Barbering is a Diploma program (Hybrid) offered by Barber Tech Academy in Columbia, SC. The program takes 1,500 clock hours, 50 weeks full time or 75 weeks part time to complete, with a total tuition of $18,500.
Program Overview
Barbering, 1,500 hours. Barber Tech Academy's Barbering program is a full course of theory and practical, hands-on instruction in the barbering arts and sciences. It prepares students for the South Carolina licensing examinations and entry-level work as registered barbers, and it runs at both the Orangeburg and Columbia campuses.
Men's and women's styles. The academy describes it as a master barber program covering men's and women's styles, from natural styles and traditional razor shaves to color and chemical services. The curriculum focuses on current trends as well as classic styles.
The goal. The program aims to give students the skills to find work in the hair care industry, with opportunities for personal growth, entrepreneurship and community service. The academy's vision is to develop entrepreneurs, create industry professionals and promote interactive learning.
What sets this Program apart
- Levels of instruction. Students progress from Foundations, with no live models, to Intermediate and Advanced levels working on live models.
- Color and chemical services. The master hair care curriculum gives 150 hours to haircoloring and lightening and 95 hours to chemical texture services, alongside 300 hours each of men's and women's cutting.
- Hybrid theory. Distance-education coursework through the academy's learning management system supports the on-campus theory and clinic training.
- Two campuses. The same program runs at the Orangeburg main campus and the Columbia campus.
Admission Requirements and Process
Barber Tech Academy enrolls students on a continuous basis. To apply for admission in Barber Tech Academy, applicant must have a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent. Our Admissions Team will ensure all documents are complete and that each student is ready for the next step in the enrollment process.
General Requirements
- High School Diploma or GEDTo apply for admission in Barber Tech Academy, applicant must have a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent. Barber Tech Academy does not accept students with…
- Minimum Age 16A valid photo ID (driver's license or state ID card) to verify applicant is at least 16 years old.
- Citizenship StatusApplicant must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Letters of RecommendationLetter(s) of recommendation are part of a completed application package.
- Social Security CardA Social Security Card is necessary to complete the admissions process.
- Four Wallet-Sized Photos4 wallet sized photos (head and shoulders).
- TB Test or Chest X-RayTB test or chest x-ray results are necessary to complete the admissions process.
- SC State Board Permit ApplicationA South Carolina State Board Permit Application is necessary to complete the admissions process.
- Pre-Enrollment InterviewApplicants are required to have a pre-enrollment interview with the Admissions Office.
Application Process
- 1Submit Your Application PackageComplete the Barber Tech Academy application and submit your application package, including a copy of your high school diploma or GED, letter(s) of recommendation and a valid photo ID. Application packages are accepted on a continuous basis.
- 2Complete the FAFSA for Financial AidBarber Tech Academy is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal financial aid to those who qualify. Complete the FAFSA and list Barber Tech Academy; once we receive your FAFSA, a representative of our financial aid team will contact you.FAFSA Code for Columbia: 042435
- 3Pre-Enrollment Interview With AdmissionsBarber Tech Academy will contact you to schedule a pre-enrollment interview with the Admissions Office. Our Admissions Team will ensure all documents are complete and that you are ready for the next step in the enrollment process.
- 4Receive Your Pre-Enrollment Admissions PacketUpon acceptance, Barber Tech Academy will issue the catalog and the Pre-Enrollment Admissions Packet, which includes the SC Barber Permit Application.
- 5Meet With the Financial Aid OfficeOnce you complete the admissions process, you will meet with the Financial Aid Office to discuss all available financial aid options.
- 6Attend New Student OrientationOnce accepted, attendance at New Student Orientation is required, where the school's policies are reviewed and the Pre-Enrollment receipt of information must be signed.
- 7Sign Your Enrollment AgreementYou will receive the Barber Tech Academy Enrollment Agreement, which must be signed prior to starting classes.
Program Schedule
Full time or part time. Full-time students attend 30 hours a week and finish in about 50 weeks: theory Tuesday through Thursday from 9:10 to 10:50 a.m., practical training Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Part-time students attend 20 hours a week and finish in about 75 weeks, with theory Tuesday through Thursday and shorter practical sessions. Theory classes meet for 1 hour 40 minutes a day, and Friday and Saturday are dedicated to practice and clinic work.
Starting and holidays. The academy enrolls on a continuous basis, and classes usually begin on Tuesdays. Both campuses are open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In 2026 the academy closes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a spring break April 7 to 11, Memorial Day, July 3 and 4, Labor Day, a Thanksgiving break November 25 to 28, and a winter break from December 24 to January 4, 2027, and contracts are extended for any other closings such as bad weather.
Attendance. Students clock in and out on the time clock and must keep at least 67% cumulative attendance to stay on track to finish within the maximum time frame. More than three late arrivals in a month is considered excessive, and the academy may ask for documentation for any tardy, absence or early departure. A leave of absence can be approved for reasons such as medical needs, military service or financial or family hardship when requested in writing.
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
When you attend an accredited institution, you attend a school that has been independently evaluated for educational quality.
Barber Tech Academy is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). The Orangeburg main campus is accredited, and the Columbia campus holds NACCAS additional location accreditation. Barber schools in South Carolina are regulated by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition (1,500 hours) | $18,500 |
| Books (non-refundable) | $265 |
| Kit (non-refundable) | $1,250 |
| Uniform (non-refundable) | $500 |
| Lab fee | $500 |
| Technology fee | $300 |
| SC student barber permit (non-refundable) | $35 |
| Registration fee (non-refundable) | $100 |
| Testing fees | $220 |
| Total | $21,670 |
Charged by payment period. Charges are split across four payment periods: $6,501.15 for the first 450 hours, $6,501.15 for hours 451 to 900, $4,333.85 for hours 901 to 1,200 and $4,333.85 for hours 1,201 to 1,500, totalling $21,670. Students can pay in full when they sign the enrollment agreement by certified check, money order or credit card. Students receive their kit after completing 275 clock hours.
