Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Georgia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers ↗
Yes — Georgia licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. The key test is training: Georgia requires 1,500 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10).
Moving to Georgia from a specific state?
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,500 required training hours, Georgia sits in the national mainstream. Transfers from most states clear the hour bar; if you trained in one of the low-hour states (around 1,000-1,200 hours), check the gap-closing options in the requirements below before assuming you need more schooling.
Georgia licenses the standard operator as Master Cosmetologist (1,500 school hours or a 3,000-hour/18-month apprenticeship). The board states it does not reciprocate with any state, but endorsement is open to licensees of all states and U.S. territories, and fewer training hours than Georgia's do not bar endorsement. Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026.
Georgia requirements at a glance
| Exam | 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 |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,500 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10) |
| Processing time | ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond) |
Step by step
- Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (application linked on this page).
- 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
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Georgia:
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Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Georgia?
Yes — Georgia licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers. The key test is training: Georgia requires 1,500 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10).
How many training hours does Georgia require for cosmetology?
1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Georgia's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in Georgia?
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 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).
Is Georgia in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Georgia has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers is the transfer path.
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)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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