The New York State Barbering License is great for anyone who wants to be a professional hairdresser. The barbering license enables you to cut hair, shave beards, apply cosmetic make-up, and perform facial massage.
In order to become a licensed hairdresser, you need to complete a New York State approved barber course with a minimum of 500 hours. After you finish the course you can take the state barber practical exam, and if you pass, the state will issue you a barber license.
You can also be licensed in New York without taking a barber course if you meet certain requirements. If you worked as an apprentice for two years under the supervision of a New York licensed barber, then you will qualify for a barber license if you pass the practical exam.
New York has reciprocity agreements with Maine, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. If you are licensed in one of those states, then New York will waive the educational and exam requirements. That means you will be licensed in New York automatically.
A barber license can be granted if you are licensed in another state and have three years of professional experience. After your license and work experienced are verified, you can obtain a license if you pass the practical exam.
The minimum age to be licensed is 17 years. A physical examination by a doctor is also required.
There is a high demand for skilled hairdressers in New York. Many salon owners say that it is difficult to find well-trained hairdressers when they have job openings. There are currently over 20,000 beauty salons which employ over 100,000 hairdressers. The average salary for a hairdresser in New York is $36,000 per year plus gratuities.
For more information on licensure in New York:
New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services
84 Holland Ave.
Albany, NY 12208-3490
518-474-4429 (Phone)
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/licensing/
New York Hair Schools by City
Albany
Austin’s School of Spa Technology
855 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
http://www.austin.edu/
The Orlo School of Hair Design
232 North Allen St.
Albany, NY 12206
http://www.theorlo.net/
Astoria
Empire Beauty School
38-15 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11103
http://www.empire.edu/
Batavia
Continental School of Beauty
215 Main St.
Batavia, NY 14020
http://www.continentalnow.com/
Bronx
American Beauty School
1380 Metropolitan Avenue
Bronx, NY 10462
http://www.americanbeautyschool.com/
Brittany Beauty School
210 East 188th, 2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10458
http://www.brittanybeautyschool.com/
Brooklyn
Elite Academy of Beauty Arts
426 Kings Highway
Brooklyn, NY 11223
http://www.beautysalonschool.com/
Empire Beauty School
2384 86th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11214
http://www.empire.edu/
Hair Design Institute
375 86th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11209
http://www.hairdesigninstitute.com/
Buffalo
Continental School of Beauty
326 Kenmore Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14223
http://www.continentalnow.com/
Cortland
OCM BOCES – Center for New Careers at the McEvoy Center
1710 RTE. 13
Cortland, NY 13045
http://www.ocmboces.org/
Dix Hills
Western Suffolk BOCES
17 Westminster Ave.
Dix Hills, NY 11746
http://www.wilsontech.org/
Garden City
Cactus Academy
630 Old Country Rd., Suite #0503A
Garden City, NY 11530
http://www.paulmitchell.edu/
Hauppauge
Long Island Beauty School
544 Wheeler Rd.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
http://www.libeautyschool.com/
Hempstead
Long Island Beauty School
173A Fulton Ave.
Hempstead, NY 11550
http://www.libeautyschool.com/
Levittown
Brittany Beauty School
3274 Hempstead Turnpike
Levittown, NY 11756
http://www.brittanybeautyschool.com/
Liverpool
OCM BOCES – Career Training Center
4500 Crown Rd.
Liverpool, NY 13090
http://www.ocmboces.org/
Middletown
Beauty School of Middletown
225 Dolson Avenue
Middleton, NY 10940
http://www.thebeautyschoolofmiddletown.com/
Nanuet
Capri Cosmetology Learning Center
251 W. Route 59
Nanuet, NY 10945
http://www.caprinow.com/
Newburgh
Capri Cosmetology Learning Center
39 North Plank Rd.
Newburgh, NY 12550
http://www.caprinow.com/
New York
American Barber Institute
252 West 29th Street
New York, NY 10001
http://www.abi.edu/
American Barber Institute
113 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
http://www.abi.edu/
Aveda Institute New York
233 Spring Street
New York, NY 10003
http://www.avedainstituteny.com/
Carsten Aveda Institute
22 E. 17th Street, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10003
http://www.carsteninstitute.com/
Empire Beauty School
22 W. 34th St.
New York, NY 10001
http://www.empire.edu/
New York International Beauty School
500 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10001
http://www.nyibs.com/
USA Beauty School International
87 Walker Street
New York, NY 10013
http://www.usabeautyschool.com/
Olean
Continental School of Beauty
517 North Barry
Olean, NY 14760
http://www.continentalnow.com/
Peekskill
Empire Beauty School
19 Bank St.
Peekskill, NY 10566
http://www.empire.edu/
Ridgewood
Midway Paris Beauty School
54-40 Myrtle Avenue
Ridgewood, NY 11385
http://www.midwayparis.com/
Rochester
Continental School of Beauty
633 Jefferson Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
http://www.continentalnow.com/
Shear Ego Beauty & Cosmetology School
525 Titus Ave.
Rochester, NY 14617
http://www.shearego.com/
Schenectady
Paul Mitchell The School
411 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
http://www.paulmitchell.edu/
Staten Island
The Academy NYC
187 New Drop Lane
Staten Island, NY 10306
http://www.paulmitchell.edu/
Syracuse
Continental School of Beauty
2803 Brewerton Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13211
http://www.continentalnow.com/
Phillips Hairstyling Institute
709 E. Genesee St.
Syracuse, NY 13210
http://www.phillipshairinstitute.com/
Tonawanda
The Salon Professional Academy
2309 Eggert Road
Tonawanda, NY 14150
http://www.thesalonprofessionalacademy.com/
Westchester
Westchester School of Beauty Culture
6 Gramatan Avenue
Westchester, NY 10550
http://www.westchesterbeautyschool.com/
West Seneca
Continental School of Beauty
1050 Union Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
http://www.continentalnow.com/
Erie 1 BOCES – Porter Career & Technical Center
705 Potter Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
http://www.e1b.org/