Cosmetology / Barber License from Ohio to Tennessee: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners ↗
Both Ohio and Tennessee have enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued (as of 2026-07-21). Until the compact activates, transfer your cosmetology license the standard way: apply for licensure by endorsement.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact enacted — endorsement for now
Interim path until the compact activates: licensure by endorsement.
Ohio and Tennessee require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is Tennessee's administrative checklist below.
Both states have enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. That changes nothing today — no multistate licenses are issued yet — but it means this specific move is on the short list to become automatic when the compact activates. If your timeline is flexible, check cosmetologycompact.gov before filing.
What changes, Ohio → Tennessee
| Ohio (current) | Tennessee (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | CLC enacted — not yet issuing | CLC enacted — not yet issuing |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $73.5 (non-refundable reciprocity application fee paid via the eLicense portal) | $100 (reciprocity fee, all license types, non-refundable) |
| Processing time | board publishes no review timeline; applications are reviewed after submission and documentation via eLicense | 3–4 weeks (board advises allowing three to four weeks for processing after submitting the online application; receipt of certifications from other state boards varies) |
| Licensing authority | Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board | Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Tennessee sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Tennessee's current requirements on the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current cosmetology license in at least one state; certifications are required from every state where you are or were licensed, but only one license must be current.
- Have each state licensing board send your Certification of License directly to the Tennessee board.
- Complete the Out of State application online at core.tn.gov with the non-refundable application fee.
- Submit acceptable proof of work (tax returns showing occupation or employer letters on letterhead) if you completed fewer than 1,500 school hours — practicing as a licensee for at least 1 of the last 3 years or 2 of the last 5 years.
- Name on your license must match your identification documents.
- Pay the fees ($100 (reciprocity fee, all license types, non-refundable)) and allow 3–4 weeks (board advises allowing three to four weeks for processing after submitting the online application; receipt of certifications from other state boards varies).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee accept a Ohio cosmetology license?
Both Ohio and Tennessee have enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued (as of 2026-07-21). Until the compact activates, transfer your cosmetology license the standard way: apply for licensure by endorsement.
Will Tennessee make me retake the cosmetology exams?
No Tennessee examinations are listed in the reciprocity process; your certification of licensure must show you substantially met Tennessee's qualifications, which include a theory and practical examination for all license types.
What does the Ohio-to-Tennessee transfer cost and how long does it take?
$100 (reciprocity fee, all license types, non-refundable); processing 3–4 weeks (board advises allowing three to four weeks for processing after submitting the online application; receipt of certifications from other state boards varies). Both states have enacted the cosmetology compact — when it activates, this move may no longer require an application at all.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- TN Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board — Renewal, Reciprocity, and Other Resources ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board — License Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board — Reciprocity ↗ (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]