Ever wondered what the difference between a licensed cosmetologist and a barber are in the state of Florida? The differences are important to know if you are considering hiring a barber for your salon, or a cosmetologist in your barbershop.
Can they color, use a straight razor to shave the face, or do nails? Or who you should contact if you are opening a trendy barbershop in Winter Park or a specialty nail salon in Naples? Both professions share many common traits, but each is truly unique.
Here are 5 differences between the professions in Florida.
1) Different Regulatory Boards and Rules
More and more states are combining their Barber and Cosmetology boards into one board. This is not true in Florida. In the state of Florida, Cosmetologists and Barbers are governed by two separate boards that are under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Each board has its own board members, rules, and regulations. Cosmetologists are governed by the Florida Cosmetology Board and Barbers are governed by the Florida Barbers’ Board.
Both board websites can be found under the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at MyFloridaLicense.com under Business and Professions tab and then by scrolling down to each board.
Each Board can be contacted by mail at:
Division of Professions(Name of Board you are contacting)
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0791
Phone: 850-487-1395
So when you apply for a license, make sure you apply to the correct board.
The Cosmetology Board issues licenses and registrations for the following:
- Cosmetologists
- Specialists
- Nail Specialists
- Facial Specialists
- Full Specialists
- Salon licenses
- Barbers
- Restricted Barbers
- Barber Assistant
- Barbershop licenses
The Barbers’ Board issues licenses for the following:
2) Different Licensing Exams
Until recently, both professionals had the same minimum training hour requirement.
To be eligible for a cosmetology license in Florida, a person must complete a minimum of 1200 hours at a Florida School of Cosmetology. Only 900-1000 hours (new Laws are making it a little unclear) are needed for a barber license and 600 hours for a restricted barber license.
After completing education, submitting a completed application to the appropriate board, the applicant will be contacted to schedule a time to take the written exam at a Pearson VUE location. Both Barbers and Cosmetologists have written exams, although each is tested on different content.
3) Differences Between Cosmetologists and Barbers in Practice
Cosmetologists
A licensed cosmetologist is a jack-of-all-trades. They can perform all hair and facial services, including waxing and nails. A licensed cosmetologist does not have to have a separate registration to do facials, hair braiding, hair wrapping, body wrapping, or nails.
A licensed cosmetologist cannot perform any shaving of the face.
Barbers
A licensed barber can perform all hair services, including color and permanent waving. They can also shave the face. This skill alone is the reason you see many cosmetologists return to school and attend barber crossover courses in order to obtain a barber’s license.
Licensed barbers cannot do any waxing or nail services.
A licensed restricted barber cannot do any chemical services.
A barber assistant can only provide shampooing and applying tonics or conditioners to the hair.
Can someone be a licensed barber and a cosmetologist in Florida?
Yes! A person can be both a licensed barber and cosmetologist. They would have to have their hours of education assessed by a Florida Barber or cosmetology school to determine what is needed for the requirements of the license that they wish to obtain.
Some schools have special crossover courses for cosmetologists that also want a barber’s license. The school would then need to sign off on the application for licensure.
4) Barbershops vs. Cosmetology Salons
A Barbershop is a place of business where the practice of barbering occurs.
A Salon is a place of business where cosmetology services are offered for compensation.
The practice of cosmetology in a licensed barbershop is allowed, provided the barbershop employs a licensed barber.
The practice of barbering in a licensed cosmetology salon is allowed, provided the salon employs a licensed cosmetologist.
Only one business license can be issued for a single location, meaning a business cannot be both a licensed barbershop and a salon in one business location.
Again, to apply for a Barbershop license, see the Barbers’ board page.
To apply for a Salon license (including a nail or specialty salon), see the Cosmetology board page.
5) Renewal Requirements for Each type of License
Cosmetology License
The Board of Cosmetology requires all cosmetologists, facial specialists, nail specialists, and full specialists to complete 10 hours of Cosmetology board-approved continuing education prior to the license/registration renewal.
Cosmetology licenses and Registration expire October 31st every other year (depending on which group the licensee/registrant belongs).
Salon licenses expire November 30th of even years.
