Cosmetology / Barber License from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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
This move runs downhill. Pennsylvania trained you to 1,250 hours; New Jersey requires only 1,200. With the hour test cleared by a margin, your transfer is administrative — license verification, application, fee — and the requirements below read as a checklist rather than an obstacle course.
What changes, Pennsylvania → New Jersey
| Pennsylvania (current) | New Jersey (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Reciprocity with 41 states | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,250 | 1,200 |
| Application fee | $89 (licensure by reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application fee, applied for through the PALS portal) | $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 | the board's processing guide describes a three-phase timeline but publishes no fixed durations | Board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Pennsylvania State 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 Pennsylvania cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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.
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 Pennsylvania-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)
- PA Department of State — Cosmetology Licensure Guide (reciprocity section) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PA Department of State — Cosmetologist Licensure Snapshot ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 49 Pa. Code Chapter 7 — State Board of Cosmetology ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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