Fades, Tapers & Blends
Low, mid and high fades, classic tapers, bald fades and seamless blending — the foundation of nearly every modern NYC haircut and the skills clients ask for by name.
Programs / 500-Hour Master Barber
Become a Licensed New York Master Barber in About Four Months
New York requires 500 hours of state-approved training before you can sit for the barber licensing exam. This is the full route for career-changers starting from zero — the same 500 hours the state counts, taught hands-on with real clients, then aimed squarely at passing the New York State Board exam and walking into a shop as a working barber.
NYS-Licensed 500 Hours ~4 Months Full-Time Weekly Payment Plans Se Habla Español
The Program at a Glance
The Numbers Behind Your New Career
Everything that matters about the 500-hour Master Barber program in four figures — hours required, how fast you can finish, when classes begin, and what tuition starts at.
500
Training hours required by New York State
4
Months to finish on a full-time schedule
1
New cohort starts the first Monday of every month
$4,600
Tuition starting price (Plan B & C)
What You'll Learn
A Curriculum Built to Fill a Chair, Not Just a Transcript
The point of 500 hours is not seat time — it is a portfolio of cuts you can charge for on day one. You train on real, paying-clinic clients under instructor supervision, so by graduation a fade, a lineup or a hot-towel shave is muscle memory, not theory.
Razor Work & Lineups
Straight-razor lineups, edge-ups and detailing that give a cut its crisp, finished shape. Precision razor control is what separates a trained barber from a hobbyist.
Beard Design & Shape-Ups
Beard trims, sculpting, shape-ups and grooming — a fast-growing, high-margin service that turns a single-chair barber into a full-service one.
Hot-Towel Shaves & Facial Massage
The traditional wet shave, hot-towel prep and facial massage — premium services that command premium tickets and set a shop apart.
Classic & Modern Cuts
Pompadours, Caesars, afros, flat tops, scissor-over-comb, blowouts and classical haircutting across every hair type you'll meet on an NYC clinic floor.
Sanitation, Law & Board Prep
Sterilization, sanitation, barber law and shop management — the theory New York tests you on — then dedicated New York State Board exam preparation, written and practical.
Want the full breakdown? See where these skills can take your career or read how long barber school really takes.
The Timeline
What the 500 Hours Actually Look Like
Four phases carry you from your first day in the classroom to a licensed barber working the chair. The order is deliberate: theory first, then the floor, then the exam.
1 · Theory First
Your opening weeks cover the fundamentals New York tests you on: sanitation, sterilization, barber law, shop management and barbering history — the written half of the State Board exam.
2 · On the Floor
The bulk of your hours are hands-on with real clients — fades, tapers, razor work, beard trims, hot-towel shaves and facial massage under instructor supervision on the clinic floor.
3 · Exam Prep
The final stretch is dedicated to New York State Board exam preparation, both practical and written, so you walk into test day ready instead of guessing.
4 · Get Licensed
You pass the State Board exam, receive your Master Barber license, and step into a New York shop as a working professional — or start building toward your own chair.
Schedules & Payment Plans
Three Plans, One Curriculum — Pick the Pace That Fits Your Life
The 500 hours are identical on every plan; the only real choice is pace versus cost. Every plan starts with a small down payment of $500–$550, then continues on weekly payments while you train — so you pay as you go instead of all at once.
Plan A · Fastest
Full-Time · Morning
Mon–Fri · 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
$5,600
- Finish in roughly 4 months
- $500–$550 down, then weekly payments
- Afternoons and evenings stay free
- Best when training is your priority now
Plan B · Lowest Full-Time Cost
Full-Time · Afternoon
Mon–Fri · 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
$4,600
- Finish in roughly 4 months
- $500–$550 down, then weekly payments
- Mornings stay open for work or family
- Same full-time pace at a lower price
Plan C · Keep Your Job
Part-Time · Weekend
Sat–Sun · 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
$4,600
- Finish in roughly 6–7 months
- $500–$550 down, then weekly payments
- Keep your weekday income while you retrain
- Identical 500-hour curriculum and exam prep
New cohorts begin the first Monday of every month — next start soon. Compare pace side by side on the schedules page.
