Cosmetology / Barber License from Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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
Michigan and Maryland require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is Maryland's administrative checklist below.
What changes, Michigan → Maryland
| Michigan (current) | Maryland (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | CLC enacted — not yet issuing |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $63 (application fee plus 2-year license fee; same $63 total for licensure by examination or reciprocity) | $28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee) |
| Processing time | LARA does not publish a processing timeframe in the cosmetology licensing guide | board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing — Cosmetology | 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 Michigan cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Michigan 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 Michigan 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.
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 Michigan-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)
- 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
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