New Barber Applicants
Every first-time barber operator application in New York must include proof of this coursework, alongside your training hours and exam.
Programs / Contagious Diseases Course
The NY Contagious Diseases Course, Done Entirely by Mail
New York requires a short Transmission of Contagious Diseases course for every new barber operator and apprentice application — and every renewal. It's a 3-hour home-study course you complete from home for $100, ending with two certificates of completion. Here's exactly what it covers, who has to take it, and how to finish it without leaving your house.
NY Requirement 3 Hours Home Study By Mail Two Certificates
The Course at a Glance
The Requirement, in Four Numbers
A small but non-negotiable licensing box — short, flexible and entirely by mail.
3
Hours of home-study coursework
$100
One flat payment, no schedule required
2
Certificates mailed to you on passing
0
In-person visits — complete it by mail
Do You Need It?
Required for Every Application and Every Renewal
If you're applying for, or renewing, a New York Barber Operator or Barber Apprentice license, this course is required. New York mandates a program of study on the Transmission of Contagious Diseases for anyone who wants to be employed in a barbershop.
Barber Apprentices
Apprentice license applications carry the same requirement — the course applies whether you trained in a school or under a licensed barber.
Anyone Renewing
The requirement returns at renewal, not just at initial licensure — so it's a box you'll check more than once over a career.
What It Covers
How contagious conditions spread and how proper sanitation and sterilization prevent them — a public-health baseline for anyone working skin-to-tools with clients.
This is separate from your training hours. Whether you took the 500-hour route or the refresher route, this is a distinct licensing box you still need to check.
Step by Step
How to Complete It by Mail
Four steps, all handled through the mail — no cohort, no start date, no travel. It's the most flexible part of the whole licensing process.
1 · Enroll
You receive the first packet — an enrollment agreement and the program booklet. Return the signed agreement with your $100 payment.
2 · Study
Once your signed agreement and payment arrive, the second packet with the exam is mailed to you. Read and study the booklet before testing.
3 · Take the Exam
Complete the exam in full and mail it back — no in-person visit required at any point.
4 · Get Certified
Your exam is graded, and on passing you're mailed two certificates: one for your license application, one to keep for your records.
Before You Enroll
What You'll Need to Get Started
The barrier to entry is low — a few standard documents and the $100 course fee are all it takes to begin.
Social Security Card or Tax ID
Standard identification required on your license application, submitted with your enrollment.
Proof of Residential Address
So the enrollment packet, exam and certificates can be mailed to you correctly.
Valid Photo ID
A driver's license or other government-issued photo identification.
Why It Matters
“Barbers work skin-to-tools with clients all day. This course is New York's way of making sure every licensed operator understands how to keep that chair safe.”
It's a public-health baseline — and because it's home study, it's the one part of licensing you can knock out on your own schedule. No waiting for a cohort, no travel, just the packet, the booklet and the mail. Pair it with your main training: start with the 500-hour route or the refresher.
Where It Fits
This Is One Box — Here's the Rest of the Path
The Contagious Diseases course sits alongside your training and exam. If you're mapping out full licensure, these are your next stops.
Your Training Hours
Beginners take the 500-hour program; licensed pros take the 50-hour refresher.
The State Board Exam
After training, you sit for the New York exam. See how to pass the NY barber state board exam.
Life After Licensing
Explore the career paths a barber license opens once every box is checked.
Common Questions
The Contagious Diseases Course, Answered
Does this course replace my barber training hours?
No. It's an additional licensing requirement on top of your 500-hour or refresher training — not a substitute for it. You still complete your training hours and sit for the state exam.
Do I have to retake it when I renew my license?
Yes. New York requires the contagious diseases coursework at renewal as well as at initial application, so you'll complete it more than once over a barbering career.
Can I really do the whole thing by mail?
Yes — enrollment, the study booklet, the exam and your certificates all happen through the mail. No in-person session is required at any point.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The course is $100, paid once, and covers 3 hours of home study. Because it's self-paced by mail, your total time depends mostly on mailing turnaround.
Who exactly needs this course?
Anyone applying for or renewing a New York Barber Operator or Barber Apprentice license. If you plan to be employed in a barbershop in New York, you'll need it.
Your Next Step
Ready to Check This Box?
Request your home-study enrollment packet and complete this New York licensing requirement on your own schedule — no cohort, no travel, no waiting.