Cosmetologist License Reciprocity by State
- States researched
- 51
- Offer endorsement
- 50
- Interstate compacts
- 0
Already hold a Cosmetologist license and moving your license to another state? Most states offer an endorsement (sometimes called "reciprocity") route that lets you transfer an active out-of-state license without repeating training from scratch, though you may still need to pass a state-specific exam, submit fingerprints, or pay a transfer fee. A handful of occupations also participate in interstate compacts, which let a single license cover practice in every member state. The table below covers every state we've researched for Cosmetologist.
| State | Endorsement available | Compacts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | — | Alabama accepts out-of-state license transfers via reciprocity: the applicant requests a certification of licensure from their current state, then submits Alabama's reciprocity application ($100 non-refundable fee, plus a $75 written exam fee and/or $130 practical exam fee if the Board determines the applicant's home-state training/testing/tenure doesn't fully meet Alabama's requirements). Out-of-state certification requests cost $25 per state. Separately, Alabama enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (per cosmetologycompact.gov's enactment announcements), but the Compact Commission has not yet begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research (targeted late 2026/early 2027), so it is not listed under compacts. |
| Alaska | Yes | — | Alaska calls this 'licensure by waiver of examination': available if the applicant holds a current, active license in at least one other state with requirements equal to or greater than Alaska's, verifies at least 1,650 training hours (school) or 2,000 hours (apprenticeship, work experience countable), and provides proof of having passed a theory written exam and a proficiency/practical exam. License verification and transcripts must come directly from the issuing state board/school. Alaska is not a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact — its licensing categories (hairdresser/esthetician/barber split) don't map onto the compact's single 'cosmetologist' license definition, and no enactment by Alaska was found on cosmetologycompact.gov. |
| Arizona | Yes | — | Arizona offers a 'Reciprocity & Universal Recognition' personal license pathway for $60 (aesthetics/cosmetology/nail tech). Arizona also has a distinct SCRA-based Military Reciprocity pathway for servicemembers/spouses relocating on military orders who held an active out-of-state license for the 2 years before the move. Separately, Arizona enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (2nd state to do so, per cosmetologycompact.gov's enactment announcements), but the Compact Commission has not begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research (targeted late 2026/early 2027), so it is not listed under compacts. |
| Arkansas | Yes | — | Arkansas offers two out-of-state pathways: (1) 'Automatic Occupational Licensure' under Act 457 of 2023 (Rule 113) for applicants in good standing at least 1 year in another state (or 3 years' work experience in a non-licensing state), no disqualifying criminal offense, no pending complaint, and passage of an Arkansas state-law exam (which the Department may waive); and (2) a standard Reciprocity pathway ($50 one-time fee) for licensees transferring hours/credentials from another state, with a written and practical exam required if the applicant does not hold a current license elsewhere. A separate Automatic Military Licensure pathway exists under Act 137 of 2023 / Act 135 of 2021. No interstate compact applies — Arkansas was not found on cosmetologycompact.gov's list of enacted states. |
| California | Yes | — | California offers reciprocity for applicants holding a current license from another state that is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted and is in good standing; the applicant's state board must send certification of licensure directly to the California Board, and the written exam can be waived. A separate expedited-processing pathway exists for honorably discharged veterans, military spouses/domestic partners, active-duty DoD SkillBridge participants, and refugees/asylees/Special Immigrant Visa holders. California was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed. |
| Colorado | Yes | — | Colorado offers 'Licensure by Endorsement' (4 CCR 731-1, Chapter 4, under §12-8-118 C.R.S.) for applicants with a current, unrestricted, good-standing license from another state/territory/country: they must show graduation from an approved school, training hours equal to or greater than Colorado's Chapter 2 requirements, passage of a written exam administered/accepted by the other jurisdiction, and either passage of a practical exam accepted by that jurisdiction OR at least 1,000 hours of work experience in the license type within the 2 years before applying. If requirements aren't fully met, the applicant may need to take all or part of Colorado's written and practical exams. Colorado enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact — the 7th state to do so, triggering formation of the Compact Commission (per cosmetologycompact.gov's enactment announcements) — but the Commission has not yet begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research (targeted late 2026/early 2027), so it is not listed under compacts. |
