Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Illinois: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) ↗

A cosmetology license transfers to Illinois by endorsement: the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) verifies your current license and compares your training against its 1,500 training hours requirement. Expect $45 (endorsement fee per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a)(7)) in application fees.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

At 1,500 required training hours, Illinois 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.

IDFPR states Illinois does not reciprocate licenses; endorsement applications are evaluated individually against the 1,500-clock-hour standard. Endorsement applications are filed online via the IDFPR portal. Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026.

Illinois requirements at a glance

Out-of-state cosmetology license transfer requirements for Illinois, verified 2026-07-21
Exam	Exams are not retaken if your out-of-state license is the same as or substantially similar to the Illinois cosmetologist license; endorsement applicants who cannot satisfy all requirements may be required to submit additional information, take additional coursework, and/or pass the Illinois examination
Training hours	1,500 hours
Additional requirements	Hold a current, active cosmetologist license in another U.S. state or jurisdiction Submit official certification of licensure from the jurisdiction of original licensure and from the jurisdiction where currently licensed and practicing, if different License must be the same or substantially similar to Illinois's; licenses obtained through reciprocity in another state may not qualify Provide school transcripts and/or verification of work experience if requested Complete a Department-approved abnormal skin growth (melanoma) education course for applications on or after January 1, 2026
Fees	$45 (endorsement fee per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a)(7))
Processing time	IDFPR does not publish a processing time for cosmetologist endorsement

Step by step

Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) (application linked on this page).
Arrange license verification from your current state.
Hold a current, active cosmetologist license in another U.S. state or jurisdiction.
Submit official certification of licensure from the jurisdiction of original licensure and from the jurisdiction where currently licensed and practicing, if different.
License must be the same or substantially similar to Illinois's; licenses obtained through reciprocity in another state may not qualify.
Provide school transcripts and/or verification of work experience if requested.
Complete a Department-approved abnormal skin growth (melanoma) education course for applications on or after January 1, 2026.
Pay the fees ($45 (endorsement fee per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a)(7))) and allow IDFPR does not publish a processing time for cosmetologist endorsement.

Official links

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) ↗Illinois application ↗

Coming from a specific state?

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Frequently asked questions

Does my cosmetology license transfer to Illinois?

How many training hours does Illinois require for cosmetology?

1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Illinois's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.

Will I have to retake exams in Illinois?

Exams are not retaken if your out-of-state license is the same as or substantially similar to the Illinois cosmetologist license; endorsement applicants who cannot satisfy all requirements may be required to submit additional information, take additional coursework, and/or pass the Illinois examination.

What does the transfer cost and how long does it take?

$45 (endorsement fee per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1175.100(a)(7)); processing IDFPR does not publish a processing time for cosmetologist endorsement.

Is Illinois in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?

No — Illinois has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is the transfer path.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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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