Cosmetology / Barber License from New York to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between New York and Virginia

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

New York to Virginia (this page): Licensure by endorsement.

Virginia to New York (the reverse move): Reciprocity agreement.

The two directions differ: New York and Virginia do not give each other's licensees the same route.

Does coming from New York matter?

New York gets Virginia's most common result: 38 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.

The others get: compact enacted — not yet issuing; until it issues, licensure by endorsement (12).

Reciprocity agreements

Virginia's row names no reciprocity agreement states.

New York's reciprocity agreement list names 27 states, including Virginia.

CLC membership

Virginia has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; New York has not.

Application fee

Virginia lists $134.50 for an out-of-state applicant and New York lists $40 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Training hours

Virginia's first-time-applicant standard is 1,000 training hours for the standard license; New York's is 1,000.

The two standards are the same.

Exam rules on record

Virginia and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• Virginia (this move): Exams are not retaken when your out-of-state license was earned with substantially equivalent training and examination; the certification of licensure must come from the state board where you passed your exams. If your state used only one licensing examination (written or practical), you take the other one in Virginia (18VAC41-20-30 B)
• New York (the reverse move): New York written and practical exams are not retaken by qualifying applicants from listed reciprocity or endorsement states (certification of licensure required; some states require 1-5 years of licensure); applicants from any other state can qualify without exams only by documenting five years of licensed cosmetology experience, otherwise both New York exams are required

What changes, New York → Virginia

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

1. Confirm Virginia's current requirements on the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (DPOR) website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the endorsement application to the Virginia Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (DPOR) (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a current valid cosmetology license in another state.
5. Training (hours and content) must be substantially equivalent to Virginia's; if it is not (for cosmetology, under 800 hours), document three years of licensed work experience in another state on the board's form instead (18VAC41-20-30 C).
6. Submit a Certification of Licensure / Letter of Good Standing dated within the last 60 days from the state board where you passed your examinations.
7. If you trained in a different jurisdiction than the state of your current license, an additional certification from the original jurisdiction is required.
8. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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