Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber is a Certificate program offered by Mei Barber School in Brownsville, TX. The program takes 300 clock hours — about 10.5 weeks full time (33.33+ hrs/week), 15 weeks part time to complete, with a total tuition of $2,550.
Program Overview
Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber, 300 clock hours. The primary purpose of this course is to train individuals who hold a cosmetology operator license in the State of Texas to provide the services of a Barber. The course consists of 25 hours in theory and 275 hours in practical training, covering the history of barbering, shaving, men’s haircutting and tapering, beard and mustache trimming and design, and hair color review.
Program objective. To provide the student with the skills, information, training and reliable theoretical and practical instruction to successfully complete the program and pass the licensure exam required by the state of Texas, and to educate the student in developing professional attitudes and habits necessary for initial employment and career advancement.
How it is taught. The course is provided through a sequential set of learning steps which address specific tasks necessary for state exam preparation, presented through well-developed lesson plans by means of lecture, demonstration and student participation.
Licensure. Graduates pass the school’s theory/written and practical exit examination, apply for examination with the school’s certification that the course was completed, pass the written and practical barber examinations (the written portion first), pay a $55 barber written test fee and a $77 barber practical examination fee to TDLR, and pay the license fee.
What sets this Program apart
For licensed cosmetologists. The course builds on a current Texas Cosmetology Operator License: 275 of its 300 hours are practical training, 165 of them in men’s haircutting and tapering and 85 in shaving, mustache and beard trimming.
State board preparation. Courses cover everything you need to pass the TDLR State Board Exam with ease, taught by barbers and stylists with countless years of real world and classroom experience, with expert seminars covering specialty skills hosted by celebrity stylists and barbers.
English or Spanish. Each of the school’s courses is offered in English and in Spanish, with the same hours and evaluation periods in either language.
The campus. Mei Barber School, which opened in 2013, is located at 205 E. Elizabeth St, Brownsville, Texas. The building contains approximately 2,217 square feet, with 14 barber stations, 5 station sinks, 1 shampoo bowl, 1 classroom, 1 break room, 1 study room and 3 restrooms. Clinic equipment, implements, and products are comparable to those used in the industry.
Admission Requirements and Process
A cosmetology licence first. A prospective student enrolling in the Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber 300 Hour Course needs a current Texas Cosmetology Operator License, must pass an admission exam provided by the institution, and must meet the admission requirements below.
Who may enroll. Mei Barber School offers training programs that are conducted continuously throughout the year. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and have successfully completed high school, providing a copy of the high school diploma, a transcript showing high school completion, or a certificate of attainment. An applicant who did not complete high school or cannot show proof of completion can provide a GED certificate or a state recognized high school equivalent diploma, and a home-schooled student provides evidence of completion that the state of Texas treats as valid, such as a state issued credential.
Before acceptance. Each applicant must interview with an admissions representative, tour the campus, and provide proof of age and educational requirements.
Transfer and re-enrollment. Hours transferred from another institution are accepted toward the program provided they have been approved for transfer by TDLR; based on how many hours are needed to complete the course under state law, the total cost is given to the student. A student who withdraws and re-enrolls completes a re-enrollment application and pays a $200 re-enrollment fee ($100 enrollment fee, $25 application fee and $75 registration fee); all hours from the previous enrollment are accepted.
General Requirements
- Texas Cosmetology Operator LicenseHold a current Texas Cosmetology Operator License.
- Admission examPass an admission exam provided by the institution.
- Minimum ageApplicants must be at least 16 years old.
- Proof of educationProvide a copy of a high school diploma, a transcript showing high school completion, a certificate of attainment, a GED certificate or a state recognized high school equivalent…
- Interview and campus tourInterview with an admissions representative and tour the campus before acceptance.
- Proof of ageProvide proof of age together with the proof of your educational requirements.
Application Process
- 1Request informationRequest more information about the course you are interested in, and the school will follow up with you.
- 2Interview with admissionsEach applicant interviews with an admissions representative before acceptance.
- 3Tour the campusTour the Brownsville campus at 205 E. Elizabeth St.
- 4Provide your documentsProvide proof of age and of your educational requirements, such as a high school diploma, transcript or GED certificate.
- 5EnrollOn enrollment day you pay the $25 application fee and $75 registration fee; enrollment is open, so you can start any time a space is available.
Program Schedule
Full time or part time. Full time requires a minimum of 33.33 hours per week and part time a minimum of 20 hours per week. Satisfactory progress is evaluated at 150 scheduled hours: 5 weeks and 2 days full time, or 7 weeks and 3 days part time. The maximum time allowed is 14 weeks full time or 23 weeks part time, 450 scheduled hours.
Hours. Mei Barber School classes are in session twelve months of the year from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mei Barber School has an open enrollment policy which allows students to enroll anytime, depending on spaces available; with new classes starting every month, classes often fill up many weeks in advance.
