Cosmetology / Barber License from Michigan to Hawaii: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) ↗
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Michigan cosmetology license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
The number that defines this move: Michigan licensed you at 1,500 training hours, and Hawaii requires 1,800 — a 300-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 Hawaii's position accept documented licensed work experience, supplemental hours, or their own exams. The requirements below are the exact menu Hawaii offers.
What changes, Michigan → Hawaii
| Michigan (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Full re-application required |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,800 |
| Application fee | $63 (application fee plus 2-year license fee; same $63 total for licensure by examination or reciprocity) | $20 (non-refundable beauty operator application fee; license fees per Fees Due notice after passing the exam and Prometric exam fees are additional; optional temporary permit $37) |
| Processing time | LARA does not publish a processing timeframe in the cosmetology licensing guide | 4–8 weeks (applications are ratified at monthly board meetings; license card mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after the meeting) |
| Licensing authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing — Cosmetology | Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Hawaii sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Hawaii's initial-licensure requirements on the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Hawaii's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees ($20 (non-refundable beauty operator application fee; license fees per Fees Due notice after passing the exam and Prometric exam fees are additional; optional temporary permit $37)).
- Allow 4–8 weeks (applications are ratified at monthly board meetings; license card mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after the meeting).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii accept a Michigan cosmetology license?
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Michigan cosmetology license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Michigan required 1,500 hours but Hawaii wants 1,800 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 300-hour gap can usually be bridged without re-enrolling: Hawaii's options are listed in the requirements on this page (experience substitution and examination are the common routes). Contact the Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) with your license history before paying for school hours.
Will Hawaii make me retake the cosmetology exams?
All applicants, including out-of-state licensees, must pass Hawaii's licensing examination administered through Prometric; there is no exam waiver or endorsement path.
What does the Michigan-to-Hawaii transfer cost and how long does it take?
$20 (non-refundable beauty operator application fee; license fees per Fees Due notice after passing the exam and Prometric exam fees are additional; optional temporary permit $37); processing 4–8 weeks (applications are ratified at monthly board meetings; license card mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after the meeting).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Hawaii DCCA — Barbering and Cosmetology FAQs (rev. 04/29/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA PVL — Board of Barbering and Cosmetology ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- LARA — Cosmetology (profession page) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- LARA — Michigan Cosmetology Licensing Guide (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan Admin Code R 338.2121b — Licensure by endorsement ↗ (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]