered, and every one of them runs Monday to Friday. Full Time keeps you at the school from 9am to 5pm and wraps up within roughly 12 to 13 months. Part Time B runs 9am to 4pm over about 13 to 15 months. Part Time A runs 9am to 2pm and takes about 18 to 19 months.
Part Time A ends in the early afternoon, which leaves the rest of the day for a later shift or for family. Full Time gets you to the finish line soonest. Neither one is the right answer for everybody, and that is fine.
Flexible schedules available. If none of the three lines up with your obligations, call or text admissions at (330) 249-1760 and talk it through before you rule anything out.
Questions to settle before you give notice anywhere
- Which schedule can I keep up for a year or more without burning out?
- How will I cover the total, and which financing option suits me?
- Which first Monday makes sense as my start date?
- Have I seen the school, the training floor and the curriculum in person?
That last one is the easiest to settle. Our doors are open for tours on weekdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, by appointment or as a walk-in. If you would like to read first, the full Master Barber Program breakdown covers what you learn, from fades and razor work to the business side of running a chair.
Boardman and Canfield questions
How far is GOAT from Boardman and Canfield?
Not far. Expect a short drive to our Suite 3 location at 1741 S Raccoon Rd, inside Wedgewood Plaza in Austintown.
Do I have to quit my job to start barber school?
That depends on your work hours and the schedule you choose. Work full time? Ask us about a schedule that fits around your job. Call or text admissions at (330) 249-1760. Our page for working adults goes into more detail.
Will the hours I complete at GOAT count toward an Ohio license?
Yes. Hours count when they are earned at a Board licensed school, and GOAT holds License No. SCHL.000792 from the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board.
Can I start at any point in the year?
Yes. Classes begin on the first Monday of each month, so you can choose a month that works around your current job and your family calendar.
GOAT Barber Academy LLC, 1741 S Raccoon Rd, Suite 3, Youngstown, OH 44515 (Wedgewood Plaza, Austintown). Licensed by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board, License No. SCHL.000792. Tuition and fees shown are current as of November 2026 and are set by your signed enrollment agreement. State exam and license fees are set by the Board and are subject to change. We do not guarantee employment.