| Connecticut | Yes | — | Connecticut licenses by reciprocity applicants who hold a current hairdresser license from another state, D.C., or U.S. territory issued on the basis of completed education/training plus an examination, for the same $100 application fee, with license verification sent directly from the issuing state. An alternative pathway exists for applicants whose original license required no exam: they must show at least 5 years of practice via license verification plus corroborating documentation (employer/coworker/client correspondence, tax returns listing cosmetology as an occupation). No license is issued if the applicant has pending professional disciplinary action. Connecticut was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed. |
| Delaware | Yes | — | Delaware offers a Reciprocity Application pathway for the same $128 fee as the standard examination application; the Board's FAQ notes that training hours completed in other U.S. states or territories can be applied toward Delaware's requirement. Delaware was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed. |
| District of Columbia | Yes | — | Out-of-state licensed cosmetologists may apply for DC licensure by endorsement with the exam requirement waived, by submitting a copy of their current out-of-state license and a Letter of Certification sent directly from the originating state board to the DC Board. This mirrors D.C. Code §47-2853.12's general waiver provision for applicants licensed in other states with comparable standards. DC was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed. |
| Florida | Yes | — | Florida offers Licensure by Endorsement ($95 fee, DBPR COSMO 4-B) for applicants who currently hold an active cosmetology license in another U.S. state and submit a board-approved Initial HIV/AIDS course completion certificate; out-of-country applicants are not eligible for endorsement, and endorsement is not available based on an apprenticeship-only license. Endorsement applicants must not practice in Florida until their Florida license is actually issued. Florida was not found among the enacted states listed on cosmetologycompact.gov, so no interstate compact is listed. |
| Georgia | Yes | — | Georgia does not have formal reciprocity agreements with other states, but a licensee who is actively licensed and in good standing in another state or U.S. territory may apply for licensure by Endorsement without acquiring additional training hours, and without retaking exams if proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English is provided (Endorsement application fee $75). The Cosmetology Licensure Compact (cosmetologycompact.gov) is a newly forming interstate compact -- as of this research Georgia is not listed among its enacted member states, and the compact commission has not yet activated interstate license portability, so no compact is recorded here. sos.ga.gov blocks direct automated fetches (Cloudflare); content verified via archive.org snapshot 2025-11-10. |
| Hawaii | Yes | — | The Board's own FAQ states there is no blanket reciprocal arrangement: "licensees from other states or jurisdictions must qualify and apply for a Hawaii beauty operator licensure." However, out-of-state applicants are not starting from zero — verified out-of-state beauty-school or apprenticeship training hours are credited if substantially equivalent to Hawaii's requirements (HAR §16-78-19, §16-78-20), one year of licensed beauty-operator experience in another jurisdiction can satisfy Hawaii's general-education requirement, and an applicant who has already passed the NIC (National Interstate Council) Cosmetology Theory Examination in another jurisdiction can waive Hawaii's own PSI examination entirely and proceed directly to paying the license fee (see fees). No interstate cosmetology compact is referenced anywhere on the Board's site; a Cosmetology Licensure Compact exists at a national level but Hawaii's membership/enactment was not found on any official compact-commission source, so it is omitted here. |
| Idaho | Yes | — | Idaho Code Sec. 54-5816 allows licensure by endorsement, without examination, to an out-of-state licensee who meets Idaho's age/education/conduct requirements (Sec. 54-5810(1)(a),(b),(d)) and either (a) holds a license from a jurisdiction with standards not lower than Idaho's, or (b) has practiced the occupation at least 1 of the last 3 years; the endorsement license fee is $90 (effective 7-1-2026). Separately, out-of-state trained applicants who don't qualify for endorsement can credit practical work experience toward Idaho's hour requirement (IDAPA 24.28.01.100.02.e: 200 hours as a student or 400 hours as an apprentice per 6 months of cosmetology experience). Idaho is NOT a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact: as of this research, the compact commission's own Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map) lists only Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as having enacted or active legislation; Idaho does not appear on that list at all, so compacts is left empty per the source rules. |
