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

What's different between Tennessee and New York

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

Route, each way

Tennessee to New York (this page): Reciprocity agreement.

New York to Tennessee (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

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

Does coming from Tennessee matter?

Tennessee gets New York's most common result: 27 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: licensure by endorsement (23).

Reciprocity agreements

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

Tennessee's row names no reciprocity agreement states.

CLC membership

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

Application fee

New York lists $40 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; New York has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.

Training hours

New York's first-time-applicant standard is 1,000 training hours for the standard license; Tennessee's is 1,500.

New York's is 500 training hours lower than Tennessee's.

Exam rules on record

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

• New York (this 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
• 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 → New York

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

Step by step

1. Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the reciprocity application to the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (Appearance Enhancement — Cosmetology) (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a current cosmetology license in a listed reciprocity or endorsement state; Arizona and North Dakota require 1 year, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Vermont 2 years, Idaho 3, Montana 4, Colorado, Missouri, and DC 5 years of licensure.
5. Submit an original certification of licensure from the state board where you are currently licensed (endorsement states require a letter of good standing dated within six months).
6. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania applicants must also submit two experience statements on form DOS-1543 from two different people.
7. Applicants from non-listed states must document five years of licensed experience, or complete a 1,000-hour approved course and pass the New York written and practical exams.
8. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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