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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) ↗

New York has published reciprocity arrangements covering Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and accepts other states' cosmetologists by endorsement. Requirements center on 1,000 training hours; the application fee is $40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together).

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Verdict

Reciprocity with 27 states

New York's 1,000-hour requirement sits at the low end of the national range, which makes it an easy destination: almost every state trains at or above this level, so incoming transfers rarely face an hour deficit. The checklist below is mostly administrative — verification, application, fee.

Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact member as of 2026. Partner list combines the DOS reciprocity table (with licensure-duration requirements of 1-5 years for some) and the separate endorsement agreements for cosmetology (New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming; current licensure plus letter of good standing within six months).

New York requirements at a glance

Out-of-state cosmetology license transfer requirements for New York, verified 2026-07-21
ExamNew York written and practical exams are not retaken by qualifying applicants from listed reciprocity or endorsement states (certification of licensure required; some states require 1-5 years of licensure); applicants from any other state can qualify without exams only by documenting five years of licensed cosmetology experience, otherwise both New York exams are required
Training hours1,000 hours
Additional requirements
  • Hold a current cosmetology license in a listed reciprocity or endorsement state; Arizona and North Dakota require 1 year, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont 2 years, Idaho 3, Montana 4, Colorado, Missouri, and DC 5 years of licensure
  • Submit an original certification of licensure from the state board where you are currently licensed (endorsement states require a letter of good standing dated within six months)
  • Massachusetts and Pennsylvania applicants must also submit two experience statements on form DOS-1543 from two different people
  • Applicants from non-listed states must document five years of licensed experience, or complete a 1,000-hour approved course and pass the New York written and practical exams
Fees$40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together)
Processing timeDepartment of State does not publish a processing timeframe

Step by step

  1. Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a current cosmetology license in a listed reciprocity or endorsement state; Arizona and North Dakota require 1 year, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont 2 years, Idaho 3, Montana 4, Colorado, Missouri, and DC 5 years of licensure.
  5. Submit an original certification of licensure from the state board where you are currently licensed (endorsement states require a letter of good standing dated within six months).
  6. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania applicants must also submit two experience statements on form DOS-1543 from two different people.
  7. Applicants from non-listed states must document five years of licensed experience, or complete a 1,000-hour approved course and pass the New York written and practical exams.
  8. Pay the fees ($40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together)) and allow Department of State does not publish a processing timeframe.

Official links

New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) ↗New York application ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into New York:

Alabama → New YorkAlaska → New YorkArizona → New YorkArkansas → New YorkCalifornia → New YorkColorado → New YorkConnecticut → New YorkDelaware → New YorkDistrict of Columbia → New YorkFlorida → New YorkGeorgia → New YorkHawaii → New YorkIdaho → New YorkIllinois → New YorkIndiana → New YorkIowa → New YorkKansas → New YorkKentucky → New YorkLouisiana → New YorkMaine → New York
All 50 origin states
Maryland → New YorkMassachusetts → New YorkMichigan → New YorkMinnesota → New YorkMississippi → New YorkMissouri → New YorkMontana → New YorkNebraska → New YorkNevada → New YorkNew Hampshire → New YorkNew Jersey → New YorkNew Mexico → New YorkNorth Carolina → New YorkNorth Dakota → New YorkOhio → New YorkOklahoma → New YorkOregon → New YorkPennsylvania → New YorkRhode Island → New YorkSouth Carolina → New YorkSouth Dakota → New YorkTennessee → New YorkTexas → New YorkUtah → New YorkVermont → New YorkVirginia → New YorkWashington → New YorkWest Virginia → New YorkWisconsin → New YorkWyoming → New York

Frequently asked questions

Does my cosmetology license transfer to New York?

New York has published reciprocity arrangements covering Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, and accepts other states' cosmetologists by endorsement. Requirements center on 1,000 training hours; the application fee is $40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together).

How many training hours does New York require for cosmetology?

1,000 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review New York's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.

Will I have to retake exams in New York?

New York written and practical exams are not retaken by qualifying applicants from listed reciprocity or endorsement states (certification of licensure required; some states require 1-5 years of licensure); applicants from any other state can qualify without exams only by documenting five years of licensed cosmetology experience, otherwise both New York exams are required.

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

$40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together); processing Department of State does not publish a processing timeframe.

Is New York in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?

No — New York has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) is the transfer path.

Sources

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