Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Massachusetts: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Massachusetts?
Yes — Massachusetts licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure). The key test is training: Massachusetts requires 1,000 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $136–$204 ($204 transfer application when no examination is required; $136 application when examination is required).
Moving to Massachusetts from a specific state?
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Massachusetts's 1,000-hour requirement sits at the low end of the national range, which makes it an easy destination: almost every state trains at or above this level, so incoming transfers rarely face an hour deficit. The checklist below is mostly administrative — verification, application, fee.
Not a Cosmetology Licensure Compact state as of 2026. Required schooling is 1,000 hours for cosmetology, including 50 hours of manicuring and 80 hours of aesthetics; applicants trained by apprenticeship or with insufficient hours must take the Massachusetts exams. Apply via the ePLACE online portal or by mail.
Massachusetts requirements at a glance
| Exam | Exams are not retaken if you hold a current license obtained by passing an examination in a U.S. state or jurisdiction, no license you hold has ever been suspended or revoked, and your school program and license scope are substantially equivalent to Massachusetts requirements; otherwise the Massachusetts exams are required |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,000 training hours for the standard license |
| Fees | $136–$204 ($204 transfer application when no examination is required; $136 application when examination is required) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe for license transfers |
Step by step
- Confirm Massachusetts's current requirements on the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current cosmetology license obtained by examination in another state or jurisdiction.
- Have your licensing state email a license verification directly to the board.
- Submit an official school transcript in a school-sealed envelope showing subjects, hours, and graduation.
- Submit a notarized Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) acknowledgment form.
- Include a 2x2-inch photograph and a copy of your driver's license.
- 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 Massachusetts:
Massachusetts for other professions
- Nursing in Massachusetts
- Real Estate in Massachusetts
- Contractor in Massachusetts
- Teaching in Massachusetts
- CPA / Accounting in Massachusetts
- Electrician in Massachusetts
- Plumber in Massachusetts
- Engineering in Massachusetts
- Pharmacy in Massachusetts
- Physical Therapy in Massachusetts
- Psychology in Massachusetts
- Counseling in Massachusetts
- Social Work in Massachusetts
- Occupational Therapy in Massachusetts
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Massachusetts require for cosmetology?
1,000 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Massachusetts's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Is Massachusetts in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Massachusetts has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Cosmetology and Barbering (Division of Occupational Licensure) is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com