A barbershop shares its space with a second business. What must separate the two under COMAR 09.16.02.03?COMAR 09.16.02.03G
A client is nicked and bleeds. Under COMAR 09.16.02.04, how is the tissue or cotton that collected the blood disposed of?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(18)
A Maryland barber has an open wound on a finger. What does the barbershop sanitation regulation require?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(10)
A registered disinfectant is used in a way that its labeling does not allow. What does the EPA call that?EPA, Introduction to Pesticide Labels
Besides being kept clean and sanitary, which three things does COMAR 09.16.02.04 ask of the working environment of every shop?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(1)
COMAR 09.16.02.04 names the grade of disinfectant for the instruments of a barbershop. Which is it?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(12)
The EPA registers antimicrobial products. Which kind does it describe as destroying infectious fungi and bacteria on nonliving surfaces, but not necessarily their spores?EPA, What Are Antimicrobial Pesticides? (Disinfectants)
Running potable water, soap, and single-use towels or air-drying machines: what does 29 CFR 1910.1030 call a facility that supplies all of these?29 CFR 1910.1030(b)
Show all 60 questions (52 more)
Safety, sanitation and disinfection, continued
Shears slip from a Maryland barber's hand and land on the floor. When may they be used again?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(24)
The theory outline lists protective coverings. Under Maryland's sanitation regulation, on which clients is a protective neck strip or similar covering used?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(21)
Under COMAR 09.16.02.04, what is done to an instrument that touched a client before it goes into the disinfectant solution of a Maryland barbershop?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(11)
What does COMAR 09.16.02.04 require for hair, cotton or other waste on the floor of a Maryland barbershop?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(6)
Which act is prohibited in a Maryland barbershop even when the client asks for it?COMAR 09.16.02.03D
Which animals may be on the premises of a Maryland barbershop?COMAR 09.16.02.03E
Which of these is on COMAR 09.16.02.01's list of the minimum fixtures of a Maryland barbershop?COMAR 09.16.02.01C
Client consultation and professional conduct 2
COMAR 09.16.02.03 bars barber services on skin with an infection or eruption. Who can authorize an exception?COMAR 09.16.02.03C
Which client may not be given services of any kind in a Maryland barbershop under COMAR 09.16.02.03?COMAR 09.16.02.03A
Hair, scalp and skin anatomy 6
A client has patches of red skin with silvery scales on the scalp. What does MedlinePlus say about psoriasis and other people?MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, Psoriasis
Keratin is the key structural material of which of these?Wikipedia, Keratin
On which two areas do humans have the most sebaceous glands?Wikipedia, Sebaceous gland
The telogen phase is when a hair follicle rests. About how many months does it last?Wikipedia, Human hair growth (Telogen phase)
The transitional phase that lets a hair follicle renew itself goes by which name?Wikipedia, Human hair growth (Catagen phase)
Which large structure sits at the bottom of the hair follicle?Wikipedia, Hair follicle (Structure)
Shampooing, conditioning and scalp care 4
How does COMAR 09.16.02.04 have a Maryland shop care for its shampoo bowls?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(22)
How is a deep conditioner, also called a hair mask, different from an ordinary conditioner?Wikipedia, Hair conditioner (Types)
Shampoos are usually made at about pH 5.5. Why is a slightly acidic pH used?Wikipedia, Shampoo (Composition)
Which of these is a fungicide found in dandruff shampoos?Wikipedia, Shampoo (Dandruff)
Hairstyling 3
By which three means are hair extensions usually attached to natural hair?Wikipedia, Artificial hair integrations
Pressing with a heated metal comb straightens the hair. Which consequence is not uncommon with the traditional tool?Wikipedia, Hot comb (Potential consequences)
Which styling aid gives the hair a shiny, slick look and often needs repeated washes to remove?Wikipedia, Pomade
Haircutting 9
A clipper can leave the hair at different lengths. Which attachments change the length it cuts to?Wikipedia, Regular haircut (Clippers)
A one line haircut is often called a block cut. How is the nape finished?Wikipedia, Regular haircut (Edging)
Barber shears come in a range of sizes. About how long are they, by the usual measure?Wikipedia, Hair-cutting shears
Besides thinning shears, which technique with standard barber's shears shortens, thins and blends the hair on the back and sides?Wikipedia, Regular haircut (Siding)
Edging, siding and one more element make up a regular haircut. What is the third?Wikipedia, Regular haircut (Elements)
How do fade clippers differ from taper clippers?Wikipedia, Regular haircut (Clippers)
In a crew cut, how is the upright hair on top of the head graduated in length?Wikipedia, Crew cut
In layered hair, how are the layers on top, growing closer to the crown, cut?Wikipedia, Layered hair
To a barber, what is edging?Wikipedia, Regular haircut (Elements)
Chemical services 9
As relaxed hair grows out, new untreated hair comes up from the roots. About how often is retreatment needed to keep a consistent appearance?Wikipedia, Relaxer (General usage)
How does lowlighting differ from highlighting?Wikipedia, Hair coloring (Application techniques)
In a cold wave, the hair is wrapped on rods and a reduction lotion with ammonium thioglycolate is applied. What does that chemical do?Wikipedia, Permanent wave (Cold wave)