| Illinois | Yes | — | Illinois offers 'Licensure by Endorsement' ($45 fee) for cosmetologists currently registered/licensed and practicing in another U.S. jurisdiction under a license that is the same or substantially similar to Illinois's, verified via official certification of licensure sent directly to IDFPR by the original and (if different) current licensing state/board. IDFPR's own qualifications document states plainly that 'Illinois does not reciprocate licenses of another state, other jurisdiction of the United States, or foreign jurisdiction' — endorsement is a case-by-case substantial-equivalency review, not automatic reciprocity, and applicants who can't satisfy all requirements may be required to submit additional information, take coursework, and/or pass the exam. A separate Foreign Endorsement Method exists for applicants licensed outside the U.S. (requires 3+ years of practice within the preceding 5 years). Illinois was not found on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's list of enacted member states at cosmetologycompact.gov as of this research; the compact remains in an early, state-by-state enactment phase nationally. |
| Indiana | Yes | — | Indiana offers ordinary licensure by reciprocity/endorsement: an applicant must hold a valid license from a jurisdiction that imposes substantially equal requirements, or the board may approve a combination of education hours plus actual licensed practice from a jurisdiction whose requirements are not substantially equal. Separately, Indiana enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact via House Bill 1133 (2025) — the official Compact Commission's compact map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) lists Indiana's status as 'Enacted.' However, per the Commission's own FAQ, the compact is not yet operational: activation begins only after 7 states enact it (that threshold has been met) and the activation/rulemaking process takes 18-24 months, with no operational start date announced as of this research. Because the compact is enacted but not yet operational, it is not listed in compacts[] per this project's sourcing rules. |
| Iowa | Yes | — | Iowa does not offer automatic reciprocity but allows licensure by endorsement: applicants licensed in another state, district, or territory must submit official verification of that licensure (license number, issue/expiration dates, status, and any disciplinary history) to DIAL. Iowa is NOT a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact — as of this research date the Compact Commission's own materials list Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Colorado, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Kansas, Washington, and Virginia as enacted member states; Iowa has not enacted compact legislation, so compacts is left empty per the source rules rather than speculatively including it. |
| Kansas | Yes | — | Kansas offers two separate out-of-state pathways: (1) General out-of-state licensure under K.S.A. 65-1904b — an applicant with 1,500 hours and an active out-of-state cosmetology license takes a 20-question open-book exam instead of the full Board exams; applicants with an active license but fewer hours, or no/expired license, must take the full Board exams. (2) A narrower 'reciprocity' pathway under K.S.A. 48-3406, limited to military members/spouses or applicants establishing Kansas residency, requiring a valid out-of-state license/certification plus 1-3 years of work experience depending on whether the profession is regulated where they practiced; this pathway costs $75. Separately, Kansas enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact via HB 2069 (2025) — confirmed 'Enacted' on the compact commission's official state map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) — but the Compact Commission is still in a pre-operational/rulemaking phase and is not yet issuing multistate licenses as of this research, so it is not listed under compacts. |
| Kentucky | Yes | — | Kentucky grants licensure by endorsement to out-of-state Cosmetologists who hold current credentials from another state (1,500 hours + 12th grade equivalence minimums apply; certification must come directly from the transferring state's agency, not the applicant), for a $100 endorsement fee. Kentucky HAS enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (confirmed on the compact commission's own site, cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-commission/delegates: Kentucky delegate Joni Upchurch appointed October 8, 2024) and is one of 12 enacted member states as of June 2026, but the compact is NOT YET operational — the commission's own FAQ states multistate licenses are not yet being issued and that activation (after the 7th state enacted in mid-2024) 'typically takes 18-24 months.' Per research instructions, compacts[] is left empty until the compact is confirmed operational rather than merely enacted. |
| Louisiana | Yes | — | Louisiana grants licensure by reciprocity to anyone holding an active cosmetologist, esthetician, manicurist, or instructor license from another U.S. state or territory (or from a foreign country, with board approval), upon a completed reciprocity application, required fees, and evidence of passing the required exams; if the applicant has not already passed a qualifying exam, Louisiana's own national and/or practical examination must be passed instead (LAC 46:XXXI.509). Louisiana has not been confirmed as a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact: public compact-tracking sources as of mid-2026 list roughly 10 enacting states (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington) and Louisiana is not among them, but the compact's own official member map (cosmetologycompact.gov) is JS-rendered and could not be verified by automated fetch, so compacts is left empty rather than asserted either way. |
