Cosmetology / Barber License from North Carolina to South Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from North Carolina to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation), verify your North Carolina license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
North Carolina and South Carolina require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is South Carolina's administrative checklist below.
What changes, North Carolina → South Carolina
| North Carolina (current) | South Carolina (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Full reciprocity — honors all states | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $64 (out-of-state (reciprocity) cosmetologist application fee; the in-state initial cosmetologist license fee is $49) | $60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80) |
| Processing time | no timeframe published; board FAQ says the reciprocity process is very short and applications are reviewed quickly upon receipt | board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received |
| Licensing authority | North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners | South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — South Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm South Carolina's current requirements on the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold an active cosmetology license in good standing in another state.
- Request license verification from each state where you hold or have held a license, sent directly from the original issuing state board to the SC Board of Cosmetology.
- Include a copy of the continuing-education certificate of completion if qualifying through the two-year licensure plus 4-hour CE route.
- Submit supplemental forms with the endorsement application, including a Verification of Lawful Presence affidavit, notarized signature affidavit, and passport-type photo.
- Pay the fees ($60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80)) and allow board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina accept a North Carolina cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from North Carolina to South Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the South Carolina Board of Cosmetology (SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation), verify your North Carolina license, and meet South Carolina's endorsement requirements. No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
Will South Carolina make me retake the cosmetology exams?
No South Carolina exam is required if you have passed the NIC theory and practical examinations; applicants actively licensed in another state for at least two years who complete 4 hours of board-approved continuing education are exempt from the examination requirement.
What does the North Carolina-to-South Carolina transfer cost and how long does it take?
$60 (Endorsement/Reciprocity fee for Registered Cosmetologist per board fee schedule; instructor endorsement is $80); processing board states it is unable to offer a specific processing time frame; applications are processed in the order received.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- SC LLR Board of Cosmetology — FAQ (endorsement and examination requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- SC LLR Board of Cosmetology — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 40, Chapter 13 (Sections 40-13-230, 40-13-270) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners — Individuals Licensed in Another State ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NC Board — FAQ (exams not retaken, quick reciprocity review) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NC Board — Licensure Requirements for NC Applicants (1500 hours) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NC Board — Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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