Barber License
Barbers and restricted barbers must complete a minimum of a 2-hour Barber board-approved HIV/AIDS continuing education course each renewal cycle. This is the only course required for renewal. Barber Assistants do not need any continuing education for license renewal.
All Barber licenses expire July 31st of even years.
Barbershop licenses expire November 30th of even years.
Wrapping Up
Do you have a question not answered here, or still confused on certain differences between the two license types? Leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to find an answer for you.
Thanks for helping me understand that a cosmetologist must have 16 hours of board-approved continuing education to get a license. I will share this information with my best friend since I heard that she wanted to pursue this kind of career. It appears that she will open up a beauty salon in the future as well once she has the license to do so.
My wife attended a 1200+ hour course in Russia for I believe Cosmetology. She has almost 20 years experience. Can she use those credentials to challenge the Florida Barber exam? I’m guessing, she would need to take an HIV Course and have a translated transcript of her course of study. Please advise.
Yes, follow the advice for foreign and international transcripts – which includes taking the exam and a 4 Hour HIV/AIDS course.
Here is information on the Florida Cosmetology exam
And information on the 4-Hour HIV/AIDS course
If someone is a licensed cosmetologist how many hours do they need to become a barber? And vice versa if someone is a licensed barber how many hours to become a cosmetologist?
Barber/Cosmo crossover courses likely vary by what the person needs and what the school offers. Here is a 400 hour crossover program example: http://therealbarbercollege.com/courses/barbering-crossover-course-for-cosmetologists/
Thank you so much for your quick response!
That’s interesting that both barbers and cosmetologists have different restrictions. I also didn’t know that each one needs a licence to be able to work with your hair. I don’t really need any of the treatments or anything that cosmetologists can do, so I’ll just stick with my barber.
what services can a cosmetologist perform with a straight razor?
This is one of the most common questions I get. Have you contacted the barber and cosmetology boards with this question? They should be able to give you the best and most up-to-date answer.
All services “except” for making contact with the razor on a clients skin. A barber can shave on skin a cosmetologist can’t.
There’s not too much difference between a Barber and a Cosmetologist
In my opinion . Both careers
Should have to attend Grooming or Beauty
School the same amount of hours.
That’s good to know that barbers would need to have a license to be able to work. I would think that would be a good way to make sure that they would give you a good hair cut. I’ll have to consider looking for a licensed barber since I hate having a bad hair cut.
Are Cosmorolgist allowed to use a straight razor on the neck. In Florida
I would contact the Cosmetology board on this question. I know a growing number of states are allowing safety razors to be used by cosmos on the neck, but not straight razors.
If the razor is used on the skin a cosmetologist cannot perform the service. Cosmetologist can only use a razor on the hair such as slithering a style or cut.
It’s good to know that licensed barbers can do all hair services. My wife is wanting to become a barber and she was wondering what kind of work she could do as a barber. I’ll let her know that she can work with all things involved with hair if she were to be a barber.
That is funny you left this message. My husband was just asking me about what a person should do if they just want to do hair (no nails or facials). I said that person should be a barber then. Best wishes to your wife.
I do have a question. So as a cosmetologist I can use a straight razor on the head but not on the face? So I have to have a second license for barbering? Now. With that said do I have to go back to school for the full course to get my barbering license or can I just go and take the test?
Hi Richard,
There are barber and cosmetologist crossover courses for each profession. More cosmetologists do the barber crossover courses I suspect for just this reason.
I am not sure you would need to take the exam, but I think it would be pretty likely.
As far as using a straight razor on the head, I would contact the board office and see what they say. The FAQ only says face-http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/cosmetology/faqs/#1488479648563-fed13fb7-29eb
Is a lather brush really prohibited from use in Florida barbershops?
I do not believe it is in the FAQ. I’m guessing, if it is prohibited, it is because it is harder to sterilize bristles to remove all contaminants (AIDS, hepatitis, etc) as the bristles are likely porous. Anything that is porous should be single-use only.
I will have to look over the Laws and Rules.
My son wants to become a barber. It makes sense that getting the right schooling would be vital! I can see how different beauty services would have different licensing requirements.
So if I wanted to specialize in women’s color corrections AND men’s cuts/shave, would it be best for me to do barbering? I don’t want to do nails or facials.
