Esthetician License Reciprocity by State
- States researched
- 51
- Offer endorsement
- 49
- Interstate compacts
- 0
Already hold a Esthetician 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 Esthetician.
| 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 ($25 per state, money order only), then submits Alabama's reciprocity application ($100 domestic / $175 international, non-refundable), and may need to pass the written and/or practical exam if the Board determines home-state training/testing doesn't fully meet Alabama's requirements. Distance-education/online training hours may not be accepted for reciprocity purposes. Alabama has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but the Compact Commission has not yet begun issuing multistate licenses as of this research, so it is not listed under compacts. |
| Alaska | Yes | — | Alaska offers 'licensure by waiver of examination' (12 AAC 09.105): an applicant who holds a current esthetician license in another state and who qualified there by passing a written examination may receive an Alaska license without retesting, upon submission of a state-board-verified Verification of Training, Examination and Licensure form (application fee $150 + initial license fee $180, same as licensure by examination). If the applicant did not previously pass a written and practical/proficiency exam, Alaska will require it. Alaska does not appear on any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact commission's member list, so compacts is empty. |
| Arizona | Yes | — | The Board's fee schedule lists a $60 'Reciprocity & Universal Recognition' fee for Aesthetics/Cosmetology/Nail Tech applicants (vs. $175 for barbers), reflecting Arizona's Universal Recognition law that allows licensure of out-of-state applicants who hold a license in good standing from another state with substantially similar requirements, without retaking exams. The Board also has a separate SCRA-based military spouse/servicemember reciprocity pathway. Arizona has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact's model legislation, but as of this research the Compact Commission has not begun issuing multistate licenses anywhere, so it is not listed under compacts. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-06-06. |
| Arkansas | Yes | — | Arkansas grants a license by reciprocity to an aesthetician licensed in another state who is at least 18 years old (higher than the 16-year minimum for original Arkansas licensure), holds a current valid out-of-state license, and has passed an examination comparable to Arkansas's — subject to a $50 one-time reciprocity fee and passage of the Arkansas state law examination ($60, per the Aesthetician CIB). Applicants who haven't previously passed a written and practical exam elsewhere pay a $50 transfer fee plus the standard written/practical exam fees. Arkansas is not listed as an active member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact, and the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet operational anywhere, so compacts is empty. |
| California | Yes | — | Under Business and Professions Code §7331, the Board must grant a California license to an applicant who submits a completed application, required fees, and proof of a current out-of-state license that is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted and is in good standing (certification letter sent directly from the other state). No re-exam is required. Applicants must still disclose any criminal convictions or prior disciplinary actions for individual review. Applications may be submitted online via BreEZe; processing takes up to 4 weeks. California is not listed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. |
| Colorado | Yes | — | Colorado offers licensure by endorsement for applicants holding an active, good-standing license from another state or U.S. territory. Endorsement applicants must attest to: graduation from an approved school; completion of training hours substantially equivalent to Colorado's; passage of a written exam administered or accepted by the other jurisdiction's licensing agency; and either passage of a practical exam accepted by that jurisdiction, at least 1,000 hours of relevant work experience within the preceding 2 years, or having held a valid license for at least 1 year in a jurisdiction with a substantially similar scope of practice. Applicants must disclose any disciplinary actions. If requirements aren't met, the applicant must take all or part of the Colorado written and practical exams. The endorsement application fee is not published on a static Board page (set in the DORA Online Services portal), so it is not recorded here. Colorado is not confirmed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. |
| Connecticut | Yes | — | The Department may license an applicant who currently holds an esthetician license (or an equivalent designation performing similar services) in good standing from another state, DC, or a US commonwealth/territory, and who has practiced under that license for at least 2 years immediately preceding the Connecticut application. A temporary permit (valid up to 120 days, non-renewable) may be issued while the endorsement application is pending, upon the same $100 application fee and a copy of the current out-of-state license. Connecticut is not listed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2025-03-11 (www.cga.ct.gov blocks direct fetches). |
