Alicia: Hey there so glad to have found you! I’m moving from Dallas to San Diego,Ca and want to know if you have any info on transferring my license and how long of a process it is? I have been licensed in Texas for almost 10 years. Thanks!
Answer: It is my understanding that California has no reciprocity available (That was changed this past year) and the Applicants must take both written and practical exams. There is also a 100 hour difference in hours. It would be best for you to send them an email directly or give them a call.
I found this on the application form in section b of the qualifications:
I have held a license in another state for 3 years or more. [The board shall grant a license without examination to practice to an out of state applicant if the applicant submits all of the following to the board:
(a) A completed application form and all fees required by the board. (b) Proof of a current license issued by another state to practice that meets all of the following requirements: (1) It is not revoked, suspended, or otherwise restricted. (2) It is in good standing. (3) It has been active for three of the last five years, during which time the applicant has not been subject to disciplinary action or a criminal conviction.
I have requested a Certification from the State with which I hold a current license be sent directly to the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. You can find that form here APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION ANDINITIAL LICENSE FEE If I were you I would give them a call to make sure of all their laws.
California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology
barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov
P.O. Box 944226
Sacramento, CA 94244-2260
1-800-952-5210 (phone)
916-575-7281 (fax)
Michele: Thinking of moving from Hawaii to CA. I’m already a licensed cosmetologist. Whats the requirement for obtaining my license in CA?
Answer: You need to read this and follow the requirements
Maria: Hi I have a license in Missouri and I’m moving to California .
What would I need to do? Do I have to retake all the tests again?
Answer: Read the answers above.
Somer Buzzell: I have 1550 hours and I want to move to California which is 1600 I have 4 years of experience could that count for the extra 50 or what do I need to do to go about this?
Answer: Yes your experience will count. Below are 2 sources
Reciprocity Application
Out Of State Applicant
Carson: I went to cosmetology school back in 1992/3 and completed 1100 hours which I froze then. I haven’t been back since. This was in Ontario California. I was wondering do I need to start from fresh, how do I request getting back those hours if I can, and who do I contact? Please help me!!
Answer: Assuming that you don’t have a transcript from your school for the hours that were completed, I would first suggest that you get in touch with the school you attended and see if they can provide it for you.
That becomes a problem if the school no longer exists. I would then try the state board of cosmetology for California and see if they still have a transcript of your hours if they don’t then I’m afraid you would have to start all over again.
The e-mail to contact the California board barbercosmo@dca.ca.gov and the phone number to call for more information is (916) 574-7570
Casey: I know someone that just finished school in New Orleans, La. at Aveda Institute and they still need to take the state board, etc. I am trying to convince her to come out to California where I am stationed. What would she have to do in order to practice in California?
Answer: La. has 1500 hours and Ca. has 1600 so she could have her verified hours sent to a school out there to get the 100 hours more that is required and then she could take her boards there. If you need more help just leave a message.
Hi,
I currently live in arizona and received my license in september 2005. Im in good standing. But Ill be moving to california within a few months. is it possible to apply for reciprocity in California or should I wait until I renew my license in September of 2008.
Hi Karen,
Yes you can apply for reciprocity now and if you want to keep your Arizona license also just make sure you renew when they are due. Did you see the out of state app above from their state board? Just follow their directions.
But I haven’t had my license for 3 of the last 5 years. Is this a problem?
Hi Karen,
My brain wasn’t working the numbers. Yes that could be a problem with them because they are very strict, but you could possibly send them an e-mail since it will be 3 years next year and see if they will consider reciprocity without examination, but probably not unless they have made any recent changes.
The following is on their app for examination so they probably wouldn’t even consider it since they believe they have stricter training than anyone else.
This part is on their app for exam form:I hold a current license in another State, it has been active for less than 3 years. I have requested a Certification from the State with which I hold a current license be sent directly to the California State Board of Barbering and Cosmetology.
If I have a cosmetology license in CA. and move to Washingto State…will I have to repeat training for a WA. license or is my CA. license reciprocal? Thanks!
I have a CA cosmetology license & my sister has CA Manicurist license. We will move to New Jersey next month. Will we have to repeat training or take a test for New Jersey license? Are our CA license reciprocal? What we need to do? Please help us. Thanks
I was licensed in Ma and have been in the field for over three years. I recently moved to California and know that I can get reciprocity but I am still awaiting the official California licence. Do I have to wait until I get it actually ib hand or can I start working???
It needs to be displayed in the shop where you will work by law, but you could always ask the shop owner if you could do shampoos and that type of thing till you actually get it in your hand.
Hi, I am license in the state of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)(1250 hours) and planing to move to California with in the this year. I will have a little over a year with my license, do i have any reciprocity? Thank you!
Nicolas please read this page Pennsylvania That information was from a year ago and California requires 3 years of working history out of the past 5. You should contact the California state board directly though and see if they have updated their laws and regulations because they change frequently from state to state.
I am currently licensed in nj with 1250 hours. What do I need to do to transfer to ca? I have 3 years experience does that matter? Or will I have to go to school again once I get there?
i have a manicuring license in california and im moving to missouri. do i need to take a board test again or is there a form i can fill out and just pay a license fee and show proof of my current license?
