Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Idaho: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) ↗
Idaho accepts licensed cosmetologists from every state via endorsement — no re-schooling when your training meets its 1,600 training hours requirement. Applications go to the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses); the fee is $60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400).
Moving to Idaho from a specific state?
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,600 required training hours, Idaho 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.
Hours verified current: the 2026 bill (H0513) to cut cosmetology hours from 1,600 to 1,000 died when the legislature adjourned; Section 54-5810 (last amended 2022) still requires 1,600 school hours or 3,200 apprentice hours. Licensees short on endorsement qualifications may credit 200 student hours (or 400 apprentice hours) per 6 months of practical experience toward exam eligibility. Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026.
Idaho requirements at a glance
| Exam | No examination is retaken for endorsement if your issuing jurisdiction's licensure standards were not lower than Idaho's, or you practiced cosmetology at least 1 of the last 3 years; applicants who cannot qualify by endorsement receive experience credit toward hours and must pass the NIC written and practical exams |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,600 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400) |
| Processing time | not stated; board says completed applications are reviewed between board meetings when there is no criminal or discipline history |
Step by step
- Confirm Idaho's current requirements on the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current license issued by another state, territory, possession, or country.
- Provide official documentation that the issuing jurisdiction's licensure standards are not lower than Idaho's, or documentation of at least 1 year of practice within the 3 years before applying.
- Be at least 16.5 years old with at least two years of high school or equivalent education.
- Apply and upload documents through the DOPL online services account.
- Pay the fees ($60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400)) and allow not stated; board says completed applications are reviewed between board meetings when there is no criminal or discipline history.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Idaho:
All 41 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Idaho?
Idaho accepts licensed cosmetologists from every state via endorsement — no re-schooling when your training meets its 1,600 training hours requirement. Applications go to the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses); the fee is $60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400).
How many training hours does Idaho require for cosmetology?
1,600 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Idaho's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in Idaho?
No examination is retaken for endorsement if your issuing jurisdiction's licensure standards were not lower than Idaho's, or you practiced cosmetology at least 1 of the last 3 years; applicants who cannot qualify by endorsement receive experience credit toward hours and must pass the NIC written and practical exams.
What does the transfer cost and how long does it take?
$60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400); processing not stated; board says completed applications are reviewed between board meetings when there is no criminal or discipline history.
Is Idaho in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Idaho has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Idaho Code 54-5816 — Endorsement Licensure ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho Code 54-5810 — Qualifications for Licensure (1,600 school hours / 3,200 apprentice hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDAPA 24.28.01 — Rules of the Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (fees, NIC exams, out-of-state experience credit) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]