Robert, maybe if I explain further you could help. We are trying to get a barber license here in NY and according to the Department of licensing here, one way to get a NY barber license is to go to Binghamton with a person and prove you can shave , shampoo, etc. You then hand in 2 statements from people saying they have seen you cut hair, then you HAND IN YOUR LICENSE FROM OTHER STATE OR COUNTRY. It doesn't make sense for him to go to school here and pay $10,000 to learn how to cut hair when he's already a professional. It doesn't make sense for him to work under a master barber for 2 years when he could open up his own shop tomorrow. So were trying to figure out if he can go back to DR and get some "officail" document saying he's a barber in DR, then come back here and hand it in. Get it? I wonder if a certificate from a local hair product company would work? Im told there are pieces of paper in barber shops in DR with the barbers picture on them. Could these be the local hair product diplomas?
To get a NY barber license in lieu of having the experience and time of work at a barbershop over seas you'll need this:
#1- Pass a special test given in a NY barber school on Hygiene and contagious stuff. The cost of the test is about 35 to 50 Dollars.
#2- To provide proof of having the comparable experience overseas of a barber. You'll need to provide either one of these below:
a) A barber school Diploma from that country of origin.
b) A US consulate notarized declaration from DR (or country of origin) denoting a barbershop owner providing that you were employed at such place for over 3 to 4 years(depending on barber license) with detailing of hours worked during employment.
c) A Dominican Biz certificate and back up taxes paid report on having owned a barber biz for 5 years or more (this part means to be the person requiring the license as proof of experience).
d) Pass a health check up at a local doctor's office and have the provided form filled by such Doc (also need to be notarized in NY).
After providing all that stuff you'll wait for the Barber license (not master barber) via mail once approved.
I know so because I had to bail out a dear friend from fines in NYC when her shop was full of chatty employees with no licenses...
It took some bribes here and there to uncover the "easy" path...
The school I had the entire crew take the hygiene test at was called Atlas Barber School in downtown Manhattan... I believe to be one of the few authorized to give the tests; wbt were simple enough that my 14 yo niece took and passed with flying colors just for the fun of it!
These are the only loopholes to very hard and expensive years at barber school or work under a master barber for several years as an apprentice (needs to pass the city tests regardless this way).