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Time & Scheduling Guide
In New York, becoming a licensed barber means completing 500 training hours — the same requirement no matter how you schedule it. What changes is the pace: about 4 months full-time, or roughly 6–7 months on weekends. This guide helps you pick the track that fits your job, budget, and life — and plan your start date around it. New classes begin the first Monday of every month.
The Short Answer
Both tracks lead to the exact same Master Barber license — the 500-hour requirement never changes. Full-time finishes in about 4 months; the weekend track takes roughly 6–7 months. The only trade-off is how quickly you finish versus keeping a weekday income while you train.
"Employers care that you're licensed and skilled — not which schedule you used to get there."
Each track maps to a tuition plan — see exact pricing on tuition & funding, or read the full curriculum in the 500-hour Master Barber program.
Pick Your Pace
The license is identical across all three. What matters is which schedule you can realistically commit to right now.
You can dedicate weekdays to training and want to be licensed and earning as fast as possible — roughly four months from your first day. Morning (Plan A) and afternoon (Plan B) run the same pace; pick the half of the day that's free.
You're changing careers without quitting your job first. Weekends (Plan C) let you finish the same 500 hours over about 6–7 months while a paycheck keeps coming in.
The credential is the same New York Master Barber license, and every track starts the first Monday of the month. Funding — GI Bill®, ACCES-VR, or weekly payments — applies to all three.
Planning Your Start
Classes start the first Monday of every month — the Tuesday after when that Monday is a federal holiday and the school is closed. Either way you're rarely more than a few weeks from a start date once you decide. Use the calendar to plan your training around work, tuition, and family.
Plan Around Closures
Most schools close on U.S. federal holidays. Build a little buffer into your timeline when you map out your 500 hours.
Common Questions
The 500-hour requirement sets the floor — you can't shortcut the hours. Full-time attendance is the fastest legitimate path, landing you at roughly four months.
Yes. The weekend track (Plan C) spreads the same 500 hours over about 6–7 months, which is how many career-changers train without leaving their current job.
New classes begin the first Monday of every month, or the Tuesday after when that Monday falls on a federal holiday. The calendar above lists the exact start date for each month through 2028, so you can plan around work and family.
Slightly. Schools typically close on federal holidays, so build a little buffer into your plan — the calendar above shows the closures to expect.
Each track maps to a tuition plan: Plan B (afternoon) is $3,600, Plan C (weekend) is $4,600 and Plan A (morning) is $5,600 with a professional tool kit included. All use a $200–$500 down payment plus weekly payments. See tuition & funding for the full breakdown.
Picked Your Track?
Once you know which schedule fits your life, the next step is enrolling. American Barber Institute runs morning, afternoon, and weekend tracks and starts new classes the first Monday of every month.
Classes begin the first Monday of each month
Next class starts soon. Seats fill fast — start your barber school enrollment, request a call, or speak with admissions in English or Spanish.