| Maine | Yes | — | Maine allows licensure by endorsement for applicants who hold a valid cosmetology (or related) license from another U.S. jurisdiction, via a $41 non-refundable application fee plus an original verification of licensure from the issuing state/jurisdiction (no new Maine exam is required for an applicant with a valid license in good standing). An applicant who does not currently hold a valid license may still apply by endorsement under 32 M.R.S. §14231, but if their completed course hours fall short of Maine's requirement they must substitute verifiable licensed practice work experience (documented via W-2 or similar records from the prior 4 years) to make up the difference, per Chapter 21 §4(2) of the Program's rules. No cosmetology interstate compact currently covers Maine: the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is a newly-activating multistate compact, but Maine was not listed among the compact's enacted member states (Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, as of this research) on the compact commission's own site, so compacts is left empty. |
| Maryland | Yes | — | Maryland offers Licensure by Endorsement for applicants holding a current, active, good-standing license from another U.S. state/territory obtained under standards the Board considers equal to or greater than Maryland's. The issuing state's licensing authority must send official license verification (including program clock hours and exam history) directly to the Board; applicant-submitted documents are not accepted. A one-time 1-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training (Maryland Board-approved provider) is also required for endorsement applicants, effective January 1, 2026. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Maryland has enacted Cosmetology Licensure Compact legislation (SB 27 / HB 383, 2024 session) and is shown as 'Enacted' on the commission's compact map. However, the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — the commission's own site states no state is currently issuing multistate licenses under it, so compacts is left empty here per the contract's operational-membership standard; Maryland's enacted-but-not-operational status is recorded here instead. |
| Massachusetts | Yes | — | Massachusetts allows transfer of an out-of-state or out-of-country cosmetology/aesthetics/manicuring license via reciprocity. No exam is required ($204 fee) if the applicant holds a current license in good standing, obtained by exam, from a state with substantially equivalent training hours and equivalent license scope, and has never had a license suspended/revoked. Otherwise an exam is required ($136 fee). Required documents include a license verification sent directly from the issuing state, a sealed official school transcript, and a notarized CORI form. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Massachusetts has pending/introduced Cosmetology Licensure Compact legislation (SD 2627, 2025 session) but has not enacted it, and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-07 (mass.gov 403s automated fetches). |
| Michigan | Yes | — | Michigan offers licensure by reciprocity for applicants who hold or have held a cosmetologist license in another U.S. state. The issuing state must send verification of licensure directly to LARA (bpldata@michigan.gov). If the applicant is not actively licensed elsewhere, or the other state's requirements are not substantially equal to Michigan's, the practical and/or theory exam is still required. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Michigan does not appear on the compact's enactment map (no active or enacted legislation), and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-05-31 (michigan.gov 403s automated fetches). |
| Minnesota | Yes | — | Minnesota offers a Domestic License Transfer pathway: applicants complete the Domestic License Transfer Application and have each state in which they've held a license send a Certification of Licensure directly to the Board, plus submit passing results from required exams. A separate Foreign License Transfer pathway exists for applicants trained/licensed outside the U.S., involving credential verification through AEQUO International, a Minnesota school's evaluation of training equivalency, a Practical Skills Test, and all three written PSI tests. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Minnesota does not appear on the compact's enactment map at all (no active or enacted legislation tracked), and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. Verified via archive snapshot 2024-05-07 (mn.gov blocks automated fetches with a bot-manager captcha). |
| Mississippi | Yes | — | Board Rule 5.8: a holder of a practitioner license from another state with the same educational requirements as Mississippi may apply for reciprocity (Application for Practitioner Reciprocity, $55 fee), submitting license verification and proof of good standing sent from the issuing state/territory's board. Reciprocity applicants must still successfully pass the Chapter 6 examinations (written, practical, and Mississippi Law and Sanitation) — reciprocity is not exam-exempt in Mississippi. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Mississippi does not appear on the compact's enactment map at all (no active or enacted legislation tracked), and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. |
