1. (a) To qualify for a license to practice barbering or a barber-stylist limited license, an applicant shall be an individual who meets the requirements of this section.

2. (b)

   1. (1) An applicant for a barber license shall have completed successfully:

      1. (i) 1. a required program of at least 1,200 hours of training in a barber school that is approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission, in consultation with the Board; or

         1. 2. an apprenticeship of at least 2,250 hours within 2 years in a barbershop that holds a barbershop permit under the supervision of a master barber; and
      2. (ii) 1 hour of in-person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness under § 4-302.1 of this subtitle.

   2. (2) If the applicant for a barber license is an individual trained and currently licensed as a cosmetologist in the State, the Board shall:

      1. (i) credit the applicant with having met one-half of the training requirement of paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection; and
      2. (ii) determine the manner in which the credit will be applied.

   3. (3) The Board may credit an applicant with the number of hours of training the applicant completes in a barber school toward the number of hours required for an apprenticeship if the barber school where the applicant completes the training:

      1. (i) is located in a detention center or correctional facility; and

      2. (ii) 1. is approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission; or

         1. 2. has a curriculum similar to one that is approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
   4. (4) The Board may not credit more than 600 hours of training to an individual under paragraph (3) of this subsection.

3. (c)

   1. (1) An applicant for a barber-stylist limited license shall have completed successfully:

      1. (i) 1. a required program of at least 900 hours of training in a barber school that is approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission, in consultation with the Board; or

         1. 2. an apprenticeship of at least 1,650 hours within 18 months in a barbershop that holds a barbershop permit under the supervision of a master barber; and
      2. (ii) 1 hour of in-person or virtual training in domestic violence awareness under § 4-302.1 of this subtitle.

   2. (2) If the applicant for a barber-stylist license is an individual trained and currently licensed as a cosmetologist in the State, the Board shall:

      1. (i) credit the applicant with having met one-half of the training requirement of paragraph (1)(i) of this subsection; and
      2. (ii) determine the manner in which the credit will be applied.

   3. (3) The Board may credit an applicant with the number of hours of training the applicant completes in a barber school toward the number of hours required for an apprenticeship if the barber school where the applicant completes the training:

      1. (i) is located in a detention center or correctional facility; and

      2. (ii) 1. is approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission; or

         1. 2. has a curriculum similar to one that is approved by the State Department of Education or the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
   4. (4) The Board may not credit more than 450 hours of training to an individual under paragraph (3) of this subsection.
4. (d) An applicant for a master barber license shall have at least 15 months of experience as a barber.

5. (e)

   1. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an applicant for a master barber license shall pass an examination given by the Board or the Board's designee under this subtitle.
   2. (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an applicant for a barber license shall pass an examination given by the Board or the Board's designee under this subtitle.
   3. (3) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an applicant for a barber-stylist limited license shall pass an examination given by the Board or the Board's designee under this subtitle.

Added by Acts 1989, c. 3, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 612, § 2; Acts 1989, c. 613, § 2; Acts 1991, c. 479; Acts 1992, c. 22, § 1; Acts 1994, c. 19, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1994; Acts 1998, c. 49, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1998; Acts 1998, c. 445, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1998; Acts 2015, c. 262, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2025, c. 286, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2026.

Formerly Art. 56, §§ 431, 432, 432A.