Cosmetology / Barber License from Alabama to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Alabama to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, verify your Alabama license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Written and practical exams are not retaken if you provide proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English; otherwise the Board issues an exam-eligibility letter and you must pass the Georgia (NIC/PSI) exams within three attempts.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Alabama and Georgia require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is Georgia's administrative checklist below.
What changes, Alabama → Georgia
| Alabama (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | CLC enacted — not yet issuing | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $100 (nonrefundable reciprocity application fee; + $75 written and/or $130 practical exam fee only if exams are required) | $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10) |
| Processing time | 2–4 weeks (board states the license arrives within 2-4 weeks after passing the practical exam; no overall processing timeline published) | ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond) |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (ABOCB) | Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active cosmetology license in good standing in another state or U.S. territory at the appropriate level.
- Submit official certification of licensure from every state in which you have ever been licensed, showing no board orders or unpaid citations.
- Provide proof of high school graduation, GED, or postsecondary/college education.
- Be at least 17 years old and of good moral character.
- Submit a notarized application with a Secure and Verifiable Document (ID) and citizenship affidavit.
- Pay the fees ($75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10)) and allow ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia accept a Alabama cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Alabama to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, verify your Alabama license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Written and practical exams are not retaken if you provide proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English; otherwise the Board issues an exam-eligibility letter and you must pass the Georgia (NIC/PSI) exams within three attempts.
Will Georgia make me retake the cosmetology exams?
Written and practical exams are not retaken if you provide proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English; otherwise the Board issues an exam-eligibility letter and you must pass the Georgia (NIC/PSI) exams within three attempts.
What does the Alabama-to-Georgia transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10); processing ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- GA SoS — Board of Cosmetology and Barbers FAQ (Endorsement/Reciprocity Requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-11 Licensure by Endorsement (Rule 240-11-.01) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-15 Cosmetology School Curriculum (1,500-hour master cosmetology course) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ABOCB — Transfer a License (reciprocity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ABOCB — Reciprocity Application Instructions and Checklist (rev. 8/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ABOCB — Cosmetology license type (1,500 school / 3,000 apprentice hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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