Cosmetology / Barber License from Tennessee to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Georgia accept a Tennessee cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Tennessee and Georgia require identical training hours (1,500), which removes the usual friction from a cosmetology transfer. What remains is Georgia's administrative checklist below.
What's different between Tennessee and Georgia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Georgia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Tennessee to Georgia (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Georgia to Tennessee (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Tennessee matter?
Coming from Tennessee does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into Georgia.
- CLC membership
Tennessee has enacted the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; Georgia has not.
- Application fee
Georgia lists $75 for an out-of-state applicant and Tennessee lists $100 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Tennessee lists 3–4 weeks for the reverse move; Georgia has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Training hours
Georgia's first-time-applicant standard is 1,500 training hours for the standard license; Tennessee's is 1,500.
The two standards are the same.
- Exam rules on record
Georgia and Tennessee carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Georgia (this move): 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
- Tennessee (the reverse move): No Tennessee examinations are listed in the reciprocity process; your certification of licensure must show you substantially met Tennessee's qualifications, which include a theory and practical examination for all license types
What changes, Tennessee → Georgia
| Tennessee (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | CLC enacted — not yet issuing | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $100 (reciprocity fee, all license types, non-refundable) | $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; the board fee schedule adds a non-refundable processing fee of $10 for paper applications or $5 for online applications; instructor endorsement is $100) |
| Processing time | 3–4 weeks (board advises allowing three to four weeks for processing after submitting the online application; receipt of certifications from other state boards varies) | no timeframe published; the board processes applications in the order received, and a completed application may also go to a board meeting (it must be complete at least 15 days before the meeting to make that agenda); an application may be withdrawn if noted deficiencies are not satisfied within 60 days |
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners | 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 listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- GA SoS — Board of Cosmetology and Barbers FAQ (Endorsement/Reciprocity Requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-11 Licensure by Endorsement (Rule 240-11-.01) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-15 Cosmetology School Curriculum (1,500-hour master cosmetology course) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- GA SoS — How-to Guide: Master Cosmetologist, Cosmetology Instructor (endorsement checklist; after you apply) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- GA State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers — Fee Schedule (GSBCB rev. 03/22; endorsement $75, processing fee $10 paper / $5 online) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- TN Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board — Renewal, Reciprocity, and Other Resources ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- TN Cosmetology and Barber Examiners Board — License Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Cosmetology Licensure Compact Commission — FAQ (compact not yet active) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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