To qualify for either Registered Barber or Registered Apprentice examination, all applicants must meet the following requirements:

You must be a citizen of the United States or lawfully entitled to live and work in the United States.

If you have ever been convicted of a felony. You must appear before the board to determine if you will be allowed to take the examination.

  • You must submit a health certificate, furnished by this Board, and completed by a physician. This certificate, including a chest x-ray or skin test, and a blood test, will verify that you are free from infections or contagious diseases, tuberculosis, or communicable diseases; that you are not a user of any kind of morphine, cocaine, or other habit forming drugs. And is not a habitual drunkard.
  • You must furnish two (2×2) passport photographs of yourself, signed across the back in your own handwriting.

Registered Barber Only

In addition to the above requirements for ALL applicants, the following requirements must be met:

  • You must furnish two (2) notarized affidavit on application blank, certifying at least five (5) years experience as a licensed Registered Barber, served within the last ten years. Person who can swear from their personal knowledge that you have the experience claimed must sign these affidavits.
  • You must furnish a current, paid-up license from the State or States in which your experience is claimed.

Registered Apprentice Only

In addition to the above requirements for ALL applicants, the following must be met:

  • You must furnish proof of at least a 12th grade education or an equivalent.

Foreign Applicants Only

In addition to the above requirements for ALL applicants, the following must be met:

  • You must furnish proof of at least a 12th grade education or an equivalent.
  • You must furnish two (2) notarized affidavit on application blank, certifying at least five (5) years experience as a licensed Registered Barber served with the last ten years. Person who can swear from their personal knowledge that you have the experience claimed must sign these Affidavits.
  • You must furnish a current, paid-up license from the country in which your experience is claimed.
  • You must complete a refresher course of not less than 250 hours in a barber school approved by the Board.

All Applicants

The easiest and most efficient way to access our applications are securely through your Barber Portal. Simply create an account and you will have access to all of our applications and a secure portal to submit them directly to the board. There is no deposit required for online applications. The total fee will be $100.00, and if requesting a paper application, there is a $15.00 deposit. The deposit to be paid upon issuance of application and a balance of $85.00 to be paid when completed application is filed with the Secretary of this Board. Personal checks will not be accepted. Online payments through your barber portal, certified checks or money orders only. The Board reserves the right to refuse consideration of any application, which is not in order. Upon receipt of completed application, please see our Exam Schedule page to view available dates and deadlines for registration.

Examinations consist of the following: practical portion on a living model. (You must provide your own model) the model must meet all requirements on model standards and cannot be a Registered Barber or Apprentice. Sanitation portion. Written and oral portion, relating to barber history, structures and functions of the human body, elementary chemistry pertaining to disinfectants, antiseptics, sanitation and documented facts of the barber profession, shop management and laws. This Board does not supply text for study. The Board furnishes wet sanitizers, towels and lather only.

Applications are not transferable, and all completed applications and examinations remain the property of this Board, and cannot be returned.

An application will be accepted for the two examinations immediately following the date issuance only, and failure to take an examination within this prescribed time any payment made will be forfeited and application must be made anew. Also any money paid on an application that has been falsified will be forfeited.

Fee will not be refunded for failure to pass examination. A grade of 75% each, written and practical is required for passing.

These requirements are subject to change without notice.

Instructions For Examination To Receive A Barber License

You are required to bring with you an acceptable model that has sufficient hair and beard for your demonstration for required barber service. You must also bring with you a clean outer-garment (smock, vest, apron), chair cloth, tools and implements, including a hair dryer. You must furnish your own products, (Shampoo, conditioner, sprays, etc). The Board furnishes wet sanitizers, towels, and lather only. You are required to give a regular tapered cut on the neck and back with a definite outline around the ears. Failure to comply will result in loss of points on procedure.

Practical Examination

The practical examination will be given in two segments and will consist of a shampoo, haircut, shave, and hairstyle and must be demonstrated in this order. You will also be graded on sanitation, patron protection and application during the practical demonstrations.

You will be allowed one hour to complete the FIRST SEGMENT of the practical examination which will be the shampoo, haircut and shave.

  • SHAMPOO: The shampoo is the incline method.
  • HAIRCUT: The haircut or hairstyle must include all the basic phases of haircutting.
  • SHAVE: The shave may be given with either straight or injector type razor. Honing and stropping is not required. Lather will be provided and must be used.

When there is five minutes remaining on your one-hour time limit the examiners will so advise you. At the end of one hour, time will be called and you must cease all work at that time and prepare your model for inspection. You will receive no extra credit for finishing early.

You will be allowed ten minutes to complete the SECOND SEGMENT of the practical examination, which will be the hair styling demonstration.

  • HAIR STYLE: When demonstrating the hair styling, you will be required to apply setting lotions, spray, water and demonstrated the use of a brush and hand hair dyer, etc. as necessary. The hairstyle must be demonstrated on the same model on which you demonstrated the shampoo, haircut and shave.

When there is five minutes remaining on your ten- minute time limit, the examiners will so advise you. At the end of ten minutes, time will be called and you must cease all work at that time and prepare your model for inspection. On this segment you may call time if you finish before the allowed time, but will receive no extra credit for finishing early, When your model has been inspected by all of the examiners, you will have completed the practical portion of the examination. You will be required to demonstrate how to use the curling iron and roll perm rods.

Written/Oral Examination

The written/ oral portion of your examination will consist of forty-five multiple choice type questions and five oral questions, all of which will embrace the subject of barber science as outlined in the following nationally published textbook; Standard Textbook of Professional Barber-Styling by Milday Publishing. Questions will also be taken from the laws, rules and regulation governing the practice of barbering in the State of Nevada. The Board does not furnish textbooks for study but will furnish booklets on the laws, rules and regulations at your request. There is a fee for these books. You will be allowed one hour to complete your written/oral examination.