Closures. The school is closed for Thanksgiving and Winter Break. The 2026 calendar: Charro Days, February 27 (close at 3:00 pm) and February 28; Thanksgiving, November 26 to November 28; Winter Break, 12/21/2026 to 01/02/2027. On certain occasions and at the director’s discretion the school may close to avoid extreme weather, and make-up time may be scheduled on Saturdays.
Required Courses
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Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
Attending an accredited school means its training has been reviewed against independent standards that protect students.
This school: Mei Barber School is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts & Sciences (NACCAS). Its Class A Barber, Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber and Cosmetology Operator courses are approved and regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition and fees. Cosmetology to Class A Barber 300 Hour Course, per the catalog:
- Tuition: $2,550.00
- Application Fee (Non-Refundable): $25.00
- Registration Fee: $75.00
- Books: $350.00
- Kit: $1,500.00
- Other: $0.00
- Total Tuition and Fees: $4,500.00
Paying. On enrollment day the student pays the $25 application fee, the $75 registration fee, books, kit fee and other charges; after that, the student pays $250 on a monthly basis if not on financial aid or VA assistance (Chapter 33). Cash, credit, check and money order payments are accepted. Usually, at the end of the course there is a balance left that the student must pay off before completing the course. The tuition price does not include the written exam ($55) and practical exam ($77) fees paid to TDLR.
VA benefits. The institution offers Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) education benefits. To qualify, a student must have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001, or an honorable discharge for disability after 30 days, and provide a Post 9/11 eligibility letter and their most recent military transcripts.
Scholarships. Mei Barber School offers a full $2,500 scholarship on the Cosmetology Operator to Class A Barber Course to any instructor from an institution under the same ownership as Mei Barber School who presents documents showing they used their skills to give back to the community.
Cancellation and refunds. A student who cancels the enrollment agreement no later than midnight of the third day after signing it (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) receives a full refund except the non-refundable application fee. After that, refunds follow the Texas barber school schedule: 90% of outstanding tuition for a withdrawal in the first week or first one-tenth of the course, 80% after that, 75% after the first three weeks up to 25% of the course, and 50% up to 50% of the course; the school may retain $100, and owes no further refund in the last 50% of the course. A refund owed is paid no later than 30 days after the student becomes eligible for it.
Curriculum
Program breakdown by hours. 25 hours of instruction in theory and 275 hours of instruction in practical work, listed in the table below. Theory is evaluated by written exams given after each unit of study; practical assignments count toward completion only when rated satisfactory or better, according to the performance standards of the state licensing agency.
Required Courses
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Career Outcomes
Career opportunities. Once a student graduates from Mei Barber School and obtains their Class A Barber License or Cosmetology Operator license, they will have several career opportunities, including freelance barber or stylist, beauty and barber supply salesperson, barber shop or salon owner, state inspector, and instructor.
Employment assistance. The school cannot guarantee employment after graduation, but makes every effort to establish contact between graduates and prospective employers. It receives numerous calls from employers wishing to hire its graduates, and those requests are kept on file in the school office for students. Some of the information taught during courses includes professionalism, resume development, interview preparation, and job search skills, whether graduates desire to work as employees or aspire to open their own barber shop.
Barber wages, as the catalog reports them (2022). United States: 618,900 employed, mean hourly wage $16.77, mean annual wage $33,400. Texas: 7,767 employed, mean hourly wage $17.95, mean annual wage $37,327. Texas trend: 8,580 employed in 2022, 10,140 projected for 2030 (a change of 1,922, or 24.7%), with 1,024 average annual openings. Current figures are at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and texaswages.com.
What to expect as a Mei Barber School student
Grading. Academic and practical learning are evaluated after each unit of study, and both are counted toward course completion only when rated as satisfactory or better; a performance that does not meet satisfactory requirements is not counted and must be repeated. Students must maintain a written grade average of 70% and pass a final written and practical exam prior to graduation: 90-100 Excellent, 80-89 Very Good, 70-79 Satisfactory, 69 and below Unsatisfactory.
Satisfactory progress. Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of the hours possible on their attendance schedule. Progress is evaluated at the end of each evaluation period, and a student who falls short is placed on warning, then probation, before being determined not to be making satisfactory progress; a negative determination can be appealed within ten calendar days.
Attendance. Each student must clock in upon arrival and clock out upon leaving school, and no student is allowed to clock in or out for another student. Morning students have a 30-minute lunch break; if a student is working with a client at break time, the work is completed before the break. A student will be dropped after being absent for 10 consecutive days unless they notify the office. Theory is given 3 times per day and class assignments are scheduled daily.
Dress code. Students must be well groomed and dress professionally at all times. The uniform must be worn at all times during school hours, zipped or buttoned, and is purchased at the school; shoes must be clean, polished and closed toed, and beards and mustaches kept clean and neatly trimmed.
Support. Personal and academic advising is available, and each student may meet with the director for an evaluation or discussion of academic progress. Resource materials including study guides, online exams and reviews, and videos are maintained at the campus for student use.
Other Programs at Brownsville
Mei Barber School in Brownsville, TX also offers these 2 programs at 205 E. Elizabeth St., Brownsville, TX 78520.