Cosmetology / Barber License from Ohio to Indiana: Does It Transfer? (2026)

What's different between Ohio and Indiana

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

Route, each way

Ohio to Indiana (this page): Licensure by endorsement.

Indiana to Ohio (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Ohio matter?

Coming from Ohio does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Indiana.

CLC membership

Ohio has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; Indiana has not.

Application fee

Indiana lists $40 for an out-of-state applicant and Ohio lists $73.50 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Training hours

Indiana's first-time-applicant standard is 1,500 training hours for the standard license; Ohio's is 1,500.

The two standards are the same.

Exam rules on record

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

• Indiana (this move): Indiana's written and practical exams are not retaken for qualifying reciprocity applicants; the issuing jurisdiction must have required at least 70% passing scores on written and practical exams. Applicants from non-qualifying jurisdictions must transfer hours to an Indiana beauty culture school, graduate, and apply by examination
• Ohio (the reverse move): No Ohio examination is required for state-to-state reciprocity — the license is issued once the application and required documentation are accepted; only applicants relying on out-of-country licensure must pass the Ohio examination

What changes, Ohio → Indiana

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

Step by step

1. Confirm Indiana's current requirements on the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the endorsement application to the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a valid license from a jurisdiction with substantially equal requirements — at least 1,500 education hours, or at least 1,000 hours plus credited licensed practice (1 year of practice = 100 hours).
5. Submit license certification from every state or country where you hold or have held a license (with disciplinary-action field).
6. Be at least 18 years old with a tenth grade education or equivalent.
7. Issuing jurisdiction must have required at least 70% passing scores on written and practical exams.
8. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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