| Missouri | Yes | — | RSMo §329.130: the Board shall grant a license to practice cosmetology without examination to any applicant holding a current license from another state/territory/D.C. whose licensing requirements are similar to Missouri's, or who has practiced cosmetology for at least 2 consecutive years in another state/territory/D.C. The reciprocity fee is $100. A licensee currently under disciplinary action in another state is not eligible for reciprocity. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Missouri does not appear on the compact's enactment map at all (no active or enacted legislation tracked), and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. |
| Montana | No | — | The board's own General FAQ states directly: 'You cannot transfer a license nor does Montana have reciprocity agreements with any other states. If you are interested in applying for a Montana license you will need to apply and pay the associated application fee,' with the application handled under the state's 'out-of-state' licensing rule. Effective October 1, 2025 (HB 246), an out-of-state applicant whose prior state's requirements are not substantially equivalent to Montana's may attest to 3,000 hours of work experience in lieu of formal education — but this is a hours-credit substitute within the standard application process (full fee, full exam), not a true endorsement/reciprocity waiver, so endorsementAvailable is set to false. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Montana appears on the compact's map with an introduced bill (SB 515) but is not marked as having enacted the legislation, and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. |
| Nebraska | Yes | — | Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1066: DHHS may grant a license based on licensure in another jurisdiction to an applicant who is at least 17, has a U.S.-equivalent high school education, is currently licensed as a cosmetologist (or equivalent) in another jurisdiction with no discipline/revocation history, was licensed there on the basis of an exam (or must take the Nebraska/NIC exam if no exam was required), and meets the 1,800-hour requirement through a combination of school/apprentice hours and work-experience hour-equivalents (100 hours per month of full-time practice in the prior 5 years). The reciprocity application fee is prorated $25-$95 by application month. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Nebraska appears on the compact's map with introduced bills (LB82 2025, LB561 2023) but is not marked as having enacted the legislation, and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-10-31 (dhhs.ne.gov was unreachable via direct fetch). |
| Nevada | Yes | — | Nevada offers license transfer (reciprocity) under NRS 644A.640: an applicant with an active, good-standing license from another state must pass a 25-question Nevada State Law Test (minimum 75%); additional exams may be required depending on license type. The reciprocity fee is $325 (includes the test fee). For applicants from a list of ~30 states the Board names explicitly (including Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, and New Hampshire among this research's states, but NOT Maryland, Massachusetts, or Mississippi), Nevada verifies licensing information online after application submission; applicants from other states/territories must have their state board send a License Certification directly to Nevada. Nevada does not recognize certain out-of-state credentials (e.g., Florida Full Specialist, Alaska Manicurist, specific California schools). Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), Nevada appears on the compact's map with an introduced bill (AB 371) but is not marked as having enacted the legislation, and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. |
| New Hampshire | Yes | — | Under HB 594 (signed June 28, 2023, effective August 27, 2023), OPLC 'shall issue licenses to professionals who present evidence of an active license in good standing from another jurisdiction... provided that the jurisdiction's licensing requirements are substantially similar to New Hampshire's license requirements' — applicants qualifying under this universal-recognition reciprocity no longer need to submit transcripts, exam results, experience evidence, or reference letters. Per the official Cosmetology Compact Commission site (cosmetologycompact.gov, checked 2026-07-10), New Hampshire does not appear on the compact's enactment map at all (no active or enacted legislation tracked), and the compact itself is not yet operational anywhere — no state is issuing multistate licenses under it as of this research. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-05-24 (oplc.nh.gov 403s automated fetches; the reciprocity page was read via its Wayback Machine capture). |
