Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Idaho: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Idaho?
Idaho accepts licensed cosmetologists from every state via endorsement — no re-schooling when your training meets its 1,600 training hours requirement. Applications go to the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses); the fee is $60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400).
Moving to Idaho from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,600 required training hours, Idaho sits in the national mainstream. Transfers from most states clear the hour bar; if you trained in one of the low-hour states (around 1,000-1,200 hours), check the gap-closing options in the requirements below before assuming you need more schooling.
Hours verified current: the 2026 bill (H0513) to cut cosmetology hours from 1,600 to 1,000 died when the legislature adjourned; Section 54-5810 (last amended 2022) still requires 1,600 school hours or 3,200 apprentice hours. Licensees short on endorsement qualifications may credit 200 student hours (or 400 apprentice hours) per 6 months of practical experience toward exam eligibility. Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026.
Idaho requirements at a glance
| Exam | No examination is retaken for endorsement if your issuing jurisdiction's licensure standards were not lower than Idaho's, or you practiced cosmetology at least 1 of the last 3 years; applicants who cannot qualify by endorsement receive experience credit toward hours and must pass the NIC written and practical exams |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,600 training hours for the standard license |
| Fees | $60 ($25 application fee + $35 endorsement license fee per IDAPA 24.28.01.400) |
| Processing time | not stated; board says completed applications are reviewed between board meetings when there is no criminal or discipline history |
Step by step
- Confirm Idaho's current requirements on the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current license issued by another state, territory, possession, or country.
- Provide official documentation that the issuing jurisdiction's licensure standards are not lower than Idaho's, or documentation of at least 1 year of practice within the 3 years before applying.
- Be at least 16.5 years old with at least two years of high school or equivalent education.
- Apply and upload documents through the DOPL online services account.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Idaho:
Nearby states
Cosmetology / Barber license transfer into the states bordering Idaho:
Idaho for other professions
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Idaho require for cosmetology?
1,600 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Idaho's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Is Idaho in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Idaho has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Idaho Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Idaho Code 54-5816 — Endorsement Licensure ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho Code 54-5810 — Qualifications for Licensure (1,600 school hours / 3,200 apprentice hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDAPA 24.28.01 — Rules of the Barber and Cosmetology Services Licensing Board (fees, NIC exams, out-of-state experience credit) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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