Financial aid. The academy is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal student aid to students who qualify through the FAFSA, and it follows the VA rules for students using Chapter 31 or 33 benefits.
Cancellation and refunds. An applicant who is not accepted, or who cancels in writing within three business days of signing the enrollment agreement, gets back all money paid. Cancelling after that but before classes start refunds everything except the $100 registration fee. After classes begin, the academy keeps a share of tuition based on the scheduled hours: 20% up to 4.9% of the program, 30% to 9.9%, 40% to 14.9%, 45% to 24.9%, 70% to 49.9%, and all of it from 50% on. Refunds are paid within 45 days, and the books, kit, uniform, permit and registration fee are not refundable.
Curriculum
Three levels. Instruction moves through Level 1, Foundations; Level 2, Intermediate; and Level 3, Advanced. Foundations students do not work on live models, and students train on live models in the later levels. Teaching methods include lecture, demonstrations, mannequin work, peer-to-peer practice, guest speakers, textbooks and servicing clients, and the required text is Milady's Standard Barbering, 7th edition.
Hybrid delivery. The program is delivered in a hybrid format: classroom lectures, practical demonstrations and supervised clinic practice on campus, with distance-education components in the academy's learning management system. Distance education is never used for practical work on live models, an instructor assesses distance-education work on campus at least once a month, and the final academic and practical exams are given on campus. Students using VA education benefits must complete the whole program on campus.
Grading and progress. Students keep a cumulative grade average of at least 70% and attend at least 67% of scheduled hours, checked at 450 hours and 15 weeks, 900 hours and 30 weeks, and 1,200 hours and 40 weeks. At least two comprehensive practical skills evaluations are held during the course, and the program must be finished within 150% of its length: 75 weeks full time or 112.5 weeks part time.
Graduation. Graduates complete all 1,500 clock hours and all theory and practical work with at least a 70% average, and settle any balance with the academy. They then receive a diploma.
The required courses below are from Barber Tech Academy's published catalog.
Required Courses
| Name | Total |
|---|---|
| History of Barbering | 10 |
| Life Skills | 10 |
| Professional Image (Hygiene, Grooming, Ethics) | 20 |
| Professional Ethics---ethical conduct and attitudes | 20 |
| Infection Control: Principals, Practices (Sanitation and Disinfection) | 80 |
| Implements, Tools, & Equipment | 20 |
| Anatomy & Physiology | 20 |
| Basics of Chemistry, pH, and Product Knowledge | 80 |
| Basics of Electricity, Electrotherapy & Light Therapy | 10 |
| Properties & Disorders of the Skin, Scalp & Hair | 70 |
| Treatment of the Hair and Scalp | 80 |
| Facial Massage Manipulations & Treatments | 25 |
| Shaving and Facial Hair Design | 60 |
| Men's Haircutting & Styling | 300 |
| Hair Replacement Systems | 10 |
| Women's Haircutting & Styling | 300 |
| Chemical Texture Services | 95 |
| Haircoloring & Lightening | 150 |
| Barbershop Management | 40 |
| Retailing | 40 |
| State Board Preparation, Licensing Laws and Regulations | 60 |
| Totals | 1,500 |
Required Courses
| Name |
|---|
| History of Barbering |
| Life Skills |
| Professional Image (Hygiene, Grooming, Ethics) |
| Professional Ethics---ethical conduct and attitudes |
| Infection Control: Principals, Practices (Sanitation and Disinfection) |
| Implements, Tools, & Equipment |
| Anatomy & Physiology |
| Basics of Chemistry, pH, and Product Knowledge |
| Basics of Electricity, Electrotherapy & Light Therapy |
| Properties & Disorders of the Skin, Scalp & Hair |
| Treatment of the Hair and Scalp |
| Facial Massage Manipulations & Treatments |
| Shaving and Facial Hair Design |
| Men's Haircutting & Styling |
| Hair Replacement Systems |
| Women's Haircutting & Styling |
| Chemical Texture Services |
| Haircoloring & Lightening |
| Barbershop Management |
| Retailing |
| State Board Preparation, Licensing Laws and Regulations |
| Totals |
Career Outcomes
Licensure. The program prepares students for the South Carolina barber licensing examinations and entry-level work as a registered barber in South Carolina. Students must receive a student permit from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation before they begin classes.
Careers. The catalog lists careers as a barber, master hair care specialist, barbershop manager or owner, state board member and barber instructor.
Career services. The academy posts area job openings for students and graduates, arranges interviews and helps with job searches, resumes, interview preparation, branding and marketing. It does not guarantee employment or salary.
What to expect as a Barber Tech Academy student
Orangeburg. The main campus is in downtown Orangeburg at 1650 Russell Street, with more than 4,000 square feet of classrooms, administrative offices and a clinic area with modern barber stations for practical learning.
Columbia. The additional campus at 421 Bush River Road, Unit 98, has more than 5,400 square feet with the same mix of classrooms, offices and a clinic area with barber stations.
Student support. Students get academic advising throughout the program and a library of barbering, hair styling and related books and periodicals during class hours. The academy does not provide housing, transportation or childcare.