Cosmetology / Barber License from Michigan to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Michigan to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation), verify your Michigan license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Michigan and South Carolina require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is South Carolina's administrative checklist below.
What changes, Michigan → South Carolina
| Michigan (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $63 (application fee plus 2-year license fee; same $63 total for licensure by examination or reciprocity) | $60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80) |
| Processing time | LARA does not publish a processing timeframe in the cosmetology licensing guide | board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received |
| Licensing authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Professional Licensing — Cosmetology | South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm South Carolina's current requirements on the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active cosmetology license in good standing in another state.
- Request license verification from each state where you hold or have held a license, sent directly from the original issuing state board to the SC Board of Cosmetology.
- Include a copy of the continuing-education certificate of completion if qualifying through the two-year licensure plus 4-hour CE route.
- Submit supplemental forms with the endorsement application, including a Verification of Lawful Presence affidavit, notarized signature affidavit, and passport-type photo.
- Pay the fees ($60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80)) and allow board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina accept a Michigan cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Michigan to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation), verify your Michigan license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
Will South Carolina make me retake the cosmetology exams?
No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
What does the Michigan-to-South Carolina transfer cost and how long does it take?
$60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80); processing board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- SC LLR Board of Cosmetology — FAQ (endorsement and examination requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC LLR Board of Cosmetology — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 40, Chapter 13 (Sections 40-13-230, 40-13-270) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- LARA — Cosmetology (profession page) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- LARA — Michigan Cosmetology Licensing Guide (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan Admin Code R 338.2121b — Licensure by endorsement ↗ (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]