For up to date information concerning any reciprocity of cosmetology license with the different states please visit the respective state websites. State rules and regulations can change at any given time. Information provided here may not be up to date so either call that state and make sure or visit and email them with any questions or concerns you may have. You can always download any necessary forms you need from their websites. If you have questions and I am able to help please leave a comment and I shall do my best.
The states I through M are listed below.
Idaho:
Reciprocity
Granted to licensed applicants who provide official documentation that the requirements for license under which the license was issued are of a standard not lower than Idaho OR who provide official documentation that they have practiced for at least three (3) years immediately prior to making application. Home salons are allowed. Mobile salons are not allowed .
Contact Information
Idaho Board of Cosmetology – Bureau of Occupational Licenses
Owyhee Plaza
1109 Main St, Suite 220
Boise ID 83702
208-334-3233 (phone)
208-334-3945 (phone)
Illinois:
Reciprocity
Based on laws in issuing state compared to Illinois Law during the time period in which the applicant was licensed. The state does credit the applicant for work experience. Home salon and Mobile salon allowed. Illinois endorsement
Contact Information
Illinois Dept. of Professional Regulation
320W. Washington St., 3rd Fl.
Springfield, IL 62786
217-782-8556 (phone)
217-782-7645 (fax)
Indiana:
Reciprocity
Applicants that have been licensed as a Cosmetologist in another state may obtain a license in the state of Indiana as long as the state they are originally licensed in has requirements equal to those of Indiana. In the cases where the training is less than Indiana’s requirements than the applicant will receive 100 hours of credit for each 1 year period of practical work experience. All applicants regardless of length of time licensed in another state must take an examination on the Rules and Regulations of Indiana pertaining to the profession they are applying for licensure in. If the issuing state did not require the applicant to take a practical examination they must do so to become licensed in Indiana.
Contact Information
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
State Board of Cosmetology Examiners
302 W. Washington St., Rm. EO-34
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-2980 (phone)
317-232-2312(fax)
Iowa:
Reciprocity
Iowa does NOT have “reciprocity” with any state. People from certain states can apply for licensure by “endorsement” only if they have taken a “National” exam. Not all states use a national exam. Some only use a “State” exam.
Contact Information
Iowa Dept. of Public Health
Board of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences
Lucas Bldg., 5th Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
515-281-4416 (phone)
Kansas:
Reciprocity
Provided you have 1500 hours and have been working in the field for at least one year and hold a current license. If you have less than 1500 hours you will have to take a “practical” exam. You may, however, obtain a temporary permit which allows you to work, pending examination.
Contact Information
Kansas State Board of Cosmetology
714 S.W. Jackson
Topeka, KS 66617-1139
785-296-3155 (phone)
785-296-3002 (fax)
Kentucky:
Reciprocity
Any applicant from out-of-state who holds a valid license and can show proof of 2 years current experience can take the cosmetology practical examination for licensing in Kentucky. The applicant must also meet the minimum requirements from above.
Contact Information
Kentucky State Board of Hairdressers & Cosmetologists
111 St. James Court
Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601
502- 564-4262(phone)
502-564-0481 (fax)
Louisiana:
Reciprocity
Reciprocity with all states, all types of licences. “We trade state for state.”
Contact Information
Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology
11622 Sunbelt Ct.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225-756-3404 (phone)
225-756-3410 (fax)
Maine:
Reciprocity
The State Board shall waive an exam and grant a license to an applicant who seeks reciprocity, provided that the applicant has a valid license from a State whose requirements are equal to or greater than Maine’s.
Contact Information
Maine State Board of Barbering & Cosmetology
State House Sta. 35
Augusta, ME 04333
207-624-8603 (phone)
207-624-8637 (fax)
Maryland:
Reciprocity
Maryland grants reciprocity to those individuals who hold a license from a State whose requirements are the same as or greater than those of Maryland’s.