| Delaware | Yes | — | Delaware grants a license by reciprocity to an applicant who holds a current esthetician license from another state, U.S. territory, or DC, submits licensure verification directly from every state/jurisdiction where they hold or have ever held a license, and provides proof of having passed a nationally-developed written and practical exam. Two paths: (1) at least one jurisdiction where the applicant is licensed requires equal or greater training hours than Delaware's 600/1,200; or (2) if all current licenses require fewer hours, the applicant must additionally document at least 1 continuous year of full-time esthetician work experience within the past 5 years. The reciprocity application fee is $101, the same as the exam-track application fee. Delaware is not confirmed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. |
| District of Columbia | Yes | — | DC offers License by Endorsement for out-of-state licensed estheticians who submit a current state license and a Letter of Certification sent directly from their home state board. DC Code §47-2853.12 also authorizes the Board to waive examination requirements for applicants holding equivalent out-of-state licenses or qualifying national certifications (e.g., NCEA), though a DC-specific knowledge component may still be required depending on the occupation. DC is not confirmed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. |
| Florida | Yes | — | Florida offers 'Registration by Endorsement' (DBPR COSMO 4-A) for applicants who hold a current, active Facial Specialist (or equivalent) license/registration from another state whose requirements are substantially similar to, equivalent to, or greater than Florida's, and who completed at least 220 hours of training. Endorsement applicants must submit certification of licensure verifying hours completed, a Certificate of Completion from their specialist training program, and a board-approved Initial HIV/AIDS course certificate; the endorsement fee is $59. Out-of-country facial specialists are not eligible for licensure by endorsement. Florida is not confirmed as an operational member of any interstate cosmetology/esthetics compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses anywhere — so compacts is empty. |
| Georgia | Yes | — | Georgia does not reciprocate directly with other states but offers licensure by Endorsement for applicants actively licensed and in good standing in another state or U.S. territory; endorsement applicants are not required to make up hour-count shortfalls and are not required to retake exams if they can show passage of a national or state-approved English-language written and practical exam. Georgia is not listed as a member of any occupational-licensing compact for esthetics; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state. Accessed via archive snapshot 2025-11-10 (sos.ga.gov is Cloudflare-protected). |
| Hawaii | No | — | The Board's official FAQ states Hawaii has no reciprocal arrangements with any other cosmetology board — out-of-state licensees must qualify and apply as new applicants. However, at least 1 year of out-of-state licensed beauty-operator experience can be credited toward Hawaii's training-hour requirement, and a passed NIC theory exam score from another jurisdiction can be submitted in place of retaking the Hawaii exam (under a different, lower fee schedule). Hawaii is not listed as enacting the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, which in any case is not yet operational in any state. |
| Idaho | Yes | — | Idaho offers licensure by endorsement (Idaho Code 54-5816; $90 endorsement fee effective July 1, 2026) to applicants who hold a current esthetician license in good standing from a jurisdiction with training/exam standards not lower than Idaho's, or who have practiced at least 3 of the last 5 years under that license. Applicants who don't qualify for full endorsement may instead be credited hours for out-of-state practical work experience (60 school-equivalent hours, or 120 apprentice-equivalent hours, per 6 months of esthetics practice), per IDAPA 24.28.01 Rule 100. Idaho is not listed as a member of any occupational-licensing compact for esthetics; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state. Accessed via archive snapshot 2025-05-30 (adminrules.idaho.gov refuses direct automated connections). |
| Illinois | Yes | — | IDFPR explicitly distinguishes 'endorsement' (available) from 'reciprocity' (not available): 'Illinois does not reciprocate licenses of another state, other jurisdiction of the United States, or foreign jurisdiction.' Endorsement requires official certification of current (and original, if different) out-of-state licensure that is 'the same or substantially similar' to the Illinois esthetician license; a minimum-years-of-practice requirement (3 of the last 5 years) applies only to the separate Foreign Endorsement Method for applicants licensed outside the U.S., not domestic endorsement. Illinois is not listed as a member of any occupational-licensing compact for esthetics; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state. |
| Indiana | Yes | — | Indiana calls its out-of-state pathway 'Reciprocity': an applicant must hold a valid license from a jurisdiction imposing 'substantially equal' education-hour and exam-passing (at least 70% written/practical) requirements; if the other jurisdiction's hour requirement is lower, the Board may combine education hours with actual licensed practice (1 year of licensed practice = 100 hours of credit, for applicants with at least 400 hours of esthetics education) to make up the difference. Applicants from jurisdictions that do not issue an esthetics license at all may instead apply for a Provisional License and work under an Indiana-licensed cosmetologist or esthetician. Indiana is not listed as a member of any occupational-licensing compact for esthetics; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state. |
