Barbers – FAQs

Yes. If a Florida barbering student passes his or her first licensing exam, the student may work in a licensed barbershop:

• under the supervision of a licensed barber who is physically present when the student is working; and
• so long as the student posts his or her exam results and a recent photo at their station.

If a Florida barbering student fails the exam, he or she may not work until:

• he or she applies to the Department for reexamination;
• he or she provides the shop or salon owner with a copy of his or her reexam application and the exam authorization letter from the testing vendor; and
• he or she posts exam results and a recent photo at their station.

In order to continue working, a barbering student has 180 days from the date of his or her first exam to complete the exam. Should the student fail the exam a second time, the student cannot work until he or she successfully passes the exam and receives a barber license from the Department.

The term “under the supervision” of a licensed barber signifies that the supervising individual holds a current and active Florida barber’s license and is physically present at all times when the applicant is performing barbering services. However, the supervised work practice exception does not apply to an individual who has applied by endorsement from another state or country. Endorsement applicants must have their Florida barbers’ license prior to practice.

You must complete an endorsement application which is available on the main page, Apply For A License.

Endorsement means that you are eligible for licensure without any additional schooling or examination.

If you hold a current and active license to practice barbering in another state, you will not be required to take the Florida Barber exam or meet the educational requirements to endorse your license to Florida.

Barbers who are unable to endorse their licenses in Florida may be eligible for examination as a barber or restricted barber in Florida if they have held their barber license for at least one year.

Apprentice licensees are not eligible for endorsement.

You may be eligible for licensure by Endorsement in Florida if:

• You possess a current and active license to practice barbering in another state or country;
• Provide an education evaluation conducted by a credential service which is a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES);
• Have passed a written examination for licensure that is comparable to or more stringent than the exam required in Florida;
• Demonstrate completion of at least 900 barbering hours covering the subjects of safety, sanitation, and sterilization, hair structure and chemistry, hair cutting, shampooing, chemical services and shaving services or an apprenticeship program of at least 900 hours, or a combination thereof; and
• Apply and pay the required application fee

If you have a current and active license in another state or country that is based on the completion of less than 900 school hours, you can attend (in or outside of Florida) any barbering school to obtain the additional educational hours to qualify for endorsement.

Barbers who are unable to endorse their licenses in Florida may be eligible for examination as a barber or restricted barber in Florida if they have held their barber license for at least one year.

Apprentice licensees are not eligible for endorsement.

Requests for a name change should be directed to DBPR, Central Intake Unit, License Maintenance, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-0783. A name change must be submitted in writing along with a copy of the legal document granting the name change.

You may contact the Department of Education at 1.850.245.0509 (public), 1.850.245.0502 (private), or 1.888.224.6684 (toll free) or online at www.fldoe.org. You may contact the Commission for Independent Education at 1.850.245.3200 or online at www.fldoe.org/cie for a list of independent schools, colleges and universities. Barbering schools are not regulated by the barbers’ board.

Barbering schools certify school instructors/teachers. You can search by county or institution online at www.fldoe.org/cie, on the left-hand side choose “School/College”. Instructors/teachers are not regulated by the Florida Barbers’ Board.

You must complete the barbershop application and pay the required application fee. After your barbershop license is issued, within approximately 90 days, an inspector will visit your shop unannounced for the initial inspection. You can open your barbershop when you receive the barbershop license. You do not need to wait to open until you are inspected.

In Florida, there is no license for a mobile barber shop.

You can verify your license to another state instantly by using DBPR’s Online Services. Create an online account or logon to your existing account at www.myfloridalicense.com. Select “Request License Certification” from the License Menu. Complete the online application and pay the $25 fee by credit card or electronic check. A copy of your license record will be created and emailed directly to the State Board selected during the transaction. Note: License certifications can only be sent to other State Boards using this method.

If you need to send certification of your license to multiple states you will repeat the instructions above and pay the required $25 application fee for each request.

You may mail your request for license certification to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Florida Barbers’ Board, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-0790. Your request should include your name, license number, which State Board you would like the certification to be mailed, and your payment of $25. Note: If you mail your request, please allow up to three weeks for processing.

A barbershop license is not a transferable document. If the location, ownership, or business name of the barbershop changes, you must submit a new barbershop application, pay the required application fee and surrender the old barbershop license.

Yes. Visit our website at www.MyFloridaLicense.com > Online Services. You can also change your telephone number and email address here.

Three types of addresses have been established to support your needs: main, license mailing, and license location. Main Address – This address is the primary address on file. License Mailing Address – This is the address where the mail associated with a particular license will be sent (if different from the main or license location addresses). License Location Address – This is the address where the place of business is physically located. An example of the use of different addresses: If Jane Doe is a contractor that works for ACME Builders, she may have 3 different addresses listed in her profile. Her main address would be the address of ACME Builders’ corporate headquarters. Her license mailing may be her home so she doesn’t have to visit the office to pick up her mail. Finally, her License Location would be the address of the ACME Builders’ local office where she works. If Jane Doe worked independently, she might have only one address on file (Main Address) as her office is the same place she wishes to receive her mail.

The main address and license mailing address can be changed online for all license types. License location addresses can also be changed online, except for Barbershops, Cosmetology Salons, Veterinary Establishments, and Talent Agencies. The location for these license types is tied to the license, so a location change will require submission of a new application.

You may submit the change in writing to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Central Intake Unit – License Maintenance, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783 or fax to 1.850.921.0038.

