Cosmetology / Barber License from Illinois to Montana: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Illinois to Montana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division), verify your Illinois license, and meet Montana's endorsement requirements. NIC exam results transfer — applicants who already passed the NIC cosmetology theory and practical exams are not re-examined; applicants who have not passed the NIC exams must register for and pass them (at least 75%) through the board's contractor, Prov.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Illinois and Montana require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is Montana's administrative checklist below.
What changes, Illinois → Montana
| Illinois (current) | Montana (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $45 (endorsement fee per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a)(7)) | $80 (cosmetologist application fee; nonrefundable; paying the fee submits the application) |
| Processing time | IDFPR does not publish a processing time for cosmetologist endorsement | staff contact applicants by email within 10 business days of submission; a 60-day provisional license (reservation of rights) may be issued while out-of-state license verification is pending |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) | Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Montana sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Submit official license verification from every state or jurisdiction in which you hold or have ever held a professional license.
- Be at least 18 years old and have graduated high school or its equivalent.
- Provide proof of passage of the NIC theory and practical cosmetology exams (or register to take them through Prov).
- Apply and pay through the state online licensing portal (Accela).
- Pay the fees ($80 (cosmetologist application fee; nonrefundable; paying the fee submits the application)) and allow staff contact applicants by email within 10 business days of submission; a 60-day provisional license (reservation of rights) may be issued while out-of-state license verification is pending.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Montana accept a Illinois cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Illinois to Montana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Department of Labor & Industry, Business Standards Division), verify your Illinois license, and meet Montana's endorsement requirements. NIC exam results transfer — applicants who already passed the NIC cosmetology theory and practical exams are not re-examined; applicants who have not passed the NIC exams must register for and pass them (at least 75%) through the board's contractor, Prov.
Will Montana make me retake the cosmetology exams?
NIC exam results transfer — applicants who already passed the NIC cosmetology theory and practical exams are not re-examined; applicants who have not passed the NIC exams must register for and pass them (at least 75%) through the board's contractor, Prov.
What does the Illinois-to-Montana transfer cost and how long does it take?
$80 (cosmetologist application fee; nonrefundable; paying the fee submits the application); processing staff contact applicants by email within 10 business days of submission; a 60-day provisional license (reservation of rights) may be issued while out-of-state license verification is pending.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists — Cosmetologist Licensing Requirements and Application Checklist (updated 8/10/24) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists — Cosmetologist license page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists — board homepage (HB 246 out-of-state pathway effective 11/22/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Qualifications for Licensure: Cosmetologist (011), rev. 9/2025 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Cosmetology profession page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100 — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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