How to Transfer A Cosmetology License
How to transfer a cosmetology license to another state, whether it’s a barber, cosmetology, hairstylist, esthetician, or any other professional license? Specifically, these instructions are for gaining reciprocity for license transfer licenses within the United States. The directions for changing licenses in other territories and countries may be different.
Transferring a license from one state to another isn’t terribly difficult, you just have to be prepared.
To transfer a cosmetology license is called reciprocity
Reciprocity is the correct term for transferring licenses from one state to another. It’s not difficult but it takes time to put all of the paperwork together.
The process is different for every state. Though transferring a license from state to state is possible. It doesn’t matter where you are moving, one way or another each state has a process that allows you to transfer a cosmetology license or transfer an esthetician license, fairly easily.
Transferring a license is not exactly the same in every state. Though, each are roughly similar enough that you can expect to need the same papers for every state.
Step 1- Reciprocity
Google reciprocity or ‘license transfer’ for cosmetology, or esthetician, or barber, in X state.
You will be sent to the state’s licensing board website. Some states have a DORA site (Department Of Regulatory Agency), but others have their own state board licensing office where you must send your application form.
Not all states have reciprocity on their site’s menu directory, sometimes you have to click on two or three pages before you are led to the application form.
Step 2- Transfer A ‘Cosmetology License Application Form‘
Once you arrive at the reciprocity application form, there are usually one or two pages of detailed instructions for you to follow that you DO NOT include in the envelope with your application. These instructions are usually straight forward but BE CAREFUL with the lingo. Sometimes they use technical and legal terms when listing instructions for what documents to include with your application.
Some states include a questionnaire ‘written test’ attached to their application. Don’t worry, it’s just asking simple questions, mostly personal questions for example, ‘Have you ever been convicted of a felony?’ and ‘Do you suffer from any infectious diseases?’
Though sometimes the questions seem silly, answer them all the same because the state will take your application fee and send the application back if you don’t answer every question.
Step 3- Paperwork to Gather
#1 suggestion here… MAKE COPIES! If you ever need to transfer a cosmetology license again (or transfer an esthetician license), if the application office contacts you because they lost one of your documents, you already have another on hand and can send it in right away.
In the last state I got reciprocity in, they lost my ID (proof of age) and I had to send it again. Having copies is a good idea.
Every state will ask you for copies of the following documents. READ CAREFULLY if the documents listed on the application need to be ORIGINAL or copies. Usually, copies are acceptable but occasionally there are one or two documents that require originals.
Again, follow the application instructions carefully! Because if you miss anything the state will keep the application fee but deny the application and you will have to start over.
COPY-
High School Diploma or GED certificate
Proof of Age– Drivers license or Passport with a birthdate written on it. Or even a birth certificate.
School of training graduation certificate– Barber School Graduation, Cosmetology School Graduation certificates. Include EVERY ONE YOU HAVE! If you hold several licenses, you MUST include all of the certificates. Even if you do not use those licenses or received them in multiple states.
Accredited hours list that your school gives you at the time of completion. This document proves how many total hours you received at school. The accredited hours are compatible with the state of transfer’s requirements.
Again, include EVERY ONE YOU HAVE! Both barber and cosmetology. Hairstylist and esthetician. Whatever the case may be, even if you are applying to transfer only one of your licenses. Each state has a different requirement of hours attended in trade school.
Copies of your current cosmetology or barber license, or esthetician license.
If you have several licenses, include copies of each. DO NOT include old licenses that have expired but have been renewed. They only care about which states you have been licensed in (lapsed licenses) and current licenses.
I strongly suggest making copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates for those who have had legal name changes. Even if your cosmetology license or high school diploma have different legal names than your current legal name.
Step 4- Verification, The Hard Part
The hardest part to transfer a cosmetology license is getting verification from the state. You usually have to pay the state and send a written request. The verification will be sent with the state seal to the office of the state boards of the state you want to get reciprocity in.
Getting verification can become difficult if you already hold licenses in several states. Some offices have changed their policies since the pandemic, so you must contact each state of licensure (where you hold each of your licenses) to confirm how they require requests for verification.
Also, each state requires a verification fee to the state where you already hold a license or several licenses. The fee amount varies from state to state. Usually, it ranges from $5-$50 USD and only accepts cashier’s checks. No cash, and no personal checks- to get a cashier’s check visit your bank.
At the moment, I hold licenses in 4 separate states and am transferring my license to another state. I have to write snail mail requests to each state office, with their own verification fees (each state’s fee amount is different), they will then send the verification to my next state of licensure either via email, with the official board seal, or snail mail with the official board seal.
For a select few states, a valid and current license is enough to verify. But others require contact from the other state office directly.
It’s inconsistent. Which is why you MUST call each state where you hold a license to confirm how they go about this process.
Step 5- Ouch, the application fee
On the first page of your license transfer application, the application fee will be listed in one of the first requirements. It will be included in the form of a cashier’s check only with the rest of your documents when you send it in.
Each state’s application fee is different. One state that I received a cosmetology license in waved the fee for anyone under the age of 25. But I have only ever seen that once.
Usually, the fee sits in the $25-$75 range. But can be higher depending on the state.
When submitting your application DO NOT forget to include the cashier’s check! If there are documents missing they will contact you, but if you do not include the application fee your application will be disregarded.
Step 6- Double Check Your Paperwork
Page 1 of the application will be the list of documents to include, double-check that you aren’t missing any of the documents they are asking for.
It is much better to over-prepare than to under-prepare. If you are including a copy of your birth certificate and a copy of your marriage certificate to prove a legal name change, even though the application didn’t specify that it was necessary, that is an example of over-preparing.
If the office doesn’t need your extra paperwork, they will disregard it. But if you are under-prepared and don’t include all of the required documents,
VERIFICATION WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN YOUR ENVELOPE. But if you have already contacted your current state for verification, include a letter stating that you have requested verification from your current state on X date.
I highly suggest NOT requesting verification before you send the application but request verification the same day that you send the application. If the office receives verification of licensure for a person that they haven’t received an application for it would be confusing and pointless.
Now that you have double-checked all of your documents, double-check the address!
To Transfer a Cosmetology License can be exhausting
Take a Breather!
You did it! You’ve done everything you can do at this point, well done!
Don’t forget that even after this stressful process you need time for your own self-care. Though I hope this article helped relieve some of that stress. For tips on this please visit Work-Life Balance in the Salon, Preventing Burnout
Now, you just wait a few weeks to receive an email from the new state’s office saying that they have received our application and are taking it under review.
If it has been 4 weeks or more, and you haven’t heard from the office about your cosmetology license transfer, CALL THEM. Sometimes your paperwork gets lost in the mail or gets lost on somebody’s desk.
It doesn’t happen very often but we live in a human world. Mistakes happen. The system can be slow. It is okay to bug them a little bit to see how it’s coming along.
Above when I mentioned needing to send my ID (proof of age) twice, they actually forgot to call me to say that they had lost it. It had been over 4 weeks, so I called them and they were waiting for a document I didn’t even know they were waiting on. But was an easy fix and had my new license within the month.
If the office is having trouble with your application, please be patient with them. Even though it is frustrating and makes you want to pull your hair out (I’ve been there too, believe me) it’s not worth taking it out on the person on the other side of the line.
In fact, if you are kind and patient with an office worker who is struggling with your application they will move your paperwork along faster if you do not become angry with them.
Finally
You applied for your new license! Congratulations!
For most states, especially since the pandemic, you will receive your new license via email and will need to print it yourself.
And may I be the first, to offer my most genuine congratulations for the new stage of life that moved you to your new state! I sincerely hope that this move is good for you and your business!