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

What's different between Illinois and Tennessee

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

Route, each way

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

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

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Illinois matter?

Illinois gets Tennessee's most common result: 38 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.

The others get: compact enacted — not yet issuing; until it issues, licensure by endorsement (12).

CLC membership

Tennessee has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; Illinois has not.

Application fee

Tennessee lists $100 for an out-of-state applicant and Illinois lists $45 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Processing time

Tennessee lists 3–4 weeks; Illinois has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.

Training hours

Tennessee'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

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

• Tennessee (this move): No Tennessee examinations are listed in the reciprocity process; your certification of licensure must show you substantially met Tennessee's qualifications, which include a theory and practical examination for all license types
• 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 → Tennessee

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

Step by step

1. Confirm Tennessee's current requirements on the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the endorsement application to the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a current cosmetology license in at least one state; certifications are required from every state where you are or were licensed, but only one license must be current.
5. Have each state licensing board send your Certification of License directly to the Tennessee board.
6. Complete the Out of State application online at core.tn.gov with the non-refundable application fee.
7. Submit acceptable proof of work (tax returns showing occupation or employer letters on letterhead) if you completed fewer than 1,500 school hours — practicing as a licensee for at least 1 of the last 3 years or 2 of the last 5 years.
8. Name on your license must match your identification documents.
9. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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