Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Maine: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Maine?
Maine accepts licensed cosmetologists from every state via endorsement — no re-schooling when your training meets its 1,500 training hours requirement. Applications go to the Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation); the fee is $41 (nonrefundable endorsement fee ($20 application + $21 license), payable to Maine State Treasurer).
Moving to Maine from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,500 required training hours, Maine 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.
Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026. Maine's standard license also allows a 2,500-hour trainee pathway (over at least 18 months) as an alternative to the 1,500-hour school pathway; endorsement is issued under Maine's universal endorsement statute (32 MRS 14231-A via 10 MRS 8003-H).
Maine requirements at a glance
| Exam | Written and practical exams are not retaken — endorsement requires only a valid license from a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements; Maine discontinued its laws-and-rules exam in 2012 in favor of a signed attestation |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,500 training hours for the standard license |
| Fees | $41 (nonrefundable endorsement fee ($20 application + $21 license), payable to Maine State Treasurer) |
| Processing time | no timeframe published; application status can be tracked in real time on the OPOR website |
Step by step
- Confirm Maine's current requirements on the Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a valid cosmetologist license in another US state or jurisdiction.
- License must be in good standing: no pending complaint or investigation, no suspension or practice restriction, and never surrendered or revoked (10 MRS 8003-H).
- Prior jurisdiction must maintain substantially equivalent license requirements.
- Submit license verification (primary-source online printout or board-produced report) for every license held, plus any disciplinary orders.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Nearby states
Cosmetology / Barber license transfer into the states bordering Maine:
Maine for other professions
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Maine require for cosmetology?
1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-10-29). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Maine's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Is Maine in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Maine has not enacted the compact as of 2026-10-29. Endorsement through the Maine Barbering and Cosmetology Licensing Program (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation) is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Maine OPOR — License by Endorsement application (Barbering and Cosmetology) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- 32 MRS 14226 — Qualifications; cosmetology ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- 10 MRS 8003-H — Licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com