Curtis-Barrett turned professional in 2016 after finishing second on the Q-School Order of Merit. He won three matches in his opening season; defeating James Cahill 5–3 in Shanghai Masters qualifying before being eliminated by Jamie Jones; Matthew Selt 4–2 at the Northern Ireland Open before losing in the second round to David Gilbert; and a single frame encounter with Sam Baird in the Snooker Shoot-Out, where he was knocked out in the second round by eventual winner Anthony McGill. His season ended on a low note when he was whitewashed 10-0 by Jamie Jones in the first round of qualifying for the World Championship.