Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to South Carolina: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) ↗
Yes — South Carolina licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). The key test is training: South Carolina requires 1,500 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80).
Moving to South Carolina from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,500 required training hours, South Carolina 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.
Board FAQ states it does not currently offer reciprocity for any license type; licensure by endorsement is the out-of-state transfer path. 1,500 classroom hours required per S.C. Code 40-13-230. Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026.
South Carolina requirements at a glance
| Exam | No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,500 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80) |
| Processing time | board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received |
Step by step
- Confirm South Carolina's current requirements on the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active cosmetology license in good standing in another state.
- Request license verification from each state where you hold or have held a license, sent directly from the original issuing state board to the SC Board of Cosmetology.
- Include a copy of the continuing-education certificate of completion if qualifying through the two-year licensure plus 4-hour CE route.
- Submit supplemental forms with the endorsement application, including a Verification of Lawful Presence affidavit, notarized signature affidavit, and passport-type photo.
- Pay the fees ($60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80)) and allow board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into South Carolina:
Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to South Carolina?
Yes — South Carolina licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation). The key test is training: South Carolina requires 1,500 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80).
How many training hours does South Carolina require for cosmetology?
1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review South Carolina's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in South Carolina?
No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
What does the transfer cost and how long does it take?
$60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80); processing board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received.
Is South Carolina in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — South Carolina has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- SC LLR Board of Cosmetology — FAQ (endorsement and examination requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC LLR Board of Cosmetology — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 40, Chapter 13 (Sections 40-13-230, 40-13-270) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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