Indiana Barbering Law, Rules and Scope of Practice
Barbering in Indiana is a licensed profession. You may not perform barbering services for compensation unless you hold a current license issued by the state board within the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, and you may not work in a shop that does not itself hold a current shop license. The individual license and the shop license are separate: a licensed barber working in an unlicensed shop is still a violation, and a licensed shop employing an unlicensed worker is also a violation. Licenses must be posted and available for inspection, and shop sanitation rules adopted by the board carry the force of law.
Scope of practice is set by statute and rule, not by your employer or by custom. Barbering covers cutting, trimming and styling hair; shaving and beard and mustache work; shampooing; scalp and facial treatments related to hair; and chemical services such as coloring, permanent waving and relaxing. It does not include diagnosing or treating disease, removing lesions, or services reserved to other licensed professions. When a client presents a medical condition, refer.
Traps to watch: assuming a barber license authorizes every service offered in the shop; assuming an out-of-state license transfers automatically rather than through the board's endorsement or licensure process; assuming shop ownership confers the right to practice; assuming you may practice while a license application is pending. Renewal deadlines, continuing education and inspection requirements come from the board - verify current rules rather than relying on a prep course summary.
Rule of thumb: before any service, answer two questions - is this within Indiana's barbering scope, and are both I and the shop currently licensed for it? If either answer is unclear, do not perform the service.