Do you need a barber license to cut hair in Illinois?

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) – An Illinois lawmaker has proposed legislation that would eliminate licensure for barbers and stylists in the state.

Rep. Allen Skillicorn wrote the legislation which is currently before the rules committee. It is making waves with professionals in the industry.

"I wouldn't want someone on my head with a razor blade who hadn't been to school for it," Nate Kelton with Lockhart's Barber Shop said.

Under House Bill 5558, anyone could practice "cosmetology, barbering, esthetics, hair braiding or nail technology without a license" as long as they post a notice that the services are provided by someone unlicensed.

"I think that it takes away from the trade,” Matthew Mitchell-Cupp, Lockhart's Barber Shop owner, said. “There are a ton of important things that you learn in barber or cosmetology school."

Those licensed in the industry go through training on chemical safety, industry trends and how to identify diseases, like skin cancers.

"When you come in here and sit down with a licensed barber, we're standing here staring at your head and can see things that you're not going to see,” Kelton said.

WAND reached out to Rep. Skillicorn’s office for comment but has not heard back, but in a response to a local stylist he said state interference “prevents working class people from earning an income". He said in 1950, one in 20 workers required occupational licensure. On Thursday, Rep. Skillicorn said that number is one in four.

A state lawmaker is defending his bill to allow barbers, cosmeticians, hair braiders and nail technicians to work without a state license.

Illinois requires people to obtain a number of hours of training and continued education to get a state license. Cosmetologists are required to get 1,500 hours of education, the same for a barber license. An esthetician license requires 750 hours. The requirement is 350 hours for nail technicians, and 300 hours for hair braiding. There are other regulations for salons and barbershops.

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, said his House Bill 5558 was simple. It would allow those practicing various jobs in the cosmetology arena to do so without a license, as long as it’s publicly posted they’re not licensed. He said the idea came about after he got his hair styled by his go-to stylist.

“And she’s not licensed to do a straight razor shave so I have to go back and get an appointment from someone else for a shave,” Skillicorn said. “Yet she knows what she’s doing. She’s already trained as a cosmetologist. She’s licensed. She’s gone to school, but because of the current licensing in Illinois she has to go back to school for many, many hours, repetitive schooling that she already has just to get that one certification for a straight razor shave.”

He said that wasn't fair to his stylist, nor was it fair to consumers. He said the measure was designed to eliminate barriers to entering the workforce.

“Frankly, we need to get more people in the trades, and why would we want to exclude people from the trades?” Skillicorn said. “These are good-paying jobs. These are good careers. Why don’t we open the door for young people to get involved and work their way up the ladder?”

Opponents of the bill include the American Beauty Show, an association for the cosmetology profession. The group said the measure would negatively affect public safety and consumers.

Skillicorn disagreed.

“If it’s less safe, that gives the people, the consumers more reasons to go to a licensed person, so it really doesn’t to that,” Skillicorn said. “It really just opens the door for entry-level jobs and apprenticeships.”

Others worry the measure would devalue the industry, but Skillicorn said it was about free markets and consumer choice.

“People who do not trust the free market, they have an inherent distrust of freedom itself,” he said.

Skillicorn is the only sponsor of House Bill 5558, which remains in the House Rules Committee.

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.

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How long does it take to get a Barbers license in Illinois?

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