Results of your examination will be mailed to you. Do not call of have anyone call the examiners for the results.

Important Examination Instructions

  • Do not leave the examination area without permission.
  • You must show a picture ID for admission into the examination.
  • You must show up at the location 15 minutes before the examination. The Board will not allow late admission to the examination. If the door is locked, you will not be permitted to participate in any portion of the examination, and your money will be forfeited.
  • Candidates are required to bring their own kit with a sufficient quantity of supplies in a sanitary condition. This includes the required implements in proper working order and protective drapes.
  • Candidates are evaluated at all times. Continue working until you have completed the entire section, or time is called.
  • Talking with other candidates during the examination is strictly prohibited.
  • Models must be at least 16 years old. They cannot be a licensed barber or cosmetology student, a licensed barber or cosmetologist, a licensed barber or cosmetology instructor, or anyone else in the field. The model must be appropriate for examination purposes, and must meet model standards. The models must submit to all services in the practical examination. Models may not participate in any way during the examination. Models are not permitted to talk to the candidate at any time during the examination. Only one model is allowed. You must be able to perform all tasks except for chemical tasks and thermal curling on the same model.
  • Candidates must follow all appropriate public protection and infection control procedures during all phases of the practical examination to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
  • This is a professional examination, and you should dress appropriately, including wearing a clean outer garment (smock, vest, apron).
  • The Board will supply hot lather, towels, sanek strips, and wet sanitizer. For the chemical demonstration, the Board will provide a mannequin head, perm rods, endpapers, rat tail comb, and curling iron. The candidate is responsible for supplying everything else that they need to perform the required services for the examination.
  • Make sure your station is wiped down and clean when you are done with your exam. Brooms will be provided for sweeping hair when done.
  • You will be notified within 7-10 days after the exam of your results. Please do not call or have anyone call for you.
  • Possession of cellular phones, pagers, tablets, cameras, or any other electronic or recording device is strictly prohibited.

The above-referenced items or actions are not an exhaustive list. Failure to comply with any of these conditions or exhibiting ANY behavior that suggests an effort to cheat will result in your immediate dismissal from the examination.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION

The written/oral portion of your examination will consist of forty-five multiple-choice questions and five oral questions. All of which will embrace the subject of barber science as outlined in the following nationally published textbook: Standardized textbook of Professional Barber-Styling by Milady Publishing. Questions will also be taken from the laws, rules, and regulations governing the practice of barbering in the State of Nevada. Found in the NRS and NAC Chapter 643. The Board does not furnish textbooks for study, but we do sell Study Guides and State Law Books. You will be allowed 1 hour to complete the written/oral portion of the examination.

PRACTICAL EXAMINATION

The practical examination will be given in two segments and will consist of a shampoo, haircut, shave, and hairstyle and must be demonstrated in this order. You will also be graded on sanitation, patron protection, and application during the practical demonstrations.

You will be allowed one hour to complete the Practical examination’s FIRST SEGMENT, which will be the shampoo, haircut, and shaves. When five minutes is remaining on your one-hour time limit, the examiners will so advise you. At the end of the one hour, time will be called, and you must cease all work at that time and prepare your model for inspection. You may call time if you are finished before the one hour, but you will not receive extra credit for completing early. To prepare your model for inspection, properly drape the model, and sit him up. Do not add any styling aids to the hair at this time.

The SECOND SEGMENT of the Practical examination will consist of the hairstyle. You will be allowed 10 minutes to complete this segment. You will be called by an examiner to demonstrate the chemical portion of the exam and the thermal curling work.

  • SHAMPOO: The incline method will be used for the shampoo. You must supply your own shampoo.
  • HAIRCUT: The haircut must include all phases of haircutting, including neck taper, side and back tapers, topping, and outline. The outline must be shaved after the shave. You must demonstrate a basic regular tapered haircut. Use clippers to establish a graduated haircut with no blocked line. NO plastic clipper guards are allowed.
  • SHAVE: The shave may be given with either a straight or injector type razor. NO SAFETY RAZORS ARE ALLOWED. Honing and stropping in not required. Lather machines or lather will be provided. The SECOND SEGMENT of the Examination will be started after your model has been inspected. You will be instructed on when to start. You will be allowed 10 minutes for this segment of the examination. This is only the hairstyling portion, and no cutting will be permitted at this time.
  • HAIRSTYLE: When demonstrating this portion of the examination, you must use a blow dryer and brush to dry and style the hair. At this time you may apply any styling aids such as gel, styling lotions, sprays, or water. The hairstyle must be demonstrated on the same model on which you demonstrated the shampoo, haircut and style. If you finish before the 10 minute time limit, you may call time.

For the Chemical portion and the thermal curling section of the examination, you will be called to demonstrate the rolling of perm rods on a mannequin and demonstrate how to use a thermal iron (curling iron). The Board will furnish the perm rods, combs, endpapers, curling iron, and mannequin head.

RECOMMENDED GENERAL SUPPLIES: This is a list of recommended supplies; it may not include everything you need. You should mentally note the services to be demonstrated and list everything you would need to demonstrate those services.

  • Hand Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Cape
  • Chair
  • Cloth and Clip
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Razor
  • Astringent
  • Talc
  • Blow Dryer
  • Styling Aids
  • Combs Brush
  • Clippers
  • Outliner
  • Shears
  • Spray Bottle (for water)
  • First Aid Supplies
  • Blood Spill Kit

To download a copy of these important exam instructions, please click here.