| New Jersey | Yes | — | New Jersey does not waive its exam for out-of-state or out-of-country cosmetologist-hairstylists. The Board's own FAQ states an out-of-state license holder 'cannot' practice on that license alone and must submit an out-of-state application, required documentation, and pass the Board's examination; the licensing-requirements page separately describes this pathway as 'licensure by endorsement.' New Jersey has introduced but not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (shown as 'Pending' rather than 'Enacted' on the compact commission's own state map as of this research), so it is not currently a Compact member. |
| New Mexico | Yes | — | New Mexico offers expedited licensure by endorsement (16.34.6 NMAC) to applicants holding a current license in good standing from an 'eligible jurisdiction' and with no disqualifying conviction. However, 16.34.6.8(B) NMAC explicitly disapproves expedited cosmetologist licensure for applicants from California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Puerto Rico (education/training requirements deemed inconsistent with New Mexico's); those applicants must go through standard (non-expedited) reciprocity, which still requires board review. A $150 reciprocity fee applies to standard license transfers. New Mexico is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact map, so it is not a Compact participant. |
| New York | Yes | — | An applicant holding a Cosmetology license in another jurisdiction may obtain a New York license through endorsement or reciprocity, per DOS's own Cosmetology Reciprocity and Endorsement States pages; the applicant submits an original certification (dated within 6 months) from the jurisdiction where they hold an equivalent license, and DOS's endorsement policy can require additional experience where the other state's educational standards are lower. Where reciprocity/endorsement applies without a new exam, the $40 application fee is the only fee required. New York has introduced (not enacted) Cosmetology Licensure Compact legislation (shown as 'Pending' rather than 'Enacted' on the compact commission's own state map as of this research), so it is not currently a Compact member. |
| North Carolina | Yes | — | The Board's FAQ states that out-of-state cosmetology license holders 'will not have to take an exam' under standard reciprocity. However, the Board's own license application flags an additional requirement specifically for applicants currently licensed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, D.C., Florida (cosmetology), Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, or West Virginia — i.e. applicants coming from New York, Oklahoma, or Pennsylvania face this extra requirement (details on the Board's reciprocity page). North Carolina is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant. |
| North Dakota | Yes | — | N.D.C.C. 43-11-25 (Licensure by endorsement) allows the Board to issue a license without examination to an out-of-state applicant who is licensed by another jurisdiction with substantially similar or equivalent licensure standards, has maintained good standing for at least one year, has not had a license revoked/surrendered under investigation, and has no unresolved discipline. Applicants who don't meet the 'without examination' path may still qualify via endorsement by proving completed curriculum hours or substantially equal work experience (1,000 hours of work experience = 100 curriculum hours, capped at 500 hours if within the prior 3 years). The Board's fee schedule lists a $105 reciprocity fee. North Dakota is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant. |
| Ohio | Yes | — | The Board's fee schedule lists a $70 reciprocity fee for out-of-state license holders, confirming a reciprocity pathway exists. Ohio has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact into law (SB 89 and HB 158, both 2024 — shown as 'Enacted' on the compact commission's own official state map), but as of this research the Compact Commission has not yet finished rulemaking or begun issuing multistate licenses, so Ohio's compact membership is enacted but not yet operational. Per this research contract's rule, this is recorded here in notes rather than in the compacts[] array, which is reserved for jurisdictions where the compact is confirmed operational for licensees. |
| Oklahoma | Yes | — | Rule 175:10-13-1 allows reciprocal licensure for an applicant who met the same licensure requirements in another state, holds a current out-of-state license verified by certification, AND passes Oklahoma's state rules/regulations/law test administered by the Board (a full occupational exam is not required, but the state-law test is). A personal interview at the Board's office is required. Reciprocity fee is $90 for a 2-year license, plus a separate $90 transfer-of-hours processing fee. Oklahoma is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant. Note: the Board itself has been under legislative review — Governor Stitt vetoed a 2025 bill (HB 1030) that would have extended the Board's statutory sunset to 2028, and SB 676 instead granted only a one-year extension with a 'wind down' period starting 7/1/2025; however, the Board's official website confirms it was operating normally as of July 2, 2026 (board meetings scheduled through November 2026, active licensing portal), so this record treats the Board as the current, functioning licensing authority. |
