Hair and facial hair are essential elements to men’s style and fashion. Georgia is home to one of America’s “Manliest Barbershops,” as declared by Men’s Health Magazine. This barbershop, Kutz Remix Barbershop in Suwanee, is known for being owned by the brother of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback, Travis Daniels, and for being immersed in music, from the DJ booth to the vinyl Records of Fame wall.
If you’re ready to begin your career as a barber in Georgia so you can open a cutting edge shop of your own, you will need to qualify for a license through the Georgia State Board of Barbers, which defines barbering as the cutting, styling, and designing of hair, including facial hair.
To learn how to become a licensed barber in Georgia, follow these steps:
Step 1. Graduate from a 1500-Hour Georgia Barber Training Program
Your initial step toward a Georgia barber license is to graduate from a Georgia barber college. The Georgia State Board of Barbers requires that your school provide at least 1500 hours of specialized training. Board-required courses include the following:
Theory (280 hours)
- Theory – 50 hours
- Hair and Scalp Treatments – 25 hours
- Hairstyling Techniques, Styling and Cutting – 70 hours
- Shaving – 25 hours
- Coloring of Hair – 25 hours
- Facial Hair Design and Waxing – 20 hours
- Permanent Waving, Relaxing, and Chemical Application – 65 hours
Clinical Services (1220 hours)
- Theory – 200 hours
- Hairstyling Techniques and Cutting – 500 hours
- Shaving – 25 hours
- Shampooing – 5 hours
- Facial Hair Design and Waxing – 10 hours
- Scalp Treatment Techniques – 10 hours
- Permanent Waving – 270 hours
- Additional Instruction – 200 hours
Apprenticeship
The Georgia Board also allows you to complete a barber apprenticeship. However, to do so, you must be at least 16 years old, and complete the following steps:
- Submit Application for Barber Apprenticeship
- Submit $45 Application Fee
- Complete On-the-Job Training Underneath the Direct Supervision of a Licensed Barber with at least 18 Months of Experience
- Complete at least 3000 Hours of Training over at least 18 Months
Step 2. Pass National Theory and Georgia State Practical Licensing Exams
Once you graduate from a barber training program, your school will submit your graduation notification to PSI Services, which is the testing vendor that the Georgia Board allows to give and grade the barber licensing exams. With your school’s pre-approval, you will be able to register for and schedule your licensing exams with PSI. There are two licensing exams that you will need to schedule: the Georgia Barber Practical Exam, and the National Barber Written Exam. To schedule these exams, complete the following steps:
- Download and Read the Georgia Board Barber Examination Candidate Information Bulletin
- Schedule Exams Online
- Pay Combined Examination Fee of $147.00
Georgia Barber Practical Exam
This practical exam will only take 85 minutes to complete. You will be graded on your ability to perform the following barber services:
- Set Up and Client Protection
- Shaving with a Straight Razor
- Basic Facial
- Haircutting
- Blow Dry Styling
National Barber Written Exam
You will have about 90 minutes to complete this written, computer-based exam. This exam will text your theoretical knowledge on barber subjects, including the following:
- Scientific Concepts
- Chemistry, Electricity, and Light
- Hair, Skin, and Scalp Disorders
- Facial and Shaving Services
- Hair Cutting and Styling
- Hair Care Services
PSI has examination sites in the following Georgia cities:
- Atlanta
- Macon
- Tifton
Once you pass these exams, PSI will provide the Board with your scores, and you will be eligible to apply for your Georgia barber license.
Step 3. Submit a Georgia Master Barber License Application to the Board
After completing barber training and passing the licensing exams, you may now submit an application to the Georgia Board for a barber license. To do so, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Fill Out Application for Master Barber’s License
- Present Copy of High School Diploma
- Provide Barber Training Diploma
- Pay $30.00 Application Fee
Reciprocity
If you hold a barber license in another state, you may qualify for a Georgia barber license based on reciprocity. This means that you will not need to complete Georgia barber training or pass the Georgia licensing exams. If you would like to apply for a license based on reciprocity, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Submit Application for Barber Licensure by Endorsement/Reciprocity
- Provide Licensure Verification from Previous Licensing Board
- Present Proof of High School and Barber School Education
- Pay $50.00 Reciprocity Licensing Fee
You may submit all of your initial application and reciprocity application materials to the Board at the following mailing address:
GEORGIA STATE BOARD OF BARBERS
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, Georgia 31208
Step 4. Explore your Career Options and Keep your License Current
If you are interested in opening your own barbershop in order to customize the style and atmosphere of the shop to your liking, you will be able to do this by first obtaining barbershop license. This license may be obtained by completing the following steps:
- Submit Application for Barber Shop to Georgia Board
- Attach $75.00 Application Fee
In the initial phases of your career, you will likely start by renting a chair in one of Georgia’s well-established shop:
- Jack and Sons Barber Shop – Roswell
- Gino’s Classic Barber Shoppe – Atlanta
- Good Look Barber Shop – Southeast Marietta
- Alpharetta Barber shop – Alpharetta
- Exodus Barber Shop – Stone Mountain
You will need to renew your license by December 31st of even numbered years. The Board will send you a courtesy reminder about 6 weeks before you need to renew. If you do not receive this notice from the Board, you are still responsible to renew the license. You may do this by completing the renewal form and submitting the renewal fee online.
Barber Salaries in Georgia
The 1,144 barbers who practiced in Georgia in 2012 had an average salary of $30,288 according to the state’s Department of Labor. This was 9.3% higher than the national one for this field.
The actual take home pay level for Georgia’s barbers will be even higher than indicated here. The official salary statistics do not account for tipping which can add 10 to 25% to the barbers’ income.
Barbers with more experience usually have higher salaries. Thus, barbers in Georgia who were in the 75th salary bracket earned an average of $20,884 a year more than their colleagues in the 25th bracket. These salaries were $40,878 and $19,994 respectively.
Barber salaries by city in Georgia:
Atlanta – $51,000
Columbus – $44,000
Savannah – $43,000
Athens – $38,000
Major Metropolitan Salaries for Barbers in Georgia
The Georgia Department of Labor also provides barber salary information for two of the largest cities in the state. The average salary of barbers in the 25th salary bracket was higher in the Savannah area. However, experienced Atlanta barbers in the 75th bracket had an average salary that was more than 50% higher than that in the Savannah area:
Job Growth Levels for Georgia’s Barbers
The number of jobs for barbers in Georgia is expected to increase at a rate of 1.1% a year between 2012 and 2022. An average of 44 jobs a year should become available for barbers during this time frame.
More than two thirds of these jobs will be generated by the exit of barbers from the profession in Georgia. The remaining ones will come from growth in the field as the demand for the services of barbers increases in Georgia.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides detail on the salaries of barbers practicing in the Atlanta and Savannah areas in 2013: