Cosmetology / Barber License from Oregon to New Jersey: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does New Jersey accept an Oregon cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Oregon to New Jersey by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs), verify your Oregon license, and meet New Jersey's endorsement requirements. Licensure by endorsement without the New Jersey exam is possible when the Board finds your out-of-state license and training substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements, or on a notarized affidavit of at least three years of licensed practice; the Board FAQ states that out-of-state applicants otherwise must submit the out-of-state application and pass the Board's examination.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
The number that defines this move: Oregon licensed you at 1,110 training hours, and New Jersey requires 1,200 — a 90-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 New Jersey's position accept documented licensed work experience, supplemental hours, or their own exams. The requirements below are the exact menu New Jersey offers.
What's different between Oregon and New Jersey
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into New Jersey. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Oregon to New Jersey (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
New Jersey to Oregon (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Oregon matter?
Coming from Oregon does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into New Jersey.
- CLC membership
Neither Oregon nor New Jersey has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact.
- Application fee
New Jersey lists $100 for an out-of-state applicant and Oregon lists $100 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Training hours
New Jersey's first-time-applicant standard is 1,200 training hours for the standard license; Oregon's is 1,110.
New Jersey's is 90 training hours higher than Oregon's.
- Exam rules on record
New Jersey and Oregon carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- New Jersey (this move): Licensure by endorsement without the New Jersey exam is possible when the Board finds your out-of-state license and training substantially equivalent to New Jersey requirements, or on a notarized affidavit of at least three years of licensed practice; the Board FAQ states that out-of-state applicants otherwise must submit the out-of-state application and pass the Board's examination
- Oregon (the reverse move): No exams transfer — every reciprocity applicant must pass Oregon's written examination for each field of practice plus the Oregon Laws and Rules examination (75% to pass); education/training and the practical examination may be waived based on the out-of-state license
What changes, Oregon → New Jersey
| Oregon (current) | New Jersey (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,110 | 1,200 |
| Application fee | $100 (non-refundable reciprocity application fee per field of practice; plus $45 written exam per field, $45 Oregon Laws and Rules exam, and $65 reciprocity certification fee (two-year certificate) — about $255 total for a single field) | $100 (nonrefundable endorsement application filing fee; plus $90 licensing fee in the first year of a licensing cycle or $45 in the second year) |
| Processing time | no published timeline; written exams are offered walk-in Monday-Friday and certification is issued after passing all exams and paying fees | Board does not publish a processing timeframe for endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | Oregon Health Licensing Office — Board of Cosmetology | New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — New Jersey sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm New Jersey's current requirements on the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current license and have your licensing authority send the Verification of State License form directly to the Board with official seal.
- Provide certification that your training (1,200 hours for cosmetology-hairstyling) is substantially equivalent to New Jersey schools, or a notarized affidavit of 3+ years of licensed work experience per N.J.A.C. 13:28-1.1(e)3.
- Submit two passport-style photographs and a copy of your birth certificate, passport, or valid NJ driver's license.
- Provide a copy of your high school diploma, certified transcript, or GED certificate.
- Submit a physician's certificate confirming freedom from infectious, contagious, or communicable disease.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Oregon required 1,110 hours but New Jersey wants 1,200 — do I need more school?
Not necessarily. The 90-hour gap can usually be bridged without re-enrolling: New Jersey's options are listed in the requirements on this page (experience substitution and examination are the common routes). Contact the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling (Division of Consumer Affairs) with your license history before paying for school hours.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- 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, physician's certificate) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Oregon HLO — Cosmetology Reciprocity Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Oregon HLO — Cosmetology Certification Application Information Packet ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Oregon HLO — Transfer your license from another state ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com