Cosmetology / Barber License from New Jersey to Kansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from New Jersey to Kansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC), verify your New Jersey license, and meet Kansas's endorsement requirements. Board written and practical exams are waived if you completed at least 1,500 training hours and hold an active license in another state — only a 20-question open-book exam on Kansas laws is required; applicants with fewer hours or an expired license must take the board exams.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The number that defines this move: New Jersey licensed you at 1,200 training hours, and Kansas requires 1,500 — a 300-hour deficit on paper. That does not usually mean going back to school. It means proving the gap is covered another way: most boards in Kansas's position accept documented licensed work experience, supplemental hours, or their own exams. The requirements below are the exact menu Kansas offers.
What changes, New Jersey → Kansas
| New Jersey (current) | Kansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | CLC enacted — not yet issuing |
| Training hours | 1,200 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $100 (nonrefundable endorsement application filing fee; plus $90 licensing fee in the first year of a licensing cycle or $45 in the second year) | $75 (nonrefundable out-of-state application fee; +$25 additional license fee plus exam costs only if board exams are required) |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications | ~3 weeks (board states the out-of-state process typically takes no less than 3 weeks after all documentation is received; allow 7-10 business days per document review) |
| Licensing authority | New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) | Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Kansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Kansas's current requirements on the Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a valid cosmetology license in another US state, district, or territory with at least one year of work experience.
- Be a military member or spouse, or have established (or intend to establish) Kansas residency (K.S.A. 48-3406).
- Request license verification sent directly to the board from every state where you have been licensed or trained.
- Have employers send employment verification letters directly to the board.
- Submit a high school transcript or GED (waived if licensed in the field for 10+ years).
- Pay the fees ($75 (nonrefundable out-of-state application fee; +$25 additional license fee plus exam costs only if board exams are required)) and allow ~3 weeks (board states the out-of-state process typically takes no less than 3 weeks after all documentation is received; allow 7-10 business days per document review).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Kansas accept a New Jersey cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from New Jersey to Kansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC), verify your New Jersey license, and meet Kansas's endorsement requirements. Board written and practical exams are waived if you completed at least 1,500 training hours and hold an active license in another state — only a 20-question open-book exam on Kansas laws is required; applicants with fewer hours or an expired license must take the board exams.
New Jersey required 1,200 hours but Kansas wants 1,500 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 300-hour gap can usually be bridged without re-enrolling: Kansas's options are listed in the requirements on this page (experience substitution and examination are the common routes). Contact the Kansas Board of Cosmetology (KBOC) with your license history before paying for school hours.
Will Kansas make me retake the cosmetology exams?
Board written and practical exams are waived if you completed at least 1,500 training hours and hold an active license in another state — only a 20-question open-book exam on Kansas laws is required; applicants with fewer hours or an expired license must take the board exams.
What does the New Jersey-to-Kansas transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 (nonrefundable out-of-state application fee; +$25 additional license fee plus exam costs only if board exams are required); processing ~3 weeks (board states the out-of-state process typically takes no less than 3 weeks after all documentation is received; allow 7-10 business days per document review).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- KBOC — Application for Out-of-State Licensure (cosmetology professions, K.S.A. 65-1904b) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- KBOC — Forms and Applications ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling — FAQ (out-of-state licensees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NJ Board — Application for Licensure by Endorsement (fee, N.J.A.C. 13:28-1.1(e)3, 1200 hours) ↗ (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]