What Is a Class A Barber? Your College-Free Path to a Lucrative Career
A Class A Barber license is your ticket to a stable career.
You don’t need to take on college debt or spend four years in classrooms. In as little as seven months, you could be earning $30,000–$55,000 plus tips.
At Brighton Barber Institute (BBI), 100% of our students earn their Class A Barber license, a rate unheard of at most other barbering schools. Today, we’ll explain how this license changes our graduates’ lives.
What Can You Do With a Class A Barber License?
A Class A Barber license is the only barbering license in Texas. With this license, you can legally:
- Cut and style hair for all clients (not just men)
- Perform straight razor shaves (only barbers can do this)
- Design and trim beards and mustaches
- Apply hair color and chemical treatments
- Provide basic skincare and facial services
- Give scalp, neck, and shoulder massages
- Perform manicures and nail treatments
Without this license, you can’t legally charge for these services in Texas. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) enforces this strictly.
While cosmetologists are jacks of all trades, barbers are masters of men’s services that clients pay premium prices for.
How to Become a Class A Barber in Texas
Earn your Class A Barber license in just five steps. At BBI, we guide you through each one.
Step 1: Meet Basic Requirements
You must be at least 17 years old to get licensed, though you can start your training at 16. You’ll also need a high school diploma or GED.
Step 2: Complete Your Training
Texas requires that aspiring barbers complete 1,000 hours of training. At BBI, our engaging, experienced instructors make sure those hours fly by.
Full-time students (35 hours per week) finish in just seven months, while part-time students (17.5 hours per week) complete their training in 14 months.
Step 3: Pass Your Written Exam
After 900 hours of training, you’re eligible to take the written exam, which covers everything you learned in class. Our structured curriculum prepares you for every question.
This is why 100% of our students pass their exams.
Step 4: Pass Your Practical Exam
Once you finish all 1,000 hours of training and pass the written test, you’ll demonstrate your hands-on barbering skills during the practical exam.
Step 5: Get Your License and Start Working
After passing both exams, which all our students do, you’ll apply for your license online. The process is simple, and we help with the paperwork.
What Makes BBI the Best Choice for Your Class A Barber Training?
Not all barber schools teach the skills employers demand and clients pay top dollar for. Many Class A Barber programs rush students through without structured lessons, clear milestones, or hands-on practice with real clients.
That isn’t the case at BBI. We offer:
Federal Financial Aid That Makes School Accessible
Our Class A Barber program is one of the few in the DFW area that accepts federal financial aid. About 90% of our students receive some form of financial assistance.
Based on your income, Pell Grants can provide up to $7,395 per year that you never have to repay. Combined with other financial aid options, many eligible students pay nothing out of pocket for their Class A Barber training.
Skills That Get You Hired
Our 3,400-square-foot facility mirrors high-end barbershops. You’ll train with the same professional equipment you’ll use on the job, so there’s no learning curve when you start working.
This hands-on experience matters. Good-paying employers specifically recruit our Class A Barber graduates because they arrive ready to work, no additional training required.
Licensed Instructors Who Actually Teach
Our instructors have Class A Barber licenses and teaching credentials. Their structured lessons have clear milestones, so you can master precision fades, straight razor techniques, and chemical services clients pay top dollar for.
This means you’ll graduate confident in your skills and ready for a lucrative career, not confused about what you learned and nervous for your licensing exams.
Flexible Scheduling for Busy Adults
Whether you’re working, raising kids, or managing other responsibilities, our part-time track makes it easy for you to pursue your Class A Barber license.
We offer ten start dates throughout the year, which means you can start training for your dream career whenever you’re ready.
Real Career Opportunities for Class A Barbers
Your Class A Barber license opens the door to immediate employment and long-term growth.
Starting Opportunities:
- Barber: $30,000–$45,000 base starting salary, plus tips
- High-end barbershop positions: Upward of $70,000, plus tips
- Barbershop manager: $70,000 average salary
Growth Potential:
- Booth rental (be your own boss)
- Mobile barber services (set your own rates)
- Barbershop ownership (many graduates achieve this within five years of graduation)
These aren’t dead-end jobs. They’re highly respected careers with benefits and growth potential.
Our Class A Barber program’s 95% job placement rate isn’t luck. We maintain relationships with employers throughout the DFW area who trust our training.
Can You Afford Class A Barber Training?
Our Class A Barber program costs $15,150 total. That includes tuition, your professional kit, books, and registration.
But remember: 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid. Many pay nothing out of pocket.
Veterans can use their GI Bill® benefits for full coverage. Texas Workforce Solutions assists students with disabilities.
We also offer flexible payment plans with no fees for cash, check, or Zelle payments. We’re here to make your Class A Barber education work for your budget.
After as little as seven months of training, you could be living debt-free and making a good living. Compare that to four expensive years of college that lead to uncertain job prospects.
“GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For more information about education benefits offered by the VA, visit benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Why Class A Barber Training Makes Sense Right Now
Texas’s barbering industry is booming. DFW needs skilled Class A Barbers, and the demand increases every year.
Men’s grooming isn’t a trend. Rich or poor, young or old, every demographic needs haircuts. Unlike tech jobs that get outsourced overseas or retail positions that get replaced by self-checkout, barbering requires human hands and face-to-face interaction.
Your clients need you in person, which means your job security is guaranteed.
Start Your Class A Barber Journey Today
In as little as seven months, you could have your Class A Barber license and a lucrative career.
You won’t carry massive debt or waste years in general education classes. You’ll receive focused training that leads straight to employment.
Brighton Barber Institute makes it possible with federal financial aid, flexible scheduling, and proven results.
Don’t wait for the perfect time. Contact Brighton Barber Institute today:
- Call us at (817) 785-7051
- Visit us at 133 W. Harwood Rd., Hurst, TX 76054
- Email us at info@brightonbarber.com
- Schedule a tour or apply now
Your future is Bright!