I hate making decisions for people. But if those were the things I wanted to do, I would choose barbering too.
I had no idea that a business could not be both a barbershop and a salon at the same time. My nephew just graduated from college but he told me that he thinks he wants to go to take barber training courses. I’ll pass this information onto so he can be prepared for the future.
If I have a barber license and have owned a shop 31 years, what is required of me to also get a cosmetologist lucense?
It is hard for me to know without knowing how many hours your barber training was. I would contact a cosmetology or barber school in your area and ask if they have crossover courses or evaluate transcripts to see how many hours you would need.
Ivy
Omgosh this salon i went to was not a top dollar place , but i HAD LONG BEAUTIFUL HAIR .I WENT IN WITH PICS OF WHAT I WANTED TO GET DONE .NO LENGTH CUT JUST TOP LAYERS TOP VOLUME .OMGOSH MY HAIR IS UP PAST SHOULDERS SHE BUTCHERED MY HAIR ..I HONESTLY DONT THINK SHE WAS LICENCED FOR WOMENS HAIR .MAYBE JUST MENS AND TO DO NAILS ..OMGOSH IM SO DEPRESSED .SERIOUSLY I BOUGHT EXTENTIONS I DONT KNOW HOW TO USE …IM SO DEPRESSED .I DONT K OW WHAT TO DO AND ITS ALREADY SO SHORT IT CANT BE FIXED WITHOUT CUTTING SHORTER AND I DONT WANT HER TOUCHING MY HEAD. PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN I DO .ITS ONLY BEEN NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS THE INTERNET SAID WAIT LIKE 2 WEEKS FOR HAIR TO RELAX .BUT IT IS ME THAT HAS TO WAIT OR ELSE I WILL LOOSE IT IN THERE AND HAVE A NERVIOUS BREAK DOWN .WHAT CAN I DO IT HAS TO BE FIXED BUT HOW AND WHO
I would find a reputable salon in your area and consult with a cosmetologist or barber about what can be done to help your current situation. They can give you ideas and hopefully put your mind at ease.
If you believe you saw someone that is unlicensed, you can report that activity to the DBPR. However, there is not a men’s or women’s license.
I want to open a salon where a nail master and a hairdresser will work. What type of license do I need salon or barbershop?
I would look at a salon license from the board of cosmetology for a nail specialist and cosmetologist.
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist as well as a Licensed Barber. I have been on the quest to find out if I am able to do facials in a spa setting. I Have spoken to numerous Cosmetology/Barber board members who have come to inspect the salon I used to work at yet no one seems to be able to give me a definitive answer.
I have license to touch /massage the face & scalp with Massage Therapy Lic. (with creams oils and hot towels) as well as with Barber lic. (to touch face and scalp).
I want to expand my field of work in the Spa industry to occasionally perform facials but did not want to pay for more training as a Facial specialist when I thought I had enough combined training with my dual license.
If you have any insight on this subject it would be greatly appreciated.
No one is likely giving you an answer since it really is kind of a messy scope/legal issue. So, I really cannot give you a definitive answer either. You will likely need to get that from either a lawyer or a declaratory statement from a board. With massage, we can massage the face for the muscles and muscle, but we really cannot be offering facials for skincare reasons from what I understand. Without knowing what your facials will involve exactly, it is impossible for me to say. Are they just hot towels or are you planning to add masks or do extractions? Those would seem to be more in line with a facial specialist.
It was impressive to learn that cosmetologists can work on hair and facial services as well as waxing and nail care. If I learned to be a cosmetologist, I’m sure I can set up my own shop. Since I liked working alone, anyway, I might check out a beauty school and see what it has to offer.
I have a question: im a restricted license barber here in Florida and I’ll start in cosmetologist salon with Cosmo license, can i use straight razor in the salon? Ghanks
A barber or restricted barber can work in a salon and should be able use all the tools they are allowed to use under their BR or BB license. You can always verify this with the board – http://www.myfloridalicense.com/contactus
Hey Ivy, thanks for the breakdown! Super helpful for a barbershop owner like me. It’s great to see those clear distinctions between barbers and cosmetologists – especially the shaving and waxing bits. Makes it way easier when I’m thinking about hiring someone new or expanding services. Keep those informative posts coming!