| Iowa | Yes | — | Iowa offers licensure by endorsement: an applicant already licensed as an esthetician in another jurisdiction who submits license verification is issued an Iowa esthetician license, per 481 IAC 940.2(1)(b)(1), with no minimum out-of-state hours or years-of-practice test beyond holding a valid license in good standing. Iowa Code 157.3(2) separately waives the examination requirement for applicants from a state with a formal statutory reciprocal agreement with Iowa. Iowa is not listed as a member of any occupational-licensing compact for esthetics; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state. |
| Kansas | Yes | — | K.S.A. 65-1904b grants a Kansas esthetician license to an applicant who holds a current, active esthetician license from another state or jurisdiction, is at least 17 years old with a high-school diploma or equivalent (or has held the out-of-state license for 10+ years), and either passes the Kansas written and practical exam or has equivalent training hours plus the renewal-level written exam. Kansas enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (HB 2069, signed April 8, 2025) as its 9th member state, but the compact's scope covers only the cosmetologist license classification — it does not extend to estheticians, so compacts is recorded empty for this occupation. The compact is also not yet operational in any member state. |
| Kentucky | Yes | — | Kentucky allows out-of-state estheticians to transfer their license via endorsement. The transferring state's licensing agency must send certification of hours and license directly to the Kentucky Board, and the applicant must pay a $100 endorsement application fee. Kentucky has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but it is not yet operational as of July 2026. |
| Louisiana | Yes | — | Louisiana grants licensure by reciprocity to anyone holding an active esthetician license from another U.S. state or territory, upon a completed reciprocity application, standard registration fee ($35), and evidence of passing equivalent exams (LAC 46:XXXI.509). If the applicant's original state did not require a practical exam, Louisiana's own practical exam must be passed. Louisiana is not a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. |
| Maine | Yes | — | Maine allows licensure by endorsement for applicants who hold a valid aesthetics (or related) license from another U.S. jurisdiction, via a $41 non-refundable application fee (consisting of the $20 license fee and $21 criminal records check fee) plus verification of licensure from the issuing state. Applicants whose completed course hours fall short of Maine's 600-hour requirement may substitute verifiable licensed practice work experience from the prior 4 years to make up the difference (OPOR rules ch. 21 § 4(2)). No cosmetology/aesthetics interstate compact currently covers Maine: the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is a newly-activating multistate compact, but Maine is not currently listed as a member state on the compact commission's site (as of this research), so compacts is left empty. |
| Maryland | Yes | — | Maryland offers licensure by endorsement to a Limited Esthetician holding a current, active license in good standing from another U.S. state or jurisdiction, verified directly by the issuing authority (not applicant-submitted). Applicants from Alaska (tested before December 7, 2020) and from Massachusetts must additionally provide proof of at least six months of work experience via notarized employer letter or W-2 documentation. Applicants from Alaska (tested after December 7, 2020) do not qualify for endorsement and must instead pass both the Maryland PSI theory and practical exams. The endorsement application fee is $28. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found on this page; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational in any state, including Maryland, so compacts is recorded as empty. |
| Massachusetts | Yes | — | Per 240 CMR 2.03(1), the Board may license by reciprocity any applicant who shows proof of a current license in good standing as an aesthetician in another U.S. state with substantially equivalent standards, without requiring an exam; out-of-state applicants who do not hold a current license in good standing must pass the Board's exam. Fee schedule from the Board's transfer page: aesthetician (no exam required) $204; aesthetician (exam required) $136. Out-of-country applicants must always pass an exam and pay $136. Required documents include a notarized CORI form, official school transcript, and direct license verification from the issuing state. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Massachusetts, so compacts is recorded as empty. Verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2026-03-07] of the mass.gov transfer page (mass.gov 403s automated fetches). |
