Cosmetology / Barber License from Arkansas to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New York accept an Arkansas cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Arkansas to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology), verify your Arkansas license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. New York written and practical exams are not retaken by qualifying applicants from listed reciprocity or endorsement states (certification of licensure required; some states require 1-5 years of licensure); applicants from any other state can qualify without exams only by documenting five years of licensed cosmetology experience, otherwise both New York exams are required.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This move runs downhill. Arkansas trained you to 1,500 hours; New York requires only 1,000. 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's different between Arkansas and New York
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into New York. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Arkansas to New York (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
New York to Arkansas (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Arkansas matter?
Coming from Arkansas matters here: only 23 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into New York.
The others get: reciprocity agreement (27).
- Reciprocity agreements
New York's reciprocity agreement list names 27 states, not including Arkansas.
Arkansas's row names no reciprocity agreement states.
- CLC membership
Neither Arkansas nor New York has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact.
- Application fee
New York lists $40 for an out-of-state applicant and Arkansas lists $50 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Training hours
New York's first-time-applicant standard is 1,000 training hours for the standard license; Arkansas's is 1,500.
New York's is 500 training hours lower than Arkansas's.
- Exam rules on record
New York and Arkansas carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- New York (this move): New York written and practical exams are not retaken by qualifying applicants from listed reciprocity or endorsement states (certification of licensure required; some states require 1-5 years of licensure); applicants from any other state can qualify without exams only by documenting five years of licensed cosmetology experience, otherwise both New York exams are required
- Arkansas (the reverse move): If licensed one year or more, only the Arkansas state law exam is required; if licensed under one year, the written exam must also be passed before a license is issued
What changes, Arkansas → New York
| Arkansas (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Reciprocity with 27 states |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,000 |
| Application fee | $50 (nonrefundable application fee (10.2024 application for automatic or out-of-state licensure); exam fees paid separately to the test vendor) | $40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together) |
| Processing time | no processing timeline published by the Cosmetology Section | Department of State does not publish a processing timeframe |
| Licensing authority | Arkansas Department of Health — Cosmetology Section | New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current cosmetology license in a listed reciprocity or endorsement state; Arizona and North Dakota require 1 year, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont 2 years, Idaho 3, Montana 4, Colorado, Missouri, and DC 5 years of licensure.
- Submit an original certification of licensure from the state board where you are currently licensed (endorsement states require a letter of good standing dated within six months).
- Massachusetts and Pennsylvania applicants must also submit two experience statements on form DOS-1543 from two different people.
- Applicants from non-listed states must document five years of licensed experience, or complete a 1,000-hour approved course and pass the New York written and practical exams.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- NY DOS — Cosmetology Reciprocity (state table, certification, $40 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NY DOS — Endorsement States (cosmetology endorsement list) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NY DOS — Become a Cosmetologist (1,000-hour course, exams, 5-year experience path) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ADH Cosmetology — Application for Automatic Licensure or Out-of-State Licensure (10.2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ADH Cosmetology — Reciprocity Requirements for Hours (1,500 hours for cosmetologist) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ADH — Cosmetology Forms, Reciprocity, and Military ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- ADH — Cosmetology Fee Schedule (Reciprocity for a Practitioner $50 one-time fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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