Cosmetology / Barber License from Massachusetts to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Massachusetts to Maryland by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing), verify your Massachusetts license, and meet Maryland's endorsement requirements. Most transfer applicants do not retake exams; applicants originally examined in Alaska (after 12/7/2020), California (after 1/1/2022), Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania (after 11/24/2014), or South Dakota must pass both the Maryland theory and practical examinations.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The number that defines this move: Massachusetts licensed you at 1,000 training hours, and Maryland requires 1,500 — a 500-hour deficit on paper. That does not usually mean going back to school. It means proving the gap is covered another way: most boards in Maryland's position accept documented licensed work experience, supplemental hours, or their own exams. The requirements below are the exact menu Maryland offers.
What changes, Massachusetts → Maryland
| Massachusetts (current) | Maryland (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | CLC enacted — not yet issuing |
| Training hours | 1,000 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $136–$204 ($204 transfer application when no examination is required; $136 application when examination is required) | $28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe for license transfers | board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure) | Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maryland sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current, active license in good standing from a U.S. state, territory, or jurisdiction with comparable licensing requirements.
- Have your original licensing state send an official license certification, including disciplinary history, directly to the board (applicant-submitted documents are not accepted).
- Complete a one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training course through a Maryland Board-approved provider.
- Applicants first licensed in certain states (including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee) must document at least 6 months of work experience.
- Pay the fees ($28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee)) and allow board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland accept a Massachusetts cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Massachusetts to Maryland by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing), verify your Massachusetts license, and meet Maryland's endorsement requirements. Most transfer applicants do not retake exams; applicants originally examined in Alaska (after 12/7/2020), California (after 1/1/2022), Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania (after 11/24/2014), or South Dakota must pass both the Maryland theory and practical examinations.
Massachusetts required 1,000 hours but Maryland wants 1,500 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 500-hour gap can usually be bridged without re-enrolling: Maryland's options are listed in the requirements on this page (experience substitution and examination are the common routes). Contact the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) with your license history before paying for school hours.
Will Maryland make me retake the cosmetology exams?
Most transfer applicants do not retake exams; applicants originally examined in Alaska (after 12/7/2020), California (after 1/1/2022), Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania (after 11/24/2014), or South Dakota must pass both the Maryland theory and practical examinations.
What does the Massachusetts-to-Maryland transfer cost and how long does it take?
$28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee); processing board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Maryland Board of Cosmetologists — Apply for Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocal) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland Board of Cosmetologists — License Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Mass.gov — Transfer a cosmetology, aesthetics, manicuring, barber, or electrology license to Massachusetts ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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