Cosmetology / Barber License from New Mexico to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from New Mexico to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, verify your New Mexico license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Written and practical exams are not retaken if you provide proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English; otherwise the Board issues an exam-eligibility letter and you must pass the Georgia (NIC/PSI) exams within three attempts.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This move runs downhill. New Mexico trained you to 1,600 hours; Georgia requires only 1,500. With the hour test cleared by a margin, your transfer is administrative — license verification, application, fee — and the requirements below read as a checklist rather than an obstacle course.
What changes, New Mexico → Georgia
| New Mexico (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,600 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $100 (cosmetologist original license fee per 16.34.14.8(I) NMAC; the board FAQ does not publish a separate reciprocity application fee, exact total shown at payment in NM-PLUS) | $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10) |
| Processing time | 1–4 weeks (board FAQ says applications are approved within 3-5 business days of completion; 16.34.6.10 NMAC requires issuance of the expedited license within 30 days of a complete application) | ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond) |
| Licensing authority | New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists (Regulation and Licensing Department) | Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Georgia's current requirements on the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active cosmetology license in good standing in another state or U.S. territory at the appropriate level.
- Submit official certification of licensure from every state in which you have ever been licensed, showing no board orders or unpaid citations.
- Provide proof of high school graduation, GED, or postsecondary/college education.
- Be at least 17 years old and of good moral character.
- Submit a notarized application with a Secure and Verifiable Document (ID) and citizenship affidavit.
- Pay the fees ($75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10)) and allow ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia accept a New Mexico cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from New Mexico to Georgia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, verify your New Mexico license, and meet Georgia's endorsement requirements. Written and practical exams are not retaken if you provide proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English; otherwise the Board issues an exam-eligibility letter and you must pass the Georgia (NIC/PSI) exams within three attempts.
Will Georgia make me retake the cosmetology exams?
Written and practical exams are not retaken if you provide proof of passing a national or state-approved written and practical exam in English; otherwise the Board issues an exam-eligibility letter and you must pass the Georgia (NIC/PSI) exams within three attempts.
What does the New Mexico-to-Georgia transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10); processing ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- GA SoS — Board of Cosmetology and Barbers FAQ (Endorsement/Reciprocity Requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-11 Licensure by Endorsement (Rule 240-11-.01) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-15 Cosmetology School Curriculum (1,500-hour master cosmetology course) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NM RLD Barbers and Cosmetologists — FAQs (reciprocity process, jurisprudence exam, fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 16.34.6 NMAC — Expedited licensure for out-of-state licensees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 16.34.5 NMAC — Cosmetologist license (1600 hours or equivalent credit) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 16.34.14 NMAC — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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