Criminal history is reviewed on a case-by-case situation. Your application may require Board review. Your application cannot be pre-approved.

No. Attendance is not required, however; it is in your best interest to attend.

Please allow up to three weeks for processing. For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Finance and Accounting Office at 1.850.487.2100.

You should speak with someone in the Bureau of Education and Testing, Candidate Services.

You will receive a Notice of Intent to Deny within 30 days of the meeting. The notice will provide details of why the application was denied and what steps you can take to request a hearing.

If you have questions or need assistance completing your application, please contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395.

Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Central Intake Unit, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783.

Please contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395. If they are unable to assist you with your application questions, they will forward your request to the Central Intake Unit.

Barbers and Restricted Barbers licenses expire July 31st every EVEN year.

Before midnight EST on the expiration date, you must have completed the continuing education requirements and submission of the renewal fee of $70.

DBPR will send an email notification that the renewal period is open, at which time you can renew your license(s). This e-mail notification will sent be 90 days prior to the license expiration  to the e-mail address on record. We encourage you to keep your information up-to-date and renew online. DBPR online services offer a quick and easy way to renew your license, find license requirements, apply for a license and update a license.

You may also return the renewal notice along with a check made payable to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0783. Please note that the license renewal will not be processed until your continuing education hours have been completed.

A null and void license can be reinstated; however, you must complete a reinstate null and void application, pay the required application fee and provide an explanation of illness or economic hardship that prevented the renewal of your license.

Please submit a written request to change the status of your license from active to inactive along with a $10 processing fee.

You must complete a board-approved HIV/AIDS continuing education course as a condition of your license renewal. All continuing education HIV/AIDS courses must be completed from a Florida Barbers’ Board approved continuing education provider.

A list of board-approved HIV/AIDS continuing education providers and courses is available on the main page, CE Requirements.

Contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395 or file a complaint online at www.MyFloridaLicense.com > File a Complaint.

Contact the Department’s toll-free unlicensed activity complaint line at 1.866.532.1440 or file a complaint online at www.MyFloridaLicense.com > File a Complaint.

Please contact the Florida Department of Health at 1.800.337.3742 for assistance.

You should speak with someone in the Division of Regulation, Bureau of Investigative Services

You should speak with someone in the Division of Regulation, Bureau of Investigative Services.

You should speak with someone in the Division of Regulation, Bureau of Investigative Services.

You should speak with someone in the Division of Regulation, Bureau of Investigative Services.

Please contact the Department of Revenue at 1.800.622.5437. The suspension will be removed when we receive written notification from the Department of Revenue. For additional information, please contact the Division of Regulation.

No. Payment plans for citations are not authorized. Please contact the Division of Regulation if you have further questions about citations.

You should speak with someone in the Division of Regulation, Bureau of Investigative Services.

Please contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395 for instructions on how to request a copy of the disciplinary case or contact the General Counsel’s Office at 1.850.488.0062.

Please contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395 for instructions on how to request a copy of the disciplinary case that resulted in the suspension of your license.

Please contact the Florida Barbers’ Board Office.

Please contact the Florida Barbers’ Board Office.

Once the case has been referred to either Municipal Services Bureau (MSB) or United Collections Bureau (UCB), you may no longer pay your fine directly to the Barbers’ Board. All inquiries and payments MUST be paid through the collection agency. Please contact MSB at 800.568.7004 or UCB at 866.209.0622. The collection agency will notify the Department that your fine has been paid. For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Finance and Accounting at 850.487.2100.

Please contact Municipal Services Bureau at 800.568.7004 or United Collections Bureau at 866.209.0622. For additional information, please contact the Bureau of Finance and Accounting at 850.487.2100.

A licensed barber is allowed to work in a cosmetology salon as long as a licensed cosmetologist is also employed. A licensed cosmetologist is allowed to work in a barbershop as long as a licensed barber is also employed.

No. Only one business license can be issued per location.

There is a provision in the laws and rules allowing licensed barbers to perform barbering services on individuals residing in a nursing home and exempting these barbers from having to offer their services in the otherwise required licensed barbershops. The arrangements for barbers to offer their services in a nursing home must be made through a licensed barbershop and the information as to the name of the client and the address at which the services are to be performed shall be recorded in the appointment book which must remain at the barbershop and be made available upon request to any Department inspector.

They can both perform hair and facial services. However, only a barber can shave the face and only a cosmetologist can wax and do nails.

You should attend a Florida school for evaluation of your cosmetology hours. The school is able to assess what you need to meet the barber requirements, and they are required to sign off on your application for licensure.

No. Animals are not permitted inside a barbershop, with the exception of closed aquariums or service animals.

No. Florida laws do not allow us to consider experience. If your license is active and has been active for at least one year, you are eligible to sit for the exam.

As a restricted barber you are authorized to perform haircuts and styles, including the application of hair tonics and hair spray. A restricted barber is allowed to perform full facial shaves; mustache and beard trimming; shampooing, conditioning and blow drying hair; and scalp treatments and facials. A restricted barber is not allowed to apply any other chemical preparations or solutions to the hair.

No. Barbers are not allowed to perform these services. However, the service of cutting, trimming, polishing or cleansing the natural fingernail can be performed by a licensed barber who was licensed prior to October 1, 1985.

You need to contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395 or the Bureau of Finance and Accounting Office at 1.850.487.2100.

You need to contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395, and they will notify the processing department that the bad check has been paid.

Please contact the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

Please refer to the Division of Regulation’s FAQ’s on self-inspections for guidance.