Becoming a licensed barber in Ohio follows a fixed path set by the state. There is no shortcut around it, but there is no reason for it to feel mysterious either. Below is the sequence from first decision to Master Barber license, laid out in the order you will actually go through it.
Step 1: Decide that barbering is the license you want
Ohio licenses barbers and cosmetologists separately. If your goal is clipper work, fades, beard design and straight razor shaving, the Master Barber license is the one built around that kind of work. We compare the two paths side by side in Barber License vs Cosmetology License in Ohio.
Step 2: Choose a school the state recognizes
Training hours count toward a license when they are earned at a school licensed by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. Ask any school for its license number before you sign anything. GOAT Barber Academy’s number is SCHL.000792.
Beyond the license, compare the total cost in writing, the schedule options, the curriculum the school teaches from, and how soon you will be working on real clients.
Step 3: Complete 1,800 clock hours
Ohio requires 1,800 clock hours of training for a Master Barber license. Those hours take you through cutting, shaving, chemical services, sanitation, Ohio law and the business of barbering. At GOAT, the curriculum is Pivot Point, and the pace depends on the schedule you choose, all Monday to Friday:
- Full Time (9am to 5pm) reaches 1,800 hours in about 12 to 13 months
- Part Time B (9am to 4pm) takes about 13 to 15 months
- Part Time A (9am to 2pm) takes about 18 to 19 months
Flexible schedules available too. For a closer look at pacing, see How Long Does Barber School Take in Ohio?
Step 4: Budget for the school and for the state
Two separate bills come with this path. The first goes to your school. At GOAT it totals $16,762.50, built from tuition of $15,000, a kit and supply fee of $1,612.50 including tax, and a $150 registration fee collected at signing, which is non-refundable. Financing available; Ways to Pay has the details. Federal aid and FAFSA do not apply, because GOAT is not a Title IV school.
The second bill goes to the state, for your exams and your license. The Board sets those fees and they can change, so check current amounts directly at cos.ohio.gov rather than trusting a number on any school website.
Step 5: Pass the state board exams
Once your hours are finished, you sit for the Ohio State Board exams: a written theory exam and a practical skills exam. Passing both is what turns a student into a licensed barber. We describe the testing day in What the Ohio Barber State Board Exam Is Actually Like.
Step 6: Receive your Ohio Master Barber license
With both exams passed, the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board issues your license. What you do next, whether that is joining a shop, renting a booth or planning your own place someday, is up to you. A license is permission to work, and we do not promise anyone a job.
Starting the path at GOAT
For anyone in the Mahoning Valley, step two can be a short drive. GOAT is located at 1741 S Raccoon Rd, Suite 3, in Wedgewood Plaza, Austintown, and new classes start the first Monday of every month. Read the full Master Barber Program, schedule a tour any weekday from 10 AM to 5 PM, or begin your application online.
Ohio barber license questions
How many hours do you need to become a barber in Ohio?
1,800 clock hours for a Master Barber license, completed at a school licensed by the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board.
Who issues barber licenses in Ohio?
The Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board. Its website, cos.ohio.gov, lists current requirements.
How much are the Ohio barber exam and license fees?
The Board sets them and updates them from time to time, so we do not quote them here. Check cos.ohio.gov for current amounts.
What does the state board exam include?
Two parts: a written theory exam and a practical skills exam.
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.