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In this post, we look at accredited barber schools in Pennsylvania (PA) and the prospects of barbering as an occupation in this state. Those aspiring for a career as a barber in this state will, hopefully find this information useful.
Introduction
The state of Pennsylvania spread over the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States is the 33rd largest state in the country by area. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 12,702,379 making it the sixth most populous state. The most populous cities in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and Erie. In terms of ethnic composition the state was 79.5% White, 10.8% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.7% Asian and 5.7% Hispanic or Latino. Another 1.9% were of mixed ethnicity.
Pennsylvania is ranked 6th in the nation in Gross State Product, making it one of the most prosperous states. Remarkably, Philadelphia is home to fifty Fortune 500 companies. It is a leader in financial services and insurance industry. As of July 2011, the state’s unemployment rate was pegged at 7.4% which was lower than the national average.
A prosperous economy and a multi-ethnic population a fair share of which lives in the cities make Pennsylvania a good market for personal care services. The state has a well-developed beauty industry that caters to a clientele of fine taste that is known to be very exacting in its demands. To give an indication, as per the May 2010 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 23,890 working cosmetologists, hairstylists and barbers in Pennsylvania.
Barber license in Pennsylvania
The State Board of Barber Examiners regulates the practice of barbering in Pennsylvania. The Board is vested with the responsibility of issuing barber licenses in the state. It is also the agency that approved barber schools in the state. The requirements to be met to be issued a barber license are:
1. A minimum education of eighth grade or equivalent.
2. 1,250 hours of training in not less than nine months in one of the accredited barber schools in Pennsylvania or a licensed barber shop.
3. Pass the licensure examination conducted by the Board.
Licensed cosmetologists who have completed at least 555 hours of cosmetology training have the option of appearing for a crossover program of 695 hours of training in a barber school or barber shop. Reciprocity agreements do exist with several states whereby those holding a valid license in any of them are eligible to get a license without appearing for the licensure exam. More information on licensure can be had from:
State Board of Barber Examiners
P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
Phone – (717) 783-3402
Fax – (717) 705-5540
Barber schools in Pennsylvania
It is important for prospective barbers who opt for the training route to get enrolled in an accredited barber school. As of writing this, there are twelve accredited barber schools or trade schools offering barber programs accredited by the State Board of Barber Examiners in Pennsylvania. Given below are the accredited barber schools in Pennsylvania.
Students should check with the State Board as to the currency of a school’s accreditation before committing to joining it. Another quick way to find accredited barber programs in Pennsylvania is to check our database. Wherever your location, you can find all barber schools near you by entering the zip code in the search box on this page. Hundreds of students use this free service to locate their schools and get on the path to rewarding careers.
