Cosmetology / Barber License from Maryland to Minnesota: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Maryland to Minnesota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, verify your Maryland license, and meet Minnesota's endorsement requirements. The general theory and written practical tests are not retaken if the certification of licensure from a state where you were licensed attests that you passed such tests; all transfer applicants must pass the Minnesota state laws and rules test.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The number that defines this move: Maryland licensed you at 1,500 training hours, and Minnesota requires 1,550 — a 50-hour deficit on paper. That does not usually mean going back to school. It means proving the gap is covered another way: most boards in Minnesota's position accept documented licensed work experience, supplemental hours, or their own exams. The requirements below are the exact menu Minnesota offers.
What changes, Maryland → Minnesota
| Maryland (current) | Minnesota (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | CLC enacted — not yet issuing | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,550 |
| Application fee | $28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee) | $195 (initial practitioner license per Minn. Stat. 155A.25 ($155 license + $40 application fee); optional expedited service $150 extra) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications | 1–3 weeks (Minn. Stat. 155A.25 requires the board to act within 15 working days of a complete application; 5 business days for expedited applications) |
| Licensing authority | Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) | Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Minnesota sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Submit a certification of licensure no more than 90 days old sent to the board directly from each state where you have been licensed, verifying license status and history, discipline history, training hours, and exam passage.
- Document cosmetology training of at least 1,550 hours, or provide evidence of an active license for at least three years in another state, or complete additional training at a Minnesota-licensed school as a transfer student.
- Pass the Minnesota state laws and rules test (results no more than one year old).
- Submit the Domestic License Transfer Application with the license fee.
- Pay the fees ($195 (initial practitioner license per Minn. Stat. 155A.25 ($155 license + $40 application fee); optional expedited service $150 extra)) and allow 1–3 weeks (Minn. Stat. 155A.25 requires the board to act within 15 working days of a complete application; 5 business days for expedited applications).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Minnesota accept a Maryland cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Maryland to Minnesota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners, verify your Maryland license, and meet Minnesota's endorsement requirements. The general theory and written practical tests are not retaken if the certification of licensure from a state where you were licensed attests that you passed such tests; all transfer applicants must pass the Minnesota state laws and rules test.
Maryland required 1,500 hours but Minnesota wants 1,550 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 50-hour gap can usually be bridged without re-enrolling: Minnesota's options are listed in the requirements on this page (experience substitution and examination are the common routes). Contact the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners with your license history before paying for school hours.
Will Minnesota make me retake the cosmetology exams?
The general theory and written practical tests are not retaken if the certification of licensure from a state where you were licensed attests that you passed such tests; all transfer applicants must pass the Minnesota state laws and rules test.
What does the Maryland-to-Minnesota transfer cost and how long does it take?
$195 (initial practitioner license per Minn. Stat. 155A.25 ($155 license + $40 application fee); optional expedited service $150 extra); processing 1–3 weeks (Minn. Stat. 155A.25 requires the board to act within 15 working days of a complete application; 5 business days for expedited applications).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners — License Transfers ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Minnesota Rules 2105.0183 — License by transfer requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Minnesota Statutes 155A.25 — Fees and license processing ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland Board of Cosmetologists — Apply for Licensure by Endorsement (Reciprocal) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland Board of Cosmetologists — License Requirements ↗ (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]