largo 727.532.2125 st. petersburg 727.826.0969
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Become a cut above the rest

American Institute of Beauty (AIB) has been training Barber professionals in our community for nearly twenty years. At AIB, you can feel empowered to take your future and career into your own hands. A career as a barber can give you the opportunity to change your life in ways you’ve always dreamed of.

As creatives, we understand that learning doesn’t happen strictly from a textbook. It takes highly skilled educators with a passion for their craft, hands-on training in a professional environment, and experiences with real clients. Feel confident knowing that once you graduate AIB’s Barbering/Hair Design program, you will be trained with the skills and techniques needed for a successful new career in barbering, whether you’re inspired to work at an established barbershop or open one of your own!

The Barbering/Hair Design Program is only offered at our St. Petersburg Campus

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“This is not a facility, nor just a school. It’s a family that I feel honored to belong too. I had no knowledge of clippers or barbering before starting. Everyone from administration to all the instructors made me feel welcome and relevant. I recommend this school in all aspects.” -Edwin O. (Graduate)

What Can I Learn in AIB’s
Barbering/Hair Design Program?

Barbering is much more than quick cuts and shaving. It’s about an experience. In your barbering/hair design education from AIB, you will learn more than the average barber student. We know that in order to prepare for a career as a barber, you’ll need to train in many skills of the trade to enter a very competitive industry. Luckily, the curriculum at AIB isn’t hyper-focused on one area of barbering, which is extremely beneficial for you. Our training includes everything from the fundamentals of clipper cutting, facial grooming, color and texture services, to skincare and even business and marketing classes. Upon completion of our Barbering/Hair Design program, you could have the ability to service any client that comes your way!

The Education

Our goal is to help you prepare to sit for the state board exam. Passing this exam means you are a licensed Barber in the state of Florida. To do this, we break up your educational experience into three phases that each build on each other. You can see more details about what you will learn in each phase in the sidebar above. The first phase teaches you the foundational principles and theory behind hair care and other barber services to prepare you for more advanced techniques. Once you transition into Phase 2 of our Barbering/Hair Design program, you’ll dive deeper into the techniques you learned in Phase 1 with guidance from your educators. This will give you the opportunity to master your skills in our school salon while completing services on actual guests! Phase 3 of our Barbering/Hair Design program covers everything you need to know to take the State Board exam to become licensed along with job placement preparation.

What Does a Future in
Barbering Look Like?

Great question. There’s not one definite answer. What do you love to do? Do you dream of owning a business? What about working with local talent? Here are potential career outcomes after licensure:

start the enrollment process

Have you decided American Institute of Beauty may be the right school for you? Contact our admissions team by giving us a call or filling out the form. From there, we’ll reach out to you to schedule your personal tour, so you can get an inside look of our school and start the enrollment process. We can’t wait to meet you and help you get started on your future in barbering!

Barber School FAQs

When you’re looking to enroll in a barbering/hair design program, there are a few questions you’ll want answered right away. We’re here to address the most commonly asked questions about starting barber school so you can get the info you need to make a decision that changes your life. You want to do this, and we want to help!

1 How Long is the Barbering/Hair Design Program?

The barbering/hair design program in St. Petersburg is 1200 clock hours. During those hours you can learn both the hands-on and theoretical elements of the trade that can make you a well-educated professional.

2 How Long Will It Take to Complete the Program?

Dedicated full-time students can complete the program in as little as nine months*. That means you could be on your way toward a career in less than a year!

*Based on a full-time schedule.

3 What Schedules Are the Programs Offered In?

You can take our barbering/hair design program in one of three different options: full-time day, part-time day, and part-time evening.

If you have time to dedicate to your education as a full-time commitment, we offer a full-time program.

If you need to work during the day or have other obligations, we have a part-time night program.

If you need to work school into your schedule in another way, we have a part-time day program, too. We believe that your education should fit seamlessly into your life.

4 what locations provide the Barbering/Hair Design course?

The Barbering/Hair Design program is only offered at our St. Petersburg campus location.

5 how do you transfer to AIB?

For questions on transferring to American Institute of Beauty from your current barber school institution, please contact our Admissions team!

St. Pete Campus: 727-826-0969

6 when do classes start?

Class start dates vary by program. Due to the popularity of our programs, early enrollment is suggested to ensure seat availability!

What Are My Options for Funding My Education?

1 Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Both campus locations in Largo and St. Petersburg offer financial aid.  Your future is worth funding. Don’t be afraid to learn more about what options are available for investing in a career you love.

2 Veterans’ Training

American Institute of Beauty is approved for veterans’ training by the Veterans Administration. We accept many different types of VA benefits, including your POST-9/11 GI Bill®, at our campuses. You’ve dedicated your life to making the lives of others better, and you can continue that lifestyle with a career in beauty! Contact us to learn more about using veterans benefits at AIB.

Dependents and spouses of veterans may also be eligible. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

3 Florida Prepaid

Florida Prepaid is a great way to fund your education, and it’s not limited to traditional colleges. If your parents have put money away for you to invest in yourself, you can use it to help fund your beauty education at AIB! www.myfloridaprepaid.com/

4 Scholarships

External Scholarships

AIB provides access to many different external scholarships to students who have enrolled in our barbering program. Each external scholarship has its own requirements and availability throughout the year. The criteria for each external scholarship is unique. For more information visit: Beauty Changes Lives | Scholarships

Testimonials

See what students and graduates have to say about their experiences in our Barbering/Hair Design program!


I tried community college and it just didn’t work out for me because there was no hands-on. I sat behind a desk and listened to a lecture and that just wasn’t for me. AIB offered me a hands-on education along with the opportunity to use my VA benefits, which has helped me progress towards the future I want.~Dustin W. (Graduate)

My school forever. Graduated 2012. AIB believed in me, the educators believed in me. The investment they put into me is why I’m successful today. You get what you put into it. I put in 102% and now I’m a well respected barber in our community. AIB UP.~Tony S. (Graduate)

I went to community college for A/C because it was a quick program and I regret it to this day. It was something that I wasn’t into, something that didn’t interest me. But being in the barber program completely changed my life. Being a barber is fun, entertaining, I enjoy it a lot, and I see myself doing it for the rest of

my life. ~Vincent W. (Graduate)

The Extras at AIB

We like to go above and beyond in providing for our students. That’s why we offer a few extras at AIB!

1 Career Days

Twice a year, AIB hosts industry-leading employers in our communities from all aspects of the beauty industry to come in and connect with our students on career days. You can meet potential employers, do mock interviews, and you might even land a job before you graduate!

2 Career Assistance

We offer lifetime career placement assistance. You can come back any time after you graduate and we’ll help you find opportunities. We can also help you mock interview and fine-tune your resume.

3 Guest Speakers and Industry Leaders

We bring in guest speakers to talk about expectations, desired skills, and share their experience in the beauty industry. We also bring in industry leaders to demonstrate what is trending and hot in the beauty industry. You can have the chance to meet and interact with beauty industry professionals!

Enroll at AIB!

Ready to get started on a career you love? Contact us to learn more about enrolling in one of our year-round programs! Your future can’t wait.

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Largo Campus
3665 East Bay Drive, Suite 164
Largo, Florida 33771
727.532.2125

Campus Hours
Monday-Friday: 9:00 am-9:00 pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
*Appointments Recommended*

St. Petersburg Campus
2800 34th St. North
St. Petersburg, Florida 33713
727.826.0969

Campus Hours
Monday-Friday: 9:00 am-9:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
*Appointments Recommended*