Contact Information
Maryland State Board of Cosmetologists
500 N. Calvert Street – Room 307
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-3651
410-230-6320 (phone)
Massachusetts :
Reciprocity
Section 87Z. The board may register, without examination, any hairdresser, operator, manicurist or aesthetician who has been registered as such under the laws of another state, which, in the opinion of the board, maintains a standard substantially equivalent to that of the commonwealth, and in which hairdressers, operators, manicurists or aestheticians registered in the commonwealth are given like recognition, upon payment of the fee prescribed in section eighty-seven CC. Any person who has completed in another state, or in a school in the commonwealth supported by public funds, a course of professional training, substantially equivalent to that required by section eighty-seven V, and who, after application accompanied by an examination fee as prescribed in section eighty-seven CC for a first examination, or a fee as prescribed in said section eighty-seven CC for a second or subsequent examination, passes an examination satisfactory to the board, may be registered by the board as an operator.
Contact Information
Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure
239 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-727-9940 (phone)
617-737-1627 (fax)
Michigan:
Reciprocity
All individuals licensed in another state may obtain their license in the state of Michigan by making an application to the board and meeting the requirements of 17 years of age and a 9th grade education. No examination is required. For those individuals whose states have requirements less than those in Michigan a credit of 100 hours per every 6 months work experience will be awarded.
Contact Information
Michigan Bureau of Commercial Services – Board of Cosmetology
P.O. Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909
517-241-9201 (phone)
517-241-9280 (fax)
Minnesota:
Reciprocity Reciprocity may be granted to currently licensed applicants who pass the Minnesota Board Exam and who have at least 1800 hours of licensed experience within the last three years.
Contact Information
Minnesota Department of Commerce – Cosmetology Unit
133 East Seventh St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-296-6319 (phone)
612-296-2886 (fax)
Mississippi:
Reciprocity
Permitted with Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont and West Virginia.
Contact Information
Mississippi State Board Of Cosmetology
P.O. Box 55689
Jackson, Mississippi 39296-5689
601-987-6837 (phone)
601-687-6840 (fax)
Missouri:
Reciprocity
Cosmetology Operators. Upon making application to the board, the board shall issue
a Missouri certificate of registration or license without an examination to a person who holds a current cosmetology license in another state, territory, or District of Columbia, provided the requirements for licensure, including but not limited to the training and examination requirements therein are substantially equal or superior to those in Missouri at the time of application. The application shall be properly completed on a
form supplied by the board and shall be accompanied by the following: (A) An affidavit completed by the state licensing agency verifying the type of license held by the applicant in that state; (B) Two (2) bust photographs measuring two inches by two inches (2″ × 2″) taken within the last two (2) years; and (C) The cosmetology reciprocity fee.
Contact Information
Missouri State Board of Cosmetology
P.O. Box 1062
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573-751-1052 (phone)
573-751-8167(fax)
Montana:
Reciprocity
An applicant with less than the hours required by Montana must take the National Practical and Written exams. An applicant may take the additional hours from an approved school.
Contact Information
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Board of Cosmetologists
301 South Park
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
406-841-2335 (phone)
406-841-2305 (fax)
Related: Cosmetology Hour Requirements For 50 States| Cosmetology Reciprocity A-H| Cosmetology Reciprocity/N-W States
Louisiana stating that they “trade state for state ” is very misleading and pretty much a lie to complicate the reciprocity action. They still require an exam, even if you’ve been licensed for 15 years and have had Continuing Education every year (which Louisiana DOES NOT require). All of these websites should inform anyone looking into it and mostly Louisiana needs to step up and let applicants know of this.
How would I go about getting a Cosmetology License when I gave up Idaho License in 1985 and received a Texas license, then dropped them in 2000. I received my training from Millie’s Beauty Acadamy in Kellogg, Idaho.
Thank you
Jill A. Galbreath
PO Box 406
Kingston, Idaho 83839-0406
jag8@my180.net
208-682-2476
I just recently gotten Licensed in Cosmetology in PA and wanted to work in NYC how would I go about that without taking the state boards all over and if I was an assistant in NYC for 18 months would I be able to use that experience and switch my PA license over…