Cosmetology / Barber License from Kentucky to Ohio: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board ↗
Both Kentucky and Ohio have enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued (as of 2026-07-21). Until the compact activates, transfer your cosmetology license the standard way: apply for licensure by endorsement.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact enacted — endorsement for now
Interim path until the compact activates: licensure by endorsement.
Kentucky and Ohio require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is Ohio's administrative checklist below.
Both states have enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact. That changes nothing today — no multistate licenses are issued yet — but it means this specific move is on the short list to become automatic when the compact activates. If your timeline is flexible, check cosmetologycompact.gov before filing.
What changes, Kentucky → Ohio
| Kentucky (current) | Ohio (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | CLC enacted — not yet issuing | CLC enacted — not yet issuing |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $100–$150 ($100 out-of-state endorsement application fee plus $50 initial cosmetologist license fee (201 KAR 12:260); military members, veterans, and their spouses are exempt) | $73.5 (non-refundable reciprocity application fee paid via the eLicense portal) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a timeframe; application is not processed until all state certifications are received | board publishes no review timeline; applications are reviewed after submission and documentation via eLicense |
| Licensing authority | Kentucky Board of Cosmetology | Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Ohio sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Ohio's current requirements on the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Have held the out-of-state cosmetology (or branch) license for at least one year immediately preceding the application.
- Have actively practiced the profession for at least one of the five years immediately preceding the application.
- Have your current state board send a Board Certification directly to the Ohio board (accepted only within six months of its preparation date; license must stay active and in good standing).
- Complete Ohio's one-hour Human Trafficking Recognition course and pass its quiz before submitting the application.
- Upload a copy of your current active license and one form of government-issued photo ID with the eLicense application.
- Pay the fees ($73.5 (non-refundable reciprocity application fee paid via the eLicense portal)) and allow board publishes no review timeline; applications are reviewed after submission and documentation via eLicense.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Ohio accept a Kentucky cosmetology license?
Both Kentucky and Ohio have enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but multistate licenses are not yet being issued (as of 2026-07-21). Until the compact activates, transfer your cosmetology license the standard way: apply for licensure by endorsement.
Will Ohio make me retake the cosmetology exams?
No Ohio examination is required for state-to-state reciprocity — the license is issued once the application and required documentation are accepted; only applicants relying on out-of-country licensure must pass the Ohio examination.
What does the Kentucky-to-Ohio transfer cost and how long does it take?
$73.5 (non-refundable reciprocity application fee paid via the eLicense portal); processing board publishes no review timeline; applications are reviewed after submission and documentation via eLicense. Both states have enacted the cosmetology compact — when it activates, this move may no longer require an application at all.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board — Reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Kentucky Board of Cosmetology — Out of State Info ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 201 KAR 12:030 — Licensing and examinations (Section 6, Reciprocal Licensing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 201 KAR 12:260 — Fees ↗ (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]