Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Pennsylvania: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology ↗
Pennsylvania has published reciprocity arrangements covering Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and accepts other states' cosmetologists by endorsement. Requirements center on 1,250 training hours; the application fee is $89 (licensure by reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application fee, applied for through the PALS portal).
Moving to Pennsylvania from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Reciprocity with 41 states
At 1,250 required training hours, Pennsylvania 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.
The board states it has a reciprocal agreement with every state except Connecticut, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Utah; licensees from those eight states may qualify through Act 41 endorsement (substantially equivalent requirements, same $89 fee). Education requirement is 1,250 school hours or 2,000 apprenticeship hours. Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026.
Pennsylvania requirements at a glance
| Exam | Exams are not retaken — an applicant who meets the criteria for licensure by reciprocity may obtain the license without examination (49 Pa. Code 7.31(b)) |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,250 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $89 (licensure by reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application fee, applied for through the PALS portal) |
| Processing time | the board's processing guide describes a three-phase timeline but publishes no fixed durations |
Step by step
- Confirm Pennsylvania's current requirements on the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology website — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current license with a minimum of two years of licensed work experience, documented by signed employer certifications.
- Provide criminal history records checks, dated within 180 days, from every state where you lived, worked, or trained during the past five years.
- Be licensed in a state with which Pennsylvania holds a reciprocal agreement; applicants from the eight non-reciprocal states apply by Act 41 endorsement instead.
- Pay the fees ($89 (licensure by reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application fee, applied for through the PALS portal)) and allow the board's processing guide describes a three-phase timeline but publishes no fixed durations.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Pennsylvania:
All 50 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has published reciprocity arrangements covering Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and accepts other states' cosmetologists by endorsement. Requirements center on 1,250 training hours; the application fee is $89 (licensure by reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application fee, applied for through the PALS portal).
How many training hours does Pennsylvania require for cosmetology?
1,250 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Pennsylvania's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in Pennsylvania?
Exams are not retaken — an applicant who meets the criteria for licensure by reciprocity may obtain the license without examination (49 Pa. Code 7.31(b)).
What does the transfer cost and how long does it take?
$89 (licensure by reciprocity / Act 41 endorsement application fee, applied for through the PALS portal); processing the board's processing guide describes a three-phase timeline but publishes no fixed durations.
Is Pennsylvania in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Pennsylvania has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Pennsylvania State Board of Cosmetology is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]