Hairdressers and barbers are a very important part of society everywhere. So, how to get a barber license in the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Germany, and the USA?
If you want to know more about laws and regulations regarding barbers in these countries and the requirements as well, keep on reading. Becoming a barber is easy once you already know what you have to do.
How to get a barber license in England?
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom; it is filled with artistic people everywhere. To become a barber here, the laws and education are not that strict. So, here is how to get a barber license in England.
You can cut people’s hair without any license, but to start your own business, you will need a license to meet the health and safety laws. You can become a barber by completing a college course, an apprenticeship program under a licensed barber, or freelancing as a barber. In college, you will be able to take a small barbering course that will teach you how to cut hair, safety, sanitization, and other relevant courses. For apprenticeship, you can either take a hair professional intermediate apprenticeship or an advanced apprenticeship for creative hair professionals. And for that, you need 5 GCSEs in grades 9 to 4.
You can start working as an apprenticeship and earn money, but you will usually have to take a barber course while working. However, if you choose to freelance, you don’t have to study, but you will have to pay for your own equipment, and getting established will be a little hard. You can become a barber in England as long as you have customer service skills, attention to detail, good verbal communication skills, and relevant hair and mustache care skills.
What is a hairdresser license?
Even though there is no such thing as a barbering license, there is a hairdresser license. Here you will learn exactly what is a hairdresser license in England.
To start a barbering business, you will have to register the business with the local council in the form of a hairdressing license. This is to make sure that your business is following the safety and health rules. However, if you start a barbering business at your own home, it doesn’t need to be registered. To get the license, you just have to go to your local council and fill out a free form. Once you get the license, the council will occasionally check if your business is clean and well ventilated, there is an action against contamination and infections, the work is hygienic, and there is a public liability insurance cover.
How to get a barber license in Ireland?
Ireland is an island that is close to England and Wales. The island is one of the best places for creative people as it is filled with castles and birthed people like Oscar Wilde. Becoming a barber here is pretty easy, just like in England, so getting a barber license in Ireland is how.
Considering the huge change in men’s style in recent decades, the need for barbers has increased significantly. It also means that the activities performed by the barbers have increased, and now they have to learn almost everything that a women’s salon does, including mustache and beard care. There are a lot of great barbers in Ireland, in fact, many men think that the best barbers are found in Ireland.
In Ireland, just like England, no barbering license is required; however, there are a lot of barbering schools here that people can attend and learn the art of cutting hair. When you choose a barbering school here, make sure to do research so that the barbering course is legit and you can get a certificate. To get the certificate, you usually need at least 100 hours of courses here that will teach you about fading, tapering, scissor cuts, client consultations, safety and sanitization, psychology, and other relevant courses.
How to get a barber license in Singapore?
Singapore is a Southeastern Asian country with the best spas and barbershops. Singapore has been gaining a lot of attention recently because of the advancement in the economy that they are making, so how to get a barber license in Singapore.
Well, to become a barber in Singapore, you don’t need a license. But you do need to register your business and get insurance. Before you start a business, you have to register it with ACRA. After that, you will get a permit, and you can open your own barbershop. The main way to succeed in barbering in Singapore is through hospitality.
How much does it cost to start a barber business in Singapore?
You do want to start a business in Singapore, but first, you have to know how much it costs to start a barber business in Singapore? Here is a breakdown of costs regarding barbershops in Singapore.
The most money will be spent on renting a place. The cost will depend on where you get the barbershop and also how big you want it to be. However, on average, expect to spend $5,000 to $10,000 each month in rent for 500 square feet of barbershop. This can be lower if you choose a remote area and can bargain. You will have to pay 6 months’ worth of rent before leasing. Thus it is important to have enough money saved up so that you start a business. Make sure to have money to hire employees for at least the first 5 months.
Then comes other costs, most importantly for furniture like barber chairs, tables, mirrors, and whatnot. For renovation, expect to spend another SGD 10,000 to 20,000 for 500 square feet in everything. Of course, this cost can be decreased if you buy second-hand furniture. However, it might not be worth it in the long term, or the repairs could end up costing just as much or more. Unless you can trust someone, it is best to buy new furniture.
Now you have to consider the cost of hiring employees, haircutting equipment, AC, WIFI, decorations, hair care products, and other necessities. When you add all the costs, the minimum start-up money should be around $50,000 to $80,000. It can take at least six months to recover.
How to get a barber license in Germany?
Germany is the 7th largest country in Europe, so it is highly populated. This means a lot of different people have different hairstyle requirements here. This is why becoming a hairstylist or barber is regulated work that requires a license. To become a barber, here is how to get a barber license in Germany.
To become a barber, you have to do two things, get a college degree in hairdressing or barbering and then complete at least three years of apprenticeship. After you are done, you can get a license and work in Germany. While completing an apprenticeship you will still get paid but not as much as a full-time employer. Moreover, to start your own barbering business, you will have to do more training and become a better barber. After that, you will be permitted to start your own business.
Remember, barbering is not really a term used in Germany, so it falls under hairdressing. When it comes to this trade, Germany is very strict, and the laws and regulations need to be followed to work here.
How to get a barber license in the USA?
Barbering in the USA is a regulated trade that requires a certain amount of education or apprenticeship so you can become a barber. Here is how to get a barber license in the USA. It varies from state to state as different states have different barbering laws; however, they all require some education and a license to work.
To work as a barber, you usually need 1,500 hours of education with both theoretical as well as practical courses. After that, you have to pass the board exam. Some states like Ohio require 1,800 hours of education in a board-approved barbering school. If you can’t complete education for one reason or another, you can also complete an apprenticeship in some states. To sit for the board exam, the apprenticeship hours are usually more than the hours of studying you will need.
You can finally get a barbering license after you pay the licensing fee, which varies from state to state, and passes the exam. However, your job is not done yet, as this license needs to be renewed periodically, usually every two years. Some states also require you to continue your education each time that you renew the license. There is also a master’s barber degree, but this term changes from state to state. In some states, you have to complete a lengthy apprenticeship to be called this. In some others, you have to give a certain exam to qualify as a master barber. Regardless, you need proper education to be a barber in America.
Take Steps According to Country System
Some countries have a proper system that makes sure that the barbers are properly trained and perform their jobs. In such countries, getting a barbering degree is expensive and more time-consuming, but your trade will be worth more as well. Now it is your turn to decide if you want to become a licensed barber or not.
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