| Michigan | Yes | — | Licensure by reciprocity requires verification of licensure sent directly to LARA by each state where the applicant holds or has held an esthetician license, showing good standing and any disciplinary history. If not actively licensed elsewhere, official transcripts must be sent directly from the training school. Experience may substitute for training hours at a ratio of 100 hours of training credited per 6 months of experience. If the applicant is not actively licensed in a state with substantially equal requirements, they must pass the PSI practical and/or theory exam. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found in this guide; the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Michigan, so compacts is recorded as empty. Verified via Wayback Machine snapshot [2025-09-19] (michigan.gov 403s automated fetches). |
| Minnesota | Yes | — | Minnesota allows domestic license transfer: complete the Domestic License Transfer Application, have each state where the applicant has been licensed send a Certification of Licensure directly to the Board, and include original passing results from Minnesota's required exams. Foreign-trained applicants must obtain a foreign-credentials evaluation, have a Minnesota cosmetology school evaluate the report and determine any additional required training, and pass all three Minnesota written exams. Per Rule 2105.0145, an applicant who already holds an active Minnesota cosmetologist license can add the esthetician credential via application and fees without retaking the state laws-and-rules exam. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Minnesota, so compacts is recorded as empty. Content verified via Wayback Machine snapshot of the Board's 'License Transfers' page (mn.gov board pages are bot-blocked for automated fetches). |
| Mississippi | Yes | — | Per Rule 5.8, a holder of a practitioner license from another state with the same educational requirements as Mississippi may apply for a practitioner license by reciprocity, submitting license copies and a certification of active practice/good standing from every state where they hold a license — but reciprocity applicants must still successfully pass Mississippi's Chapter 6 examination; endorsement does not waive the exam. The reciprocity/UROLA application fee is $55. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found in the Board's Rules — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Mississippi, so compacts is recorded as empty. |
| Missouri | Yes | — | Per RSMo § 329.130, the Board shall grant a license without examination to any applicant holding a current license from another state, US territory, or DC whose requirements are similar to Missouri's at the time of application, OR who has practiced cosmetology for at least two consecutive years in another state/territory/DC. Applicants currently under disciplinary action in another jurisdiction do not qualify. The Reciprocity Fee is $100. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found in the Board's Rules — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Missouri, so compacts is recorded as empty. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2026-07-11 (pr.mo.gov blocks direct fetches). |
| Montana | No | — | The Board's own FAQ states directly: 'You cannot transfer a license nor does Montana have reciprocity agreements with any other jurisdictions.' An applicant who is actively licensed in another state has their application considered under Montana's 'out-of-state' licensing rule, but this does not waive Montana's own training/exam requirements — the application checklist requires official license verification from every state/jurisdiction where the applicant holds or has held a license, plus passage of the same NIC theory and practical exams at 75%, so endorsementAvailable is recorded as false (no exam waiver) rather than true. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Montana, so compacts is recorded as empty. |
| Nebraska | Yes | — | Per the Board's 'Cosmetology or Esthetics by Reciprocity' application, an applicant must have completed at least 600 hours of esthetic training (or 1,800 hours of cosmetology training) and have successfully passed a written examination in the jurisdiction where they were originally licensed; if that jurisdiction did not require a written exam, the applicant must take the NIC examination. Applicants with less training than Nebraska's minimum may still qualify if their education/training/service is judged 'substantially similar.' The same license-fee schedule applies as for original licensure (no separate reciprocity fee identified). No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Nebraska, so compacts is recorded as empty. Verified via Wayback Machine archive snapshot 2026-07-11 (dhhs.ne.gov blocks direct fetches). |
| Nevada | Yes | — | Nevada offers reciprocity to an esthetician holding an active, good-standing license from another state, DC, US territory, or country. The non-refundable reciprocity application fee is $325. Reciprocity applicants must still pass the 25-question Nevada State Law exam at 75% (additional exams may be required per NRS 644A.640). Some states' license data can be verified online automatically by the Board; applicants from other listed states (including Maryland, Mississippi, and about 20 others) must obtain license certification from their home state BEFORE submitting the Nevada application. No interstate esthetics/cosmetology compact was found — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact has been enacted in some states but is not yet operational anywhere, including Nevada, so compacts is recorded as empty. |
| New Hampshire | Yes | — | Licensure by endorsement is available to applicants currently licensed in another jurisdiction with substantially similar requirements (governed by OPLC rule Plc 313). Verified via archive snapshot [2026-01-09]. |
