How Long Does It Take to Get a Barber License in Michigan?

If you want to practice barbering legally in cities like West Bloomfield, Walled Lake, or Waterford, you have to go through the state licensing board. How long does it take to get a barber license in Michigan?

The state requires all aspiring barbers to complete 1,800 hours of approved curriculum and pass a multi-part examination. Here is the exact breakdown of the timeline and steps required to get your official license.

Step 1: Complete Your 1,800 Hours (12–18 Months)

Michigan is one of several states that sets a strict 1,800-hour threshold to ensure safety, sanitation, and technical excellence.

• Full-time tracks let you wrap up these hours in about 1 year.
• Part-time tracks stretch the experience over 15 to 18 months.

Step 2: Pass the Michigan State Barber Exam (1–2 Months)

Once your hours are submitted by your school to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), you can register for your state board exam. The exam consists of two parts:

• The Written Theory Test: Covers safety, sanitation, skin disorders, and chemical processing knowledge.
• The Practical Exam: A live-action test where you must demonstrate proper haircuts, shaves, and sanitation protocols in front of a state proctor.

The Total Timeline

From your very first day of class to the day your official LARA license arrives in the mail, you are looking at a total timeline of 13 to 20 months. It is a serious commitment, but it grants you a professional license that you can use to build a lifelong career.

Ready to budget the investment too? See exactly how much barber school costs in Michigan.

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Written by Sean Tela — founder of Sean's Barber School, West Bloomfield, MI, serving the Detroit Metro.