Why This Route Works
“A license is the credential employers and shop owners actually look for. Four months of the right 500 hours is the shortest honest distance between where you are now and a chair you get paid to stand behind.”
Barbering is one of the most accessible skilled trades to break into — low entry requirements, fast licensing, and income that scales with your skill and your book of clients. In New York City, demand for trained barbers is steady, tips are real, and the ceiling is yours to raise: employee, booth renter, or shop owner. See how the timeline compares to other career paths.
Paying for It
You Have More Funding Options Than You Think
Between weekly payment plans, veterans' benefits and vocational-rehabilitation funding, most students find a way to make the 500-hour program work. Here is where to start.
Weekly Payment Plans
Start with $500–$550 down and pay weekly as you train, so tuition never lands as one lump sum. See the full breakdown on the tuition & funding page.
Veterans & GI Bill®
Eligible veterans may use GI Bill® benefits toward barber training. Learn what's covered and how to start on the veterans & GI Bill® page.
ACCES-VR
New Yorkers with a documented disability may qualify for ACCES-VR funding toward tuition, tools and books. Check eligibility on the ACCES-VR page.
Common Questions
The 500-Hour Route, Answered
How many hours do you need to become a barber in New York?
New York State requires 500 hours of approved barber training to qualify for the licensing exam. What varies between schools is the schedule, the amount of real-client practice, and the quality of exam prep — not the hour count itself.
How long does the 500-hour program take?
About 4 months on a full-time morning or afternoon schedule, or roughly 6–7 months on the weekend track while you keep a weekday job. See how long barber school takes for a full comparison.
How much does barber school cost?
Tuition runs $4,600–$5,600 depending on your schedule: Plan A (morning) is $5,600, Plan B (afternoon) and Plan C (weekend) are $4,600. Every plan starts with $500–$550 down and continues on weekly payments.
Do I need experience before I start?
No. The 500-hour route is built for complete beginners and career-changers. If you already hold a cosmetology or out-of-state barber license, look at the shorter 50-hour refresher instead.
What happens after I finish the hours?
You sit for the New York State Board barber exam — practical and written. Once you pass, you receive your Master Barber license and can work in any New York shop. Our state board exam guide walks through what to expect.
Can I work while completing the 500 hours?
Yes — that is exactly what the weekend schedule (Plan C) is for. You finish in roughly 6–7 months while keeping your weekday income, on the identical curriculum.
Your Next Step
Ready to Start Your 500 Hours?
You have the timeline, the cost and the requirements. The next step is picking a start date and a schedule. New cohorts begin the first Monday of every month — next start soon.
About the Program
Six Months. Every Skill You Need Behind a Chair.
Across roughly six months of instruction, students spend two weeks in barber theory — sanitation, sterilization, the history of the trade, New York barber laws and the fundamentals of shop management. From there the work moves onto the clinic floor.
ABI puts a steady flow of real clients in front of every student and teaches the craft of shaving, facial massage and hair styling — classic tapers, fohawks, pompadours, baldies, caesars, low fades, mid fades, high fades, high-top fades, afros, flat tops, razor lineups, shampoos, classical haircuts, beard trims, shape-ups, blowouts, mohawks — alongside dedicated preparation for the New York State Board Exam.
Once the program wraps, every student meets with our job-placement office to walk through open opportunities and start their career on solid footing.
Skills You'll Learn
A Wide Range of Techniques — Real Client Work
Every skill and technique you'll need to stand apart on the floor. Real clients, real practice, from day one.
- Classic Tapers
- Fohawks
- Pompadours
- Bald Heads
- Caesars
- Low Fades
- Mid Fades
- High Fades
- High-Top Fades
- Afro
- Flat Tops
- Razor Lineups
- Shampoos
- Classical Haircuts
- Beard Trims
- Shape Ups
- Blowouts
- Mohawks
- … and more
Plus dedicated preparation for the New York State Board Exam and job-placement support at the end of the program.