Transfer Your Cosmetology / Barber License to Mississippi: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my cosmetology license transfer to Mississippi?
Mississippi has published reciprocity arrangements covering Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and accepts other states' cosmetologists by endorsement. Requirements center on 1,500 training hours; the application fee is $55 (non-refundable application fee under reciprocity or UROLA; practitioner license fee $50 per Rule 5.20).
Moving to Mississippi from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Reciprocity with 27 states
At 1,500 required training hours, Mississippi 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. The reciprocity_partners list is the cosmetology column of the board's published table and applies to licenses issued in 2025 or later; Illinois cosmetologists also qualify but must take the theory exam, and licensees from unlisted states or licensed before 2025 must contact the board.
Mississippi requirements at a glance
| Exam | No practical exam for reciprocity applicants; the Mississippi written/theory exam is required unless you were licensed in 2025 or later by a state on the board's published reciprocity list, in which case the exam is waived and you proceed to the license form upon application approval |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 1,500 training hours for the standard license |
| Fees | $55 (non-refundable application fee under reciprocity or UROLA; practitioner license fee $50 per Rule 5.20) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe; UROLA applicants receive a 365-day temporary practice permit upon complete application |
Step by step
- Confirm Mississippi's current requirements on the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (MSBCB) website — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (MSBCB) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a practitioner license from a state or U.S. territory with educational requirements similar to Mississippi (minimum hours and 10th-grade education).
- Submit two 2x2-inch passport-style photographs taken within the last 90 days.
- Submit two forms of identification, at least one government-issued with photograph.
- Submit color copies of all licenses held plus a certified letter/verification of active practice and good standing from every state board where you hold a license.
- New Mississippi residents may instead apply under the Universal Recognition of Occupational Licenses Act (UROLA) and must pass the Mississippi Laws and Sanitation Examination within 1 year.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Mississippi:
Nearby states
Cosmetology / Barber license transfer into the states bordering Mississippi:
Mississippi for other professions
- Nursing in Mississippi
- Real Estate in Mississippi
- Contractor in Mississippi
- Teaching in Mississippi
- CPA / Accounting in Mississippi
- Electrician in Mississippi
- Plumber in Mississippi
- Engineering in Mississippi
- Pharmacy in Mississippi
- Physical Therapy in Mississippi
- Psychology in Mississippi
- Counseling in Mississippi
- Social Work in Mississippi
- Occupational Therapy in Mississippi
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Mississippi require for cosmetology?
1,500 clock hours for the standard cosmetology license (verified 2026-07-21). Transfers with fewer completed hours should review Mississippi's gap options — experience substitution, supplemental training, or examination.
Is Mississippi in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
No — Mississippi has not enacted the compact as of 2026-07-21. Endorsement through the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (MSBCB) is the transfer path.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- MSBCB — Rules and Regulations (Rules 5.2, 5.8, 5.10, 5.20) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MSBCB — Reciprocity with Mississippi state table (2025-present) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MSBCB — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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