I have had a Cosmetology License in AZ and CO. I have kept my AZ license active for the past 10 years but have not worked directly in a salon. I want to transfer my license to CA and begin working. Will I need to take the CA State Board? Or, can I pay fees and receive reciprocity? If I need to retake the Boards, how do I go about getting this process completed and are there specific refresher courses required? The more the information and suggestions the better. Thank you!!!!
Hi and thank you i want to say i love this site it is very very helpful. My question is I live In MI and have a license for Estetics which is 400 hr i have been licenced for 4 yrs now and am thining of moving to Las Vegas or ILL which both have higher requirements for boards. My question finally is would i have to take a National Exam to work in either of these states? or is my State license enough to qualify for reciprocity (i have worked in spas for 4+ yrs) Thank u for you time you are truely a blessing
I am currently enrolled in cosmetology school in AZ and am wanting to move to CA to finish up my college. Should I just take boards in both states, or what should I do? Any suggestions? Thanks!!!
Hi,
I went to school for Cosmetology when I was in high school. I passed tests, written/practical. I was licensed for several years and worked in a salon while attending college. I allowed my license to expire. I want to renew my license. What do I need to do? Do I have to retest since it’s been so long? Would I have to complete additional hours? It has been approx. 15 years since I was licensed.
Thank you!!
It depends on the state you were licensed in, all states are different and have different requirements.
im moving to ca after i get my licence in VA im going to stay untill i reach 1600 hours so i meet the hours for ca. how would i get to be licenced in CA?
You would have to apply to take their state boards since you don’t meet their requirements for reciprocity.
Hi, I have recently moved to CA., and have already sent in my completed appl. for reciprocity.
My question is could I work while waiting for my CA. license, it takes 3-5 weeks, I have already found work. My current license was issued in MI. in 1997, I meet all the requirements for reciprocity!
Andrea…. You could work, but not as a Cosmetologist. There are many jobs in a salon you could help with till your license come through.
I have a California cosmetologist License, I’m moving to Arizona, what will I have to do to get a Arizona cosmetologist License
Julian:
Arizona:
Reciprocity
If you come from another state licensure in Arizona may be accomplished through license-for-license or by taking an examination. This requires an application for reciprocity and an explanation of licensure requirements. According the Arizona State Board, notwithstanding sections 32-510, 32-511 and 32-512, a person is entitled to receive a cosmetologist license if:
* They submit to the board an application for a cosmetologist license on a form supplied by the board.
* They submit to the board satisfactory evidence of either of the following: (a) the person is licensed in another state or country or (b) the person graduated from a school that offers a cosmetology course substantially similar to the requirements of this state and passed the board approved cosmetology examination.
* Pays the prescribed fees.
For purposes of substantial equivalent requirements under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section, the board may consider length of work experience in the state in which the person was licensed before applying for a license under this section if the training requirements of that state are less than sixteen hundred hours.
Contact Information
Arizona Board of Cosmetology
1721 East Broadway
Tempe, AZ 85282-1611
(480) 784-4539
I have a cosmetology license in Texas but have moved to north carolina to get married,How do I go about getting a license in North carolina and do I have to change my name on my license.Can you have licenses in two states.I plan on moving back to Texas in the future and don’t see the point of transfering a license back in forth.
I’m currently attending school in Utah, which requires 2000 hours. I want to move to California, but I don’t know if it would be best to finish school in Utah and then move or to move and just transfer my hours over. which would be better? Is it hard to transfer a utah license to a California license? what would I need to do? also, can you have a license in 2 different states at the same time?
I live in Ca. I have been a licensed for almost 40 years.
I am moving to Massachusetts. Do I have to take written and practical, or can I just apply to get my license
Thanks
BD
BostonDawna: I would suggest you get in touch with their board directly and ask them. All the states change their rules and laws frequently so it’s not possible for me to keep up.
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)
so, I moved from Hou TX to SD CA i been licensed 6 years I talked to one lady on the state board of CA and she told me the reciprocity was the way to go fill out the form and send the money order, I called again to confirm my money order before mailing it off and this lady told me i need to go through TX state board..? and TX will mail it to CA. i would like to get it right the first time so i can just get it over with and not lose my license somewhere in the mail bw here and there. i would call state board back but im sure yall know how AWESOME that is!! help me! Thank you!
hey, i want to move to California to be with my bf, who is in the navy, i want to attend a school there, (they carry the same book as my current school) i live in ND and here the hours are 1800, i have accumulated 430 or so, i was wondering if i get my transcript and all of that b4 i go, can i just move down there and begin attending school? or are there forms i need to fill out? will they honor my hours, P.S. i have tried to get in touch with cali. st. boards but its all an automated process and so far i haen’t been able to speak with a real person please help, thanks
Hi, I’m finishing up school in AZ. with the required 1600 hours. I want to move to California immediately after school and take the California exam. I called a school in California to ask about taking a course to learn the California exam procedures. She told me that California licensing is now an international license and there are less procedures to the testing than in the past, she also told me that I would just need to get a tutor to pass the test. I’m wondering if you have any input on the direction I should take in order to go about getting tutoring and if what she said about the testing procedures are accurate? Thank you!