Cosmetology / Barber License from Oregon to New Jersey: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Oregon to New Jersey by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs), verify your Oregon license, and meet New Jersey's endorsement requirements. Licensure by endorsement without the New Jersey exam is possible when the Board finds your out-of-state license and training substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements, or on a notarized affidavit of at least three years of licensed practice; the Board FAQ states that out-of-state applicants otherwise must submit the out-of-state application and pass the Board's examination.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The number that defines this move: Oregon licensed you at 1,110 training hours, and New Jersey requires 1,200 — a 90-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 New Jersey's position accept documented licensed work experience, supplemental hours, or their own exams. The requirements below are the exact menu New Jersey offers.
What changes, Oregon → New Jersey
| Oregon (current) | New Jersey (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,110 | 1,200 |
| Application fee | $100 (non-refundable reciprocity application fee per field of practice; plus $45 written exam per field, $45 Oregon Laws and Rules exam, and $65 reciprocity certification fee (two-year certificate) — about $255 total for a single field) | $100 (nonrefundable endorsement application filing fee; plus $90 licensing fee in the first year of a licensing cycle or $45 in the second year) |
| Processing time | no published timeline; written exams are offered walk-in Monday-Friday and certification is issued after passing all exams and paying fees | Board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Oregon Health Licensing Office — Board of Cosmetology | New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Jersey sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New Jersey's current requirements on the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current license and have your licensing authority send the Verification of State License form directly to the Board with official seal.
- Provide certification that your training (1,200 hours for cosmetology-hairstyling) is substantially equivalent to New Jersey schools, or a notarized affidavit of 3+ years of licensed work experience per N.J.A.C. 13:28-1.1(e)3.
- Submit two passport-style photographs and a copy of your birth certificate, passport, or valid NJ driver's license.
- Provide a copy of your high school diploma, certified transcript, or GED certificate.
- Submit a physician's certificate confirming freedom from infectious, contagious, or communicable disease.
- Pay the fees ($100 (nonrefundable endorsement application filing fee; plus $90 licensing fee in the first year of a licensing cycle or $45 in the second year)) and allow Board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does New Jersey accept a Oregon cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Oregon to New Jersey by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs), verify your Oregon license, and meet New Jersey's endorsement requirements. Licensure by endorsement without the New Jersey exam is possible when the Board finds your out-of-state license and training substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements, or on a notarized affidavit of at least three years of licensed practice; the Board FAQ states that out-of-state applicants otherwise must submit the out-of-state application and pass the Board's examination.
Oregon required 1,110 hours but New Jersey wants 1,200 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 90-hour gap can usually be bridged without re-enrolling: New Jersey's options are listed in the requirements on this page (experience substitution and examination are the common routes). Contact the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) with your license history before paying for school hours.
Will New Jersey make me retake the cosmetology exams?
Licensure by endorsement without the New Jersey exam is possible when the Board finds your out-of-state license and training substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements, or on a notarized affidavit of at least three years of licensed practice; the Board FAQ states that out-of-state applicants otherwise must submit the out-of-state application and pass the Board's examination.
What does the Oregon-to-New Jersey transfer cost and how long does it take?
$100 (nonrefundable endorsement application filing fee; plus $90 licensing fee in the first year of a licensing cycle or $45 in the second year); 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.
- NJ Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling — FAQ (out-of-state licensees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Board — Application for Licensure by Endorsement (fee, N.J.A.C. 13:28-1.1(e)3, 1200 hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Oregon HLO — Cosmetology Reciprocity Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Oregon HLO — Cosmetology Certification Application Information Packet ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Oregon HLO — Transfer your license from another state ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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