Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Minnesota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners ↗
Yes — Minnesota licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. The key test is training: Minnesota requires 1,550 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $195 (initial practitioner license per Minn. Stat. 155A.25 ($155 license + $40 application fee); optional expedited service $150 extra).
Moving to Minnesota from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
At 1,550 required training hours, Minnesota 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. Work experience does not substitute for training hours; applicants short of 1,550 hours qualify only via three years of active licensure in another state or additional Minnesota schooling.
Minnesota requirements at a glance
| Exam | 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 |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,550 hours |
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $195 (initial practitioner license per Minn. Stat. 155A.25 ($155 license + $40 application fee); optional expedited service $150 extra) |
| Processing time | 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) |
Step by step
- Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners (application linked on this page).
- 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
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Minnesota:
All 38 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Minnesota?
Yes — Minnesota licenses out-of-state cosmetologists by endorsement through the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners. The key test is training: Minnesota requires 1,550 training hours, and your completed hours are measured against that number. Application fee: $195 (initial practitioner license per Minn. Stat. 155A.25 ($155 license + $40 application fee); optional expedited service $150 extra).
How many training hours does Minnesota require for cosmetology?
1,550 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Minnesota's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Will I have to retake exams in Minnesota?
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 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).
Is Minnesota in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Minnesota has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners is the transfer path.
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)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]