| New Jersey | Yes | — | Skin Care Specialist is one of the license categories explicitly available on the Board's "Application for Licensure by Endorsement." To qualify, an applicant must hold a current and active out-of-state (or foreign) license and either (a) have training certified by the issuing authority as substantially equivalent to New Jersey school training, or (b) have at least 3 years of work experience in the field in that state/country, submitted via notarized affidavit plus a certification of licensure (N.J.A.C. 13:28-1.1(e)3). Per the Board's Application Process Overview, if the applicant's home-state license does not meet New Jersey's requirements they may be asked to obtain additional training (a New Jersey school may evaluate prior training rather than requiring a full restart), and if the home state does not require a practical examination the applicant will not qualify for endorsement. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state at this time regardless of individual state enactment status, so compacts is recorded as empty; New Jersey's own endorsement/reciprocity pathway (described above) is the applicable mechanism, not a compact. |
| New Mexico | Yes | — | New Mexico offers licensure by reciprocity/endorsement: an applicant holding a current, honorable license from another state submits a reciprocity application, passes the online jurisprudence exam via the NM-PLUS portal, and pays the $150 reciprocity application fee (see fees page). Foreign-trained applicants may also apply by reciprocity if their training meets or exceeds New Mexico requirements. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet operational in any state (New Mexico included), so compacts is recorded as an empty list. |
| New York | Yes | — | New York's own FAQ states directly: 'Is there reciprocity? No. However we do hold endorsement agreements with other states.' An applicant who holds an Esthetics license (or equivalent) in another jurisdiction may obtain a NY Esthetics license through endorsement without examination or further education, by submitting an original certification from the jurisdiction where the equivalent license is held; New York maintains a published endorsement-agreement list to determine eligibility. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state as of this research — the compact commission is still finalizing rules, the shared data system, and the multistate license application process even in states that have enacted it into law — and New York has not enacted the compact, so compacts is recorded as empty. |
| North Carolina | Yes | — | North Carolina does not participate in any interstate cosmetic-art licensing compact — the Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state. NC instead offers direct license-by-endorsement/reciprocity: an applicant with a current esthetician license in good standing from a reciprocal state pays a $35 fee and is not required to retake the NIC exam. Applicants from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, D.C., Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia must first submit certification of their out-of-state license before applying; applicants from most other reciprocal states can apply directly online or by mail. Registrations/certificates (as opposed to full licenses) are not accepted, and Florida-licensed estheticians specifically cannot reciprocate. |
| North Dakota | Yes | — | N.D.C.C. 43-11-25 (Licensure by endorsement) lets the Board issue a license without examination to an out-of-state applicant licensed by another jurisdiction with substantially similar/equivalent standards, in good standing for at least one year, with no revoked/surrendered-under-investigation license and no unresolved discipline. Applicants who don't qualify for the without-examination path can still endorse by proving completed curriculum hours or substantially equal work experience (1,000 work hours = 100 curriculum hours, capped at 500 hours if earned within the prior 3 years); the Board notifies applicants if any exam is still required. The Board's fee schedule lists a $105 endorsement/reciprocity fee plus the $50 original license fee. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not operational in any state (regardless of individual-state enactment status), and North Dakota is not listed as a member on the compact commission's own site, so compacts is recorded as an empty list. |
| Ohio | Yes | — | No compact is operational: the Board's own 'Cosmetology Compact' page states plainly that 'Details are currently in development,' so compacts is recorded as empty regardless of any enactment status. Ohio instead offers direct state-to-state reciprocity/endorsement: the applicant must have held the out-of-state esthetics license or government certification for at least 1 year immediately preceding application and have actively practiced it for at least 1 of the preceding 5 years; the applicant's prior-state board must send a 'Board Certification' directly to the Ohio Board (not accepted from the applicant, and only if prepared within the last 6 months); a 1-hour Human Trafficking recognition course/quiz must be completed before applying; and a non-refundable $73.50 reciprocity application fee is paid via elicense.ohio.gov. Ohio will NOT accept a Florida 'Facial Specialist' or 'Full Specialist' license via reciprocity for an Ohio Esthetics license. Out-of-country applicants may qualify case-by-case if their training hours are certified as at least 80% of Ohio's 600-hour esthetician requirement (i.e., 480+ hours), subject to additional credential-evaluation and Human Trafficking-course requirements. Reachable only via an archive.org snapshot dated 2025-05-28 because direct fetches to cos.ohio.gov returned 404s during research. |