Thio relaxers use ammonium thioglycolate, the chemical of permanent waving. How does the relaxer differ from the waving lotion?Wikipedia, Relaxer (Thio relaxers)
What is a toner used for in hair coloring?Wikipedia, Hair coloring
What sets an exothermic perm apart from other permanent waves?Wikipedia, Permanent wave (Other modern perms)
Which are the four most common classifications of synthetic hair color?Wikipedia, Hair coloring (Synthetic dyes)
Why do most hair color products recommend a patch test before the product is used?Wikipedia, Hair coloring (Adverse effects)
Why does temporary hair color come out with a single shampoo?Wikipedia, Hair coloring (Temporary color)
Shaving 6
A styptic pencil or lump alum cannot be sanitized and disinfected. What does Maryland's regulation say about such an item?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(15)
Besides making lather and putting it on the face, what does drawing a shaving brush across the skin produce?Wikipedia, Shave brush
For health reasons, some places require barbers to shave with a straight razor that takes a disposable or changeable blade. What is it called?Wikipedia, Straight razor (Shavette)
Under COMAR 09.16.02.04, how is the barber chair's head rest prepared for every new shave?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(16)
Which beard and mustache design is a moustache with a goatee and clean-shaven cheeks?Wikipedia, Van Dyke beard
Which of these is among the causes of razor burn?Wikipedia, Shaving (Razor burn)
Maryland laws and regulations 6
A Maryland candidate skips barber school and trains in a barbershop under a master barber. What does section 4-302 require of that apprenticeship?Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. 4-302(b)
COMAR 09.16.02.04 sets a minimum stock of two tools for every master barber, barber and apprentice. What is it?COMAR 09.16.02.04B(20)
How must a Maryland barber show the license while working?COMAR 09.16.01.01B
Section 4-302 offers two routes to a Maryland barber license. What does the school route require?Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. 4-302(b)
Section 4-302 sets time spent as a licensed barber before a master barber license. How much?Md. Code, Bus. Occ. & Prof. 4-302(d)
Which portions make up the master barber examination under COMAR 09.16.01.07?COMAR 09.16.01.07I
How this list was compiled: Outline: the Barber Theory Examination Content Outline in the Barber, Master Barber and Barber Stylist Candidate Information Bulletin that the Maryland Board of Barbers posts on its Exams page, updated October 29, 2024 (https://www.labor.maryland.gov/license/barbers/bar-ttg.pdf). Facts: Code of Maryland Regulations 09.16.01 and 09.16.02, Board of Barbers, on the State's Library of Maryland Regulations (https://regs.maryland.gov/us/md/exec/comar/09.16); the Maryland Barbers Act, Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 4, on the Maryland General Assembly's site (https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gbo§ion=4-101&enactments=false); the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030, in the eCFR; two EPA pages on antimicrobial products and their labels; one MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia article; and Wikipedia articles on hair, skin, hair care products, haircuts, hair chemistry and shaving. Each question names its regulation, section or page and links to it. Read 2026-10-12. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the regulation, statute and page text. Nothing comes from the examination, a testing vendor, a textbook, a prep course or a question pool.
How it works
This unofficial Maryland State Board barber practice test follows the Barber Theory outline the Board of Barbers posts: sixty of our questions, spread over its nine areas as weighted. It is not affiliated with the Board or PSI Services LLC.
Read the full guide
What the Maryland barber theory exam covers
The bulletin (updated October 29, 2024; opened October 12, 2026) gives 120 minutes and weights nine areas: safety, sanitation and disinfection 25 percent, client consultation 3, anatomy 10, shampooing and scalp care 7, hairstyling 5, haircutting 15, chemical services 15, shaving 10, Maryland laws and regulations 10.
Maryland's own rules in the bank
The laws area lists licensing and sanitation requirements, and the bulletin's references name COMAR Title 9, Subtitle 16 and Title 4 of the Annotated Code. Those texts answer the law questions here and most of the sanitation ones.
Instruments are washed in hot, soapy water, then immersed in an EPA-registered, hospital-grade tuberculocidal disinfectant (COMAR 09.16.02.04).
A styptic pencil, lump alum or neck duster may not be used on more than one client (COMAR 09.16.02.04).
A barber license takes 1,200 school hours or a 2,250-hour apprenticeship; a master barber license takes 15 months as a barber (section 4-302).
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the Maryland barber theory exam?
The bulletin's line for the barber test prints ten non-scored items and leaves the scored count blank; the master barber outline beside it has 100 scored items.
What score do you need to pass the Maryland barber exam?
Seventy percent on the theory test, by the bulletin and COMAR 09.16.01.07. The practical examination is scored on its own and is not practiced here.
Are these the real Maryland State Board barber exam questions?
No. Each was written for this page from Maryland's regulations and statute, OSHA and EPA texts, MedlinePlus and Wikipedia. Nothing comes from the examination or from the textbook the bulletin lists.
What does this Maryland barber practice test leave out?
What no public source states: cutting technique for each hair type, the strokes of a shave, massage movements and color formulation. It also skips points on which Maryland's statute and regulations differ, such as how many apprentices a master barber may train.