Cosmetology / Barber License from Illinois to Indiana: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between Illinois and Indiana

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Indiana. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Illinois to Indiana (this page): Licensure by endorsement.

Indiana to Illinois (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Illinois matter?

Coming from Illinois does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Indiana.

CLC membership

Neither Illinois nor Indiana has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact.

Application fee

Indiana lists $40 for an out-of-state applicant and Illinois lists $45 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Training hours

Indiana's first-time-applicant standard is 1,500 training hours for the standard license; Illinois's is 1,500.

The two standards are the same.

Exam rules on record

Indiana and Illinois carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• Indiana (this move): Indiana's written and practical exams are not retaken for qualifying reciprocity applicants; the issuing jurisdiction must have required at least 70% passing scores on written and practical exams. Applicants from non-qualifying jurisdictions must transfer hours to an Indiana beauty culture school, graduate, and apply by examination
• Illinois (the reverse move): Exams are not retaken if your out-of-state license is the same as or substantially similar to the Illinois cosmetologist license; endorsement applicants who cannot satisfy all requirements may be required to submit additional information, take additional coursework, and/or pass the Illinois examination

What changes, Illinois → Indiana

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Indiana sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

1. Confirm Indiana's current requirements on the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the endorsement application to the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a valid license from a jurisdiction with substantially equal requirements — at least 1,500 education hours, or at least 1,000 hours plus credited licensed practice (1 year of practice = 100 hours).
5. Submit license certification from every state or country where you hold or have held a license (with disciplinary-action field).
6. Be at least 18 years old with a tenth grade education or equivalent.
7. Issuing jurisdiction must have required at least 70% passing scores on written and practical exams.
8. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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