| Oklahoma | Yes | — | Oklahoma is not a member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact and does not appear on the compact commission's list of enacting states; separately, the compact is not yet operational (issuing multistate licenses) in any state regardless of enactment status, so compacts is recorded as empty. Oklahoma instead offers domestic and foreign reciprocity/endorsement pathways per the Board's FAQ (content dated April 2025): for domestic applicants, the sending state must send OSBCB a certification of records, the applicant submits a Domestic Reciprocity application and meets Oklahoma licensure requirements, then receives a work permit and must pass a 34-question open-book Oklahoma rules-and-regulations test. For foreign-trained applicants, educational records must be verified/translated through a Board-approved accrediting agency before scheduling a reciprocity interview/test. The Board explicitly states it 'does not recognize license for license' — out-of-state/country licensees may not practice in Oklahoma before obtaining an Oklahoma license. |
| Oregon | Yes | — | Under Pathway 2 (Reciprocity), an applicant with an active, non-disciplined esthetics (or substantially equivalent) license from another U.S. state, territory, or country may have all or part of the Oregon-school hour requirement waived and be permitted to sit directly for the Esthetics written exam and the Oregon Laws and Rules exam, via an Affidavit of Licensure (AOL) confirming the out-of-state license is current and in good standing (verified by the home-state board directly, not by the license alone). Being licensed elsewhere does not guarantee Oregon certification is granted; unresolved disciplinary actions or civil fines must be resolved first. 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 does not issue an umbrella cosmetology license, so reciprocity is evaluated per field of practice (Esthetics specifically). Oregon is not shown as a member (enacted or pending) on the official Cosmetology Licensure Compact commission's state list, and the Compact is not yet operational in any state regardless of individual state enactment status, so compacts is recorded as an empty array. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | — | The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet operational in any state, so Pennsylvania is not listed as an active compact member regardless of any enactment status. Pennsylvania offers licensure by endorsement/reciprocity (including under Act 41 of 2019) for estheticians who hold a current license in good standing from another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements and can show at least two years of licensed work experience; the endorsement application fee is $89. As of the source date, Pennsylvania has NO reciprocity understanding for esthetician licensure with Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, or Utah; applicants licensed in those states must take the PA examination. The reciprocal-state list is subject to change; applicants should confirm current status with the Board before applying. |
| Rhode Island | Yes | — | Rhode Island grants licensure by endorsement to an esthetician licensed in another state where requirements are equivalent, upon verification of licensure in good standing and proof of having passed a written and practical examination (216-RICR-40-05-4 § 4.5.3(A)). Applicants from states with non-equivalent requirements may instead receive instructional credit toward the 600-hour requirement — 40 hours of credit for each 3-month period actively licensed and practicing, capped at 200 hours (§ 4.5.3(A)(3)(b)). Out-of-state licensees may also work under a non-renewable 90-day temporary permit while their RI application is processed (§ 4.5.3(B)). The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not yet operational in any state, including Rhode Island, so no compacts are listed here. |
| South Carolina | Yes | — | The Board's FAQ explicitly states it does not offer 'reciprocity' for any license type, but does offer 'Licensure by Endorsement': an applicant qualifies if actively licensed in another state and has passed the NIC theory and practical exam, OR has been actively licensed for at least two years and completed 4 hours of Board-approved continuing education. The endorsement fee for estheticians is $60. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not confirmed as operational or as covering estheticians in South Carolina as of this research date, so no compacts are listed. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-03-09 (llr.sc.gov is unreachable via direct fetch/curl). |
| South Dakota | Yes | — | South Dakota issues reciprocity licenses to estheticians licensed in good standing in another state; applicants submit a Reciprocity Application plus a Certification of Licensure from the issuing state. The State Laws & Rules exam is always required; the NIC theory exam is waived only if the applicant already passed an approved theory exam elsewhere. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not confirmed as operational, and its coverage of estheticians in South Dakota is unconfirmed as of this research date, so no compacts are listed. |
