Cosmetology / Barber License from Hawaii to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Florida Board of Cosmetology (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Hawaii to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Board of Cosmetology (Department of Business and Professional Regulation), verify your Hawaii license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. The Florida cosmetology examination is not required for endorsement applicants who hold a current, active cosmetology license in another state, and Florida's education requirements are also waived.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This move runs downhill. Hawaii trained you to 1,800 hours; Florida requires only 1,200. 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 changes, Hawaii → Florida
| Hawaii (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Full re-application required | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,800 | 1,200 |
| Application fee | $20 (non-refundable beauty operator application fee; license fees per Fees Due notice after passing the exam and Prometric exam fees are additional; optional temporary permit $37) | $95 (COSMO 4-B endorsement application fee per the official DBPR form (eff. June 2023); fee waivers available for military members and spouses) |
| Processing time | 4–8 weeks (applications are ratified at monthly board meetings; license card mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after the meeting) | no timeframe published by DBPR |
| Licensing authority | Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) | Florida Board of Cosmetology (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida Board of Cosmetology (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida Board of Cosmetology (Department of Business and Professional Regulation) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current, active cosmetology license in another state.
- Be at least 16 years old or hold a high school diploma.
- Complete a board-approved 4-hour initial HIV/AIDS course within two years before applying and submit the completion certificate.
- Possess a Social Security number.
- Pay the fees ($95 (COSMO 4-B endorsement application fee per the official DBPR form (eff. June 2023); fee waivers available for military members and spouses)) and allow no timeframe published by DBPR.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a Hawaii cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Hawaii to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida Board of Cosmetology (Department of Business and Professional Regulation), verify your Hawaii license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. The Florida cosmetology examination is not required for endorsement applicants who hold a current, active cosmetology license in another state, and Florida's education requirements are also waived.
Will Florida make me retake the cosmetology exams?
The Florida cosmetology examination is not required for endorsement applicants who hold a current, active cosmetology license in another state, and Florida's education requirements are also waived.
What does the Hawaii-to-Florida transfer cost and how long does it take?
$95 (COSMO 4-B endorsement application fee per the official DBPR form (eff. June 2023); fee waivers available for military members and spouses); processing no timeframe published by DBPR.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Florida Statutes 477.019 (2025) — qualifications and licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- DBPR COSMO 4-B application form, $95 fee ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA — Barbering and Cosmetology FAQs (rev. 04/29/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA PVL — Board of Barbering and 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]