Cosmetology / Barber License from Hawaii to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New York accept a Hawaii cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This move runs downhill. Hawaii trained you to 1,800 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 Hawaii 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
Hawaii to New York (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
New York to Hawaii (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Hawaii matter?
Coming from Hawaii 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 Hawaii.
Hawaii's row names no reciprocity agreement states.
- CLC membership
Neither Hawaii nor New York has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact.
- Application fee
New York lists $40 for an out-of-state applicant and Hawaii lists $92–$165 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Hawaii lists 4–8 weeks for the reverse move; New York has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Training hours
New York's first-time-applicant standard is 1,000 training hours for the standard license; Hawaii's is 1,800.
New York's is 800 training hours lower than Hawaii's.
- Exam rules on record
New York and Hawaii 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
- Hawaii (the reverse move): You may qualify for an examination waiver (no Hawaii exam) if you obtained a passing score on the NIC or PSI Services examination in another jurisdiction — apply via examination waiver with proof of passing; otherwise you must pass Hawaii's licensing examination, administered by PSI Services since January 1, 2026
What changes, Hawaii → New York
| Hawaii (current) | New York (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Reciprocity with 27 states |
| Training hours | 1,800 | 1,000 |
| Application fee | $92–$165 (examination-waiver applicants pay $92 if licensed in an odd-numbered year or $165 in an even-numbered year ($20 non-refundable application + $22 license + Compliance Resolution Fund, plus half the renewal fee in even years); exam-route applicants pay the $20 application fee first, with exam fees paid to PSI and license fees after passing; optional temporary permit (exam applicants only) $40) | $40 (cosmetology license application fee; $50 combined fee if applying for the initial license and a temporary license together) |
| Processing time | 4–8 weeks (applications are ratified at monthly board meetings; license card mailed approximately 2-3 weeks after the meeting) | Department of State does not publish a processing timeframe |
| Licensing authority | Hawaii Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (DCCA Professional and Vocational Licensing Division) | 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)
- Hawaii DCCA — Barbering and Cosmetology FAQs (rev. 04/29/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Hawaii DCCA PVL — Board of Barbering and Cosmetology ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Hawaii DCCA PVL — Barbering and Cosmetology Examination Information (NIC/PSI examination waiver; PSI Services vendor from January 1, 2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Hawaii DCCA — Beauty Operator License application and instructions, forms COSM-00A/COSM-01 (rev. 11/2025) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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