| Tennessee | Yes | — | Tennessee requires a minimum hour requirement (750 hours for aestheticians) as well as a theory and practical exam for all license types, including out-of-state/reciprocity applicants — hours and exams are not automatically waived. Applicants request a Certification of License from their current state board and complete the 'Out of State' application at core.tn.gov with a non-refundable application fee (amount not published for aestheticians specifically). Applicants completing fewer hours than Tennessee requires may submit tax returns or employer letters documenting relevant work history in lieu of hours. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact is not confirmed as operational, and its coverage of estheticians in Tennessee is unconfirmed, as of this research date, so no compacts are listed. |
| Texas | Yes | — | Out-of-state licensed estheticians apply through TDLR's 'License by Equivalence' pathway. Military service members, veterans, and military spouses licensed elsewhere are eligible for expedited license transfer and, if applicable, extra time to renew a license that lapsed during active duty. Texas is not a confirmed member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; as of mid-2026 the compact has been enacted in roughly 10 states (not including Texas), is not yet operational anywhere (no multistate licenses issued), and it remains unconfirmed generally whether enacting states' versions cover estheticians. |
| Utah | Yes | — | DOPL offers endorsement for applicants who have held an out-of-state esthetician or master esthetician license in good standing for at least one year, via separate Esthetician and Master Esthetician endorsement pathways. Utah is not a confirmed member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; as of mid-2026 the compact has been enacted in roughly 10 states (not including Utah), is not yet operational anywhere (no multistate licenses issued), and it remains unconfirmed generally whether enacting states' versions cover estheticians. |
| Vermont | Yes | — | Vermont offers standard Endorsement (for licensees from substantially-equivalent jurisdictions, or with 1,500 documented practice hours otherwise) and a 'Fast Track Endorsement' for applicants continuously licensed in good standing elsewhere for 3+ years. Vermont is not a confirmed member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; as of mid-2026 the compact has been enacted in roughly 10 states (not including Vermont), is not yet operational anywhere (no multistate licenses issued), and it remains unconfirmed generally whether enacting states' versions cover estheticians. |
| Virginia | Yes | — | License by endorsement is available under 18VAC41-70-30 for esthetician/master esthetician licensees from other jurisdictions whose training and exams are substantially equivalent to Virginia's; a single-exam-state pathway and a 3-years-of-experience pathway also exist. Virginia has enacted legislation to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but per the compact commission's own site (cosmetologycompact.gov, accessed 2026-07-11) that compact covers cosmetologists only — not estheticians — and is not yet operational for issuing multistate privileges. |
| Washington | Yes | — | Reciprocity/endorsement is available for applicants holding an active license in good standing in another jurisdiction, with proof of licensure and proof of passing that jurisdiction's approved exams. Washington enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact (RCW 18.16.400-.410, HB 1023), effective June 1, 2028, but that compact applies to cosmetologists only — not barbers, manicurists, or estheticians. |
| West Virginia | Yes | — | W. Va. Code §30-27-9 (verified via archive snapshot 2025-12-07) allows licensure by reciprocity for applicants holding a valid out-of-state license with no pending charges or prior revocation, who meet the same age/education/citizenship/health-certificate requirements as a new applicant. The Board's own reciprocity application additionally requires direct license and training-hour verification sent from the applicant's original state board. A multistate Cosmetology Licensure Compact exists (cosmetologycompact.gov), but per the compact's own governing site it covers cosmetologists only — not estheticians/aestheticians — and is not yet operational for issuing multistate licenses. |
| Wisconsin | Yes | — | Endorsement (DSPS Form #1681) requires an active license from at least one other state, completion of a one-hour Wisconsin statutes/rules course from a Board-approved provider, and Verification of Licensure (Form 373) from each state where licensed. Wisconsin has not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact as of this research date (2025 legislation to join had been introduced but not enacted); no compact currently covers Wisconsin estheticians. |
| Wyoming | Yes | — | Endorsement is governed by W.S. 33-12-132: the applicant must hold a current, active license as an esthetician in another state, have attended a school meeting Wyoming's Chapter 6 hour requirements, and -- if not in full-time practice for at least one year prior to applying -- have been licensed under requirements the Board determines at least equal to Wyoming's. The endorsement fee is $225.00 (Board Rules Chapter 13). Wyoming has not enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; no compact currently covers Wyoming estheticians. |
"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.