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4700 Western Ave, Knoxville, TN (opens in a new tab) admissions@themasteracademyofbarbering.comEmail Master Academy of Barbering
The Master Academy of Barbering
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Barber student working at a styling station

Programs & schedules

The Master Barber Program

A 1,500-hour, hands-on program that prepares you for the Tennessee master barber license, on a schedule built around your life.

Master Barber Course

What You'll Learn

Classroom theory plus real clients in our student barbershop, so you graduate with the skills, speed and confidence of a working barber.

  • Cutting & fading: clipper and shear work, fades, tapers, line-ups and designs
  • Shaving & beard care: straight-razor shaves, head shaves and beard trims
  • All hair textures: women's cuts, silk press, natural styles, dreads and braiding
  • Chemical services: color, lightening, perms and relaxers
  • Skin & scalp: facials, scalp treatments and waxing
  • State Board prep: sanitation, safety and exam review for the Tennessee license
  • Business skills: client relationships and the financial responsibility to build your career
Barber instructor using clippers on a client's neckline

Class schedules

Choose Your Schedule

Daytime Full-Time

Fastest standard track

9:00am – 4:30pm
Tuesday – Friday

9:00am – 2:00pm, first & third Saturday

Est. completion: 12 months
  • Students may stay until 5:30pm without permission to make up time or earn extra hours.
  • 10-hour days (9:00am–7:30pm with lunch) can be requested when space allows, so you graduate early. Current record: 9 months.
  • Sign up for every Saturday when space is available.

Daytime Part-Time

Shorter days

9:00am – 2:30pm
Tuesday – Friday

9:00am – 2:30pm, first & third Saturday

Est. completion: 17 months
  • Students may stay until 5:30pm without permission to make up time or earn extra hours.
  • 10-hour days (9:00am–7:30pm with lunch) can be requested when space allows, so you graduate early. Current record: 9 months.
  • Sign up for every Saturday when space is available.

Evening

Keep your day job

5:30pm – 9:00pm
Tuesday – Friday

9:00am – 2:00pm, second & fourth Saturday

Est. completion: 21 months
  • Students may come in at 2:30pm without permission to make up time or earn extra hours.
  • 10-hour days (10:30am–9:00pm with lunch) can be requested when space allows, so you graduate early. Current record: 9 months.
  • Sign up for every Saturday when space is available.

Interested in barbering?

See Your Potential Earnings

Barbering is a skilled trade with real earning power. These are official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for barbers, and they include tips.

Top 10% of barbersMore than $36.76 an hour$76,460+per year
Median barber$18.37 an hour, half of barbers earn more$38,210per year
Entry level (bottom 10%)Less than $13.75 an hour$28,600per year
7%
Projected job growth 2025–2035, “much faster than average”
80,300
Average openings a year for barbers, hairstylists & cosmetologists

Yearly figures are hourly wages × 2,080 hours (full-time). BLS wage data covers employed barbers and does not include self-employed shop owners or booth renters, who set their own prices.

Calculate Your Earnings Potential

Once you're licensed, your income depends on your prices, your clientele and your hustle. Slide to explore.

Estimated weekly: estimated gross per year (50 weeks)

Illustration only, not a promise of income. Gross service revenue before booth rent, commission splits, supplies and taxes.

Sources
  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Barbers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists, Pay (opens in a new tab) (median hourly wage for barbers, May 2025; tips included).
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Job Outlook (opens in a new tab) (projected growth and openings, 2025–35).
Instructor demonstrating a haircut

Already a cosmetologist?

Cosmo Cross Over

Licensed cosmetologists can cross over into barbering and add clipper work, fades and straight-razor shaving to their skill set.

$5,100 total ($4,250 tuition + $850 kit). Scholarship available. Call (865) 315-7473 ext. 2 for details.

Tuition & Enrollment

Included with tuition

Your Professional Barber Kit

Every Master Barber student receives a complete professional kit ($1,250), yours to keep for your career.

  • Soft n' Style Mirror
  • Soft n' Style Tint Bowl (2)
  • 10 oz Spray Bottles (3)
  • Soft n' Style Butterfly Clip 3" (2)
  • Soft n' Style Super Grip Clip (3)
  • Soft n' Style Metal Tail Tint Brush (2)
  • Hot Tools 1" Curling Iron
  • Hot Tools Blow Dryer
  • Gold Magic Bone Comb Roll-up
  • Gold Magic 6½" Shear (2)
  • Gold Magic 6½" Thinner (2)
  • Aristocrat Afro Lift
  • Aristocrat 8½" White Clipper Comb
  • Aristocrat Narrow Ruled Comb (2)
  • Salon Chic 8" Clipper Carbon Comb
  • Salon Chic Haircutting Cape
  • Salon Chic Bleach-Proof Cape
  • Ceramic Brush Set in Carry Bag
  • Scalpmaster Round Neck Brush, 7 Rows
  • Scalpmaster Boar Brush
  • Scalpmaster Stand-Up Neck Duster
  • Scalpmaster Clipper Cleaning Brush
  • Scalpmaster Straight Razor
  • Satin Edge 6-pc Mani Set with Zipper Case
  • Diamond Edge Hair Shaper
  • KMillet Shears
  • Clipper/Trimmer Bag
  • Textured Manikin (2)
  • Blonde Mannequin (2)
  • Mannequin Holder
  • Clubman Talc 9 oz
  • Nick Safe Powder
  • Neck Strip Dispenser
  • Cordless Magic Clips
  • Cordless Wahl Detailer II
  • StyleCraft Clipper and Edger
  • Wahl Clipper Oil
  • Barber Backpack
  • Uppercut New Student Kit
  • Barber Textbook and Exam Review
Nail art being painted with a fine liner brush

The other career path

Explore Nail Artistry

Express creativity. Empower others. The Academy of Nail Artistry offers a 600-hour Manicure Program with day and evening classes on the same Western Ave campus.

Visit TANA

Pick Your Schedule Today

Call admissions to reserve your spot in the next daytime or evening class.

(865) 315-7473
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