How to Obtain a Barber License in Chicago, IL, & the Surrounding Suburbs

Barbers are assets to our community. Everyone needs a haircut. In a culture where creative expression is a popular and encouraging outlook, barbers in the Chicago land area bear the significant job of keeping up with the latest trends, while complementing an individual’s uniqueness with the haircut of his or her dreams.

Pivot Point Academy is a beauty and barber school in Bloomingdale, Illinois that offers elite course training and materials to help students earn a barber diploma and prepare you for the licensure exam in the state of Illinois. Our barber program helps you grow from a good barber to an exceptional one.

For local students in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, we provide a 1500-clock hour barber program to help you enhance your skills and earn your barber diploma as a stepping stone to you IL state license. Our barber program involves engaging and in-depth barber training, with the help of our highly-skilled and attentive instructors.

A Unique & Hands-On Barber School in Bloomingdale, Illinois

Every student is given the opportunity to master the facets of hair and ever-changing trends while preparing to earn a barber diploma at our beauty and spa school in Bloomingdale, Illinois. Our instructors help you learn about the latest versatile cuts and techniques. Students in our barber program will gain confidence in areas such as hair coloring, texture, skin, shaving, trimming, grooming, and much more. All will prepare you for the licensure exam in the state of Illinois.

The skillsets you gain at Pivot Point Academy will prepare you to become qualified to earn a barber license in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs of Illinois. This will open up career opportunities in the entertainment industry, through film, theatre, television, and photography.

Not only will you possess the capabilities to obtain a barber diploma, but our barber school also teaches students the skills that are required in common beauty industry careers. At the completion of our barber school, graduates will be ready to work on clients or may choose to become a barbershop owner or sales specialist. The possibilities are endless in the barbering industry for individuals that have an accredited education.

Obtaining a Barber License in the Chicago Suburbs of Illinois

If you’re looking to become a successful Barber in Illinois and earn a barber license, you must obtain a license with the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation Board of Barbering. Barbering—like any other health and beauty-related occupation—falls in the category of public health, which is why it’s important to get your barber license.

Students that are looking to obtain a barber license in the state of Illinois are required to go through a 4-step process prior to starting a career.

Complete a 1500-Hour Program of Training to Earn Your Barber Diploma and Prepare You for the Licensure Exam in the State of Illinois

Equipped with both hands-on (1350 hours) and theoretical (150 hours) courses, Pivot Point Academy in Bloomingdale, Illinois offers a total of 1500 hours worth of Barber School, required by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation Board of Barbering. The course requirements are the following:

• General Classroom Theory
• History of Barbering
• Bacteriology
• Chemistry
• Infection Control
• Safe Work Practices
• Implements, Tools, and Equipment
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Electricity and Light Therapy
• Properties and Disorders of the Skin
• Properties and Disorders of Hair and Scalp
• Shaving and Facial Hair Design
• Treatment of Hair and Scalp
• Hair Coloring and Lightening
• Facial and Scalp Massage
• Chemical Texture Services
• Haircutting and Styling
• Barbershop Management
• Illinois Laws, Rules, and Regulations
• Workers’ Compensation Act

Once you’ve completed these courses, you are permitted to take a final assessment that determines your capabilities through the process of hair cutting, shaving, and sanitation and infection control.

All students that are looking to obtain a barber diploma in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs must pass with a 75% or higher to proceed to the next step.

Apply For the National Barbering License Exam

The next step students will be required to take to earn a barber license after successfully completing the courses, passing the assessment and receiving their diploma is to take the National Barbering Written Licensing Exam through Continental Testing Services. This process involves:

• Downloading and reading both the Barber Examination Instruction Sheet and the Illinois Barber PSI Computerized Testing Procedure Guide
• Submitting application for Examination or Submit an Online Application
• Attaching official barbering transcript
• Paying an examination fee of  $127.00

From there, you will submit the barber license application along with the supporting documents to the Continental Testing Services (547 South La Grange Road, La Grange, Illinois). Once the application is approved, you have 60 days to take the exam that is required to earn a barber license.

Take the National Barbering Written Licensing Examination

The National Barbering Written Licensing Exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. All applicants need a 75% or higher to receive his/her barber license. Applicants can take the Barbering exam at any of the PSI testing centers located in Illinois. The test covers the following subjects:

• Hair and Scalp
• Hair Care
• Cutting and Styling
• Skin Histology
• Electricity
• Infection Control
• Scientific Concepts
• Chemistry and Light
• Shaving
• Draping Procedures
• Facial Hair Design

Submit Application For an Illinois Barber License

Once you’ve successfully completed your licensing exam, you will receive an application for an Illinois barber license. This application must be submitted within one year of passing your National Barbering License Exam and within five years of completing your barber training.

Within that time frame, you will need to submit your score report and application, along with the required licensing fee to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Professional Regulation, P.O. Box 7007, Springfield, IL 6279).

Once all is completed and you have received your barber license, you are able to begin your exciting new career as a barber. To avoid disruption, you are required to renew your barber license biannually.

Whether you’re cutting hair on the set of a commercial or for a regular within your own shop, Pivot Point Academy has offers a unique barber program for all individuals. We also offer other beauty programs such as Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Makeup to help students learn new skills in other areas of the beauty industry.