Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to North Dakota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology ↗
North Dakota accepts licensed cosmetologists from every state via endorsement — no re-schooling when your training meets its 1,500 training hours requirement. Applications go to the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology; the fee is $105 (endorsement (reciprocity) fee, paid together with a $50 original license fee only after the board approves the application; ND Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams costs extra if required).
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,500 required training hours, North Dakota 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.
Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact member as of 2026. Endorsement form SFN 11800 (revised 12-2025) lists cosmetologist requirements as 1,500 education hours or 2,500 apprenticeship hours plus passage of a practical test, the NIC National Theory test, and the ND Laws, Rules and Regulations test. Fees are non-refundable and not due until approval.
North Dakota requirements at a glance
| Exam | Prior passage of a practical exam and the NIC national theory exam is credited toward endorsement; the board determines what you qualify for after all documents are received, and you may be required to pass the North Dakota Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,500 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $105 (endorsement (reciprocity) fee, paid together with a $50 original license fee only after the board approves the application; ND Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams costs extra if required) |
| Processing time | no timeframe published; the board holds all paperwork until certification arrives from your licensing state, then notifies you by email what you qualify for |
Step by step
- Confirm North Dakota's current requirements on the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current out-of-state cosmetology license.
- Have a letter of certification and a copy of state license requirements sent directly to the board from every state where you hold or held a license (a copy of your license is not proof of licensure).
- Show completion of 1,500 education hours (or 2,500 registered apprenticeship hours); 1,000+ hours of licensed work experience may substitute for up to 500 school hours, or licensed practice in at least three of the past five years.
- Provide proof of training from a cosmetology school or USDOL registered apprenticeship (official transcript required if licensed under 5 years).
- Submit copies of a primary and a secondary ID per N.D.A.C. 31-01-03-9, plus a notarized work experience affidavit if needed.
- Pay the fees ($105 (endorsement (reciprocity) fee, paid together with a $50 original license fee only after the board approves the application; ND Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams costs extra if required)) and allow no timeframe published; the board holds all paperwork until certification arrives from your licensing state, then notifies you by email what you qualify for.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into North Dakota:
Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to North Dakota?
North Dakota accepts licensed cosmetologists from every state via endorsement — no re-schooling when your training meets its 1,500 training hours requirement. Applications go to the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology; the fee is $105 (endorsement (reciprocity) fee, paid together with a $50 original license fee only after the board approves the application; ND Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams costs extra if required).
How many training hours does North Dakota require for cosmetology?
1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review North Dakota's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in North Dakota?
Prior passage of a practical exam and the NIC national theory exam is credited toward endorsement; the board determines what you qualify for after all documents are received, and you may be required to pass the North Dakota Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams.
What does the transfer cost and how long does it take?
$105 (endorsement (reciprocity) fee, paid together with a $50 original license fee only after the board approves the application; ND Laws, Rules and Regulations test through Prov Exams costs extra if required); processing no timeframe published; the board holds all paperwork until certification arrives from your licensing state, then notifies you by email what you qualify for.
Is North Dakota in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — North Dakota has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- ND State Board of Cosmetology — Out-of-State (endorsement instructions, fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ND Board — Endorsement of License application SFN 11800 (12-2025) ↗ (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]