| Oregon | Yes | — | Under Pathway 2 (Reciprocity) in the HLO's application packet, an applicant with an active, non-disciplined license from another U.S. state, territory, or another country may have all or part of the Oregon-school requirement waived and be permitted to sit for the written exams (field-of-practice exam + Oregon Laws and Rules exam) directly, via an Affidavit of Licensure (AOL) confirming the out-of-state license is current and in good standing. Being licensed elsewhere does not guarantee Oregon certification is granted. Reciprocity fees are higher than the standard pathway: $100 application + $65 certification per field of practice (vs. $30 + $35 for the standard Oregon-school pathway). Oregon is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | — | Per the Board's own Cosmetology Licensure Guide, a licensed cosmetologist from another state may qualify for reciprocity ($89 fee) only if currently licensed in a state with which Pennsylvania has a reciprocity understanding AND has at least 2+ years of licensed work experience. The Guide explicitly states Pennsylvania does NOT have reciprocal agreements with Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, or Utah — meaning cosmetologists licensed only in New Jersey, New Mexico, or Rhode Island cannot use Pennsylvania's reciprocity pathway and must instead meet Pennsylvania's standard licensure requirements. Pennsylvania is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant. |
| Rhode Island | Yes | — | Section 8.1 of R5-10-HAIR grants a license by verification (endorsement) to anyone licensed in another state with equivalent requirements, upon the Department's acceptance of their credentials, verified directly by the other state's licensing board. The Department's current fee schedule lists a $25 'Application by Verification (Endorsement)' fee, and offers a dedicated 'Cosmetologist Interstate Verification Form' for this process. Rhode Island is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state map, so it is not a Compact participant. |
| South Carolina | Yes | — | South Carolina is not shown as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10, so no compact is listed. Endorsement licensure is available under Reg. 35-13 to a cosmetologist currently licensed in good standing in another state/territory/DC who either (a) passed a nationally recognized entry examination, or (b) has at least 2 years of licensed experience elsewhere and completes 4 hours of SC-specific continuing education (state law/regulations, client safety, sanitation/infection control); the $60 endorsement fee applies. |
| South Dakota | Yes | — | South Dakota does not appear as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10. Instead, SD runs its own reciprocity licensure: an applicant with an active, in-good-standing license from another state submits a Reciprocity Application plus a 'Certification of Licensure' from the issuing state (education hours, exam history, disciplinary history, issue date), and must pass SD's State Laws & Rules exam unless proof shows an equivalent theory exam was already passed elsewhere. If the out-of-state license type doesn't match SD's Cosmetology/Esthetics/Nail Technology categories, the Commission reviews it individually and may require additional education hours. |
| Tennessee | Yes | — | Tennessee enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (2024) and is shown as an 'Enacted' member state on the Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10 — but the Commission's own FAQ states it only 'hopes to activate the compact for licensees in early 2026' and had not begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research date, so no compact is listed here pending verified operational status. In the meantime, Tennessee runs its own reciprocity licensure: the out-of-state board sends a certification of licensure directly to the TN Board, the applicant completes an 'Out of State' application at core.tn.gov with a non-refundable $100 fee, must show at least 2 years of high school or a GED, meet TN's per-license education-hour thresholds (or document 1-3 years of work history in lieu of hours), pass TN's theory and/or practical exam if not already passed an equivalent exam elsewhere, and complete the domestic-violence-awareness training. Texas and California applicants face additional transcript requirements. Tennessee restructured this section of tn.gov and retired the page previously cited; the citation above is its current location. |
| Texas | Yes | — | Texas has introduced but not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (multiple bills tracked in the 2023 and 2025 sessions, e.g. HB 705/SB 1905) and does not appear as an 'Enacted' state on the Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10. Texas instead offers License by Reciprocity/Equivalence: a cosmetologist holding a current, active license from a state TDLR has determined has substantially equivalent education/exam requirements may apply via the License by Reciprocity Application (BAC-LIC-003-E) with a $100 non-refundable fee and a sealed letter of certification from the issuing state, without a new exam. Eyelash Extension, Hair Weaving, and Hair Weaving/Esthetician specialties are excluded from equivalence and must apply by examination instead. |
