Cosmetology / Barber License from Wisconsin to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Georgia State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers ↗
A cosmetology license transfers from Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This move runs downhill. Wisconsin trained you to 1,550 hours; Georgia requires only 1,500. With the hour test cleared by a margin, your transfer is administrative — license verification, application, fee — and the requirements below read as a checklist rather than an obstacle course.
What changes, Wisconsin → Georgia
| Wisconsin (current) | Georgia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| CLC status | Licensure by endorsement | Licensure by endorsement |
| Training hours | 1,550 | 1,500 |
| Application fee | $11 (initial credentialing fee, paid online via LicensE) | $75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10) |
| Processing time | not published; DSPS provides statute-review timeline information on request | ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond) |
| Licensing authority | Wisconsin Cosmetology Examining Board (Department of Safety and Professional Services) | 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 ($75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10)) and allow ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia accept a Wisconsin cosmetology license?
A cosmetology license transfers from Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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.
Will Georgia make me retake the cosmetology exams?
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.
What does the Wisconsin-to-Georgia transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 (endorsement application fee for Master Cosmetologist; a mandatory $10 processing fee is added (total $85); instructor endorsement is $100 + $10); processing ~3 weeks (board states 15 business days; a deficiency adds another 15 business days after you respond).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- GA SoS — Board of Cosmetology and Barbers FAQ (Endorsement/Reciprocity Requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-11 Licensure by Endorsement (Rule 240-11-.01) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- GA Rules — Chapter 240-15 Cosmetology School Curriculum (1,500-hour master cosmetology course) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Cosmetologist profession page (1,550 hours; endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Wisconsin DSPS — Form 1681, Licensure by Endorsement Application Information (rev. 8/26/2024) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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