Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Maryland: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) ↗
Yes — Maryland licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing). The key test is training: Maryland requires 1,500 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee). Maryland has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but no multistate licenses exist yet (as of 2026-07-21) — endorsement is still the path.
Moving to Maryland from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
CLC enacted — not yet issuing
At 1,500 required training hours, Maryland 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.
Maryland has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but the compact is not yet issuing multistate licenses as of July 2026 — endorsement remains the working path. Standard license alternative to 1500 school hours is a 24-month registered apprenticeship.
Maryland requirements at a glance
| Exam | Most transfer applicants do not retake exams; applicants originally examined in Alaska (after 12/7/2020), California (after 1/1/2022), Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania (after 11/24/2014), or South Dakota must pass both the Maryland theory and practical examinations |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,500 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
Step by step
- Confirm Maryland's current requirements on the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current, active license in good standing from a U.S. state, territory, or jurisdiction with comparable licensing requirements.
- Have your original licensing state send an official license certification, including disciplinary history, directly to the board (applicant-submitted documents are not accepted).
- Complete a one-hour Domestic Violence Awareness training course through a Maryland Board-approved provider.
- Applicants first licensed in certain states (including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee) must document at least 6 months of work experience.
- Pay the fees ($28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee)) and allow board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Maryland:
All 23 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Maryland?
Yes — Maryland licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists (Department of Labor, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing). The key test is training: Maryland requires 1,500 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee). Maryland has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, but no multistate licenses exist yet (as of 2026-07-21) — endorsement is still the path.
How many training hours does Maryland require for cosmetology?
1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Maryland's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in Maryland?
Most transfer applicants do not retake exams; applicants originally examined in Alaska (after 12/7/2020), California (after 1/1/2022), Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania (after 11/24/2014), or South Dakota must pass both the Maryland theory and practical examinations.
What does the transfer cost and how long does it take?
$28 (cosmetologist licensure-by-endorsement application fee); processing board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications.
Is Maryland in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
Maryland has enacted the compact, but it is not yet operational anywhere — no multistate licenses are issued as of 2026-07-21. Until activation, endorsement rules on this page apply unchanged.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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]