| Utah | Yes | — | Utah does not appear as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10. Utah instead offers Licensure by Endorsement to an applicant who provides official verification of active licensure in good standing for at least one year from a jurisdiction DOPL has designated as equivalent to Utah's requirements — no new exam or hour documentation is required in that case. Applicants from a non-designated-equivalent jurisdiction, or without a full year of experience, apply by examination instead and may combine out-of-state education hours with documented work experience (Verification of Licensed Cosmetology/Barber Practice) to reach the required hour total. |
| Vermont | Yes | — | Vermont shows only introduced/pending legislation (H.539, 2026 session) on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-10 — it has not enacted the compact, so no compact is listed. Vermont instead offers Licensure by Endorsement for an applicant licensed/certified in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements (official license verification required from both the initial and most recent licensing states); if the other state's requirements are not substantially equivalent, the applicant may instead show 1,500 documented hours of practice over at least one year via an Affidavit of Experience. A 'Fast Track Endorsement' waives the equivalency review entirely for an applicant continuously licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction for 3+ years immediately preceding the application. |
| Virginia | Yes | — | Virginia enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (HB 322, 2024) and is shown as an 'Enacted' member state on the Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-11 — but the Commission's own FAQ states it only 'hopes to activate the compact for licensees in early 2026' and had not begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research date, so no compact is listed here pending verified operational status. In the meantime, Virginia accepts equivalent out-of-state training toward a standard license: an applicant whose out-of-state training hours met or exceeded Virginia's requirement submits training documentation (Training & Experience Verification Form); an applicant with fewer hours must also document 6 months of work experience in the field. |
| Washington | Yes | — | Washington enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (HB 1023, 2025) and is shown as an 'Enacted' member state on the Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-11 — but the Commission's own FAQ states it only 'hopes to activate the compact for licensees in early 2026' and had not begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research date, so no compact is listed here pending verified operational status. In the meantime, Washington offers two out-of-state pathways: a Reciprocity Application ($50 fee) for an applicant who already passed both a practical and a written exam in their home state and can have that state certify their active license; or an Out-of-State Application (no separate application fee) for an applicant who did not take both exams, who must instead take the Washington exam(s). |
| West Virginia | Yes | — | West Virginia enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (2024/2025 legislation, e.g. HB 5087) and is shown as an 'Enacted' member state on the Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-11 — but the Commission's own FAQ states it only 'hopes to activate the compact for licensees in early 2026' and had not begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research date, so no compact is listed here pending verified operational status. In the meantime, West Virginia offers its own license transfer (reciprocity): an applicant holding a valid out-of-state cosmetology/barbering/aesthetics/nail technology license with at least 1,800 hours of training (or equivalent documented work-experience credits) must still register for and pass the WV State Law exam, and may apply for reciprocity without retaking the full national exam for a $100 fee. |
| Wisconsin | Yes | — | Wisconsin does not appear as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-11. Wisconsin instead offers a low-cost Licensure by Endorsement: for just the $11 initial credentialing fee, an applicant who holds a current license in at least one other state completes a one-hour Wisconsin-specific statutes/rules course, and has each licensing state complete a Verification of Licensure (Form 373) — no new exam is required for qualifying endorsement applicants. An applicant who does not qualify for endorsement, or whose out-of-state school hours match Wisconsin's requirement, must instead pass the DL Roope written and practical exams (fee includes the first license) and have their school complete a Certification of Training (Form 3044). |
| Wyoming | Yes | — | Wyoming does not appear as an enacted, pending, or tracked-legislation state on the Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission's official Compact Map (cosmetologycompact.gov/compact-map/) as of 2026-07-11. Wyoming instead runs its own endorsement process for a $225 fee, and the Board's own FAQ notes that endorsement/reciprocity transfers do not require surrendering an active license held in another state — an applicant may hold active licenses in multiple states simultaneously. |
"Endorsement available" reflects whether the destination state has a published route to transfer an active out-of-state license. Always confirm current rules with the issuing board before relying on endorsement to practice in a new state.