Cosmetology / Barber License from Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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: Virginia licensed you at 1,000 training hours, and New Jersey requires 1,200 — a 200-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, Virginia → New Jersey
| Virginia (current) | New Jersey (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | CLC enacted — not yet issuing | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,000 | 1,200 |
| Application fee | $120 (License by Endorsement application fee (practitioner) per form A450-1213END) | $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 processing time published on the board pages reviewed | Board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (DPOR) | 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 Virginia cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Virginia 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 Virginia 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.
Virginia required 1,000 hours but New Jersey wants 1,200 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 200-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 Virginia-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)
- DPOR — How to Transfer a License from Another State (Board for Barbers and Cosmetology) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- DPOR — Barber and Cosmetology License by Endorsement application (A450-1213END) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- DPOR — Cosmetology curriculum requirements (1,000-hour program) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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