Barber Schools in Indiana

If you want a barbering career in Indiana, you've reached a great place to learn how. Browse our directory of barber schools in Indiana, or skip ahead to learn about the state's barber license requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Barber in Indiana

To become a barber in Indiana, you must meet set requirements. These include completing a State-approved barber program, passing an exam, applying for your license, and paying relevant fees. Specifically, you must:

• Be at least 18 or 17 and a high school graduate (or equivalent)
• Complete at least 1,500 training hours in a State-approved barber program
• Pass a written exam
• Submit an application
• Pay a $40 application fee

What to Expect from a Barber Program in Indiana

All barber programs in Indiana must contain at least 1,500 training hours and cover a variety of relevant subjects. The exact content taught by each barber school varies but must include the following:

• Anatomy and physiology: 15 hours
• Chemistry: 10 hours
• Discretionary: 150 hours
• Equipment care: 10 hours
• Facials: 45 hours
• Hair coloring: 130 hours
• Hairpieces: 50 hours
• Hair styling: 225 hours
• Hair: 10 hours
• Haircuts: 300 hours
• History of barbering: 10 hours
• Honing and stropping: 15 hours
• Laws and rules: 20 hours
• Management: 10 hours
• Permanent waving and chemical relaxing: 265 hours
• Personal hygiene/professional ethics: 10 hours
• Salesmanship: 15 hours
• Sanitation, bacteriology, and sterilization: 40 hours
• Scalp treatment: 35 hours
• Shampoo/massage: 70 hours
• Shaving/shaping (includes mustache and beard): 45 hours
• Skin: 10 hours
• UV/infrared: 10 hours

Indiana Barber Licensing Requirements

Once you've completed 1,500 hours at a barber school in Indiana, you must pass a written exam and apply for your barber license.

The test is administered by PSI Services LLC in English or Spanish. Once you complete your training hours, your school notifies PSI. You then receive an email confirmation and can schedule your exam online or by calling 1-(855) 898-0713. It costs $44 to register for the exam.

After registration, you have one year to take and pass the exam, and you can retake it as many times as needed within that year. If you don't pass within that time frame, you must return to your education provider to get your eligibility file resubmitted to PSI and pay another $44 fee.

The exam is taken on a computer at either a PSI exam center or a registered college.

On the day of your exam, arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. You must bring two forms of valid signed ID to the test site, one of which needs to have a photo.

The exam has 100 general questions, 10 State-specific questions, and 10 experimental questions. You have 120 minutes to finish and must score at least 75% to pass. Upon completion, you receive your results. The exam is split into the following weighted subject areas:

• Rules, Regulations and Safety: 30%
• Hair / Scalp Structure and Care: 10%
• Shaving / Beard Design: 15%
• Hair Cutting and Hair Styling: 25%
• Chemical Services: 10%
• Skin Care: 10%

All PSI exam centers are equipped to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)'s requirements, and accommodations can be requested by applying online. You may have to provide a disability description and contact information for your relevant medical authority.

Can I Apprentice as a Barber in Indiana?

No, you can't apprentice as a barber in Indiana.

Indiana Barber License Reciprocity

If you've already gained your barber license in another state, you might be able to transfer it across for use in Indiana via reciprocity.

Ideally, the state you're licensed in requires at least 1,500 training hours to match Indiana's requirements. If that's the case, you can apply for your license. However, if your licensing state requires fewer hours, all is not lost.

If your licensing state requires at least 1,000 training hours (but less than 1,500), you can be credited with 100 extra training hours for every year of licensed practice. This applies as long as you also have a passing grade of at least 70% on your state's written and practical exams.

If you gained your out-of-state license via apprenticeship, you must submit proof that you completed the relevant requirements. This could be a transcript from your school or an official certification or letter from the licensing board.

If the state you're licensed in requires less than 1,000 hours, you can transfer your existing training to a barber school in Indiana, complete the remaining hours, then take the State exam and apply for your license.

Barber License Renewal in Indiana

You need to renew your Indiana barber license online or by mail every two years.

Reminders are sent out by the Board around 90 days before expiry. It costs $40 to renew, and no continuing education requirements exist.

If you miss your renewal date (within three years), you must pay an additional $50 late fee. If more than three years have passed, you must pay a $40 reinstatement fee. If more than five years have passed, you may need to repeat some of your educational requirements and retake your exam.

Barber Salary and Projected Job Growth in Indiana

On average, barbers in Indiana earn $32,120 per year or $15.44 per hour. Barber salaries vary depending on several factors, such as the area you're based in, the services you offer, and your experience level. The top 10% of barbers in Indiana earn around $47,630 or more, while the lowest 10% earn $24,120 or less.

The projected job outlook for barber careers in Indiana is well above average, with an expected rise of 18% between 2020-2030. This is much higher than the 8% expected nationwide.

The highest-paying metro areas for Barbers in Indiana are:

Table information from O*Net (2023)

Contact the Indiana Cosmetology & Barber Board