Cosmetology and Esthetics Compact States (2026)
Pick your state to see where it stands on the two beauty licensing compacts: the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, with 13 member states, and the Esthetics Licensure Compact, with 3. Neither one issues multistate licenses yet, so every state also links to its licensing board, which is still where you get licensed.
Compiled by Silver Taza. Last checked September 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Where the compacts stand
Cosmetology: 13 states, no licenses yet
It passed the 7-state threshold in June 2024, and its Commission has met since October 2024. The rules on fees and the shared license database were still open for comment in July 2026, with no vote date set. Covers cosmetologists only.
Esthetics: 3 of 7 states needed
Alabama, Kansas and Virginia signed it in April 2026. It needs 7 states before its Commission can form, and no other state has introduced a bill. Covers estheticians only.
Cosmetology compact members (13)
- Mar 2023
- Apr 2023
- Jun 2023
- Apr 2024
- Apr 2024
- May 2024
- Jun 2024
- Jul 2024
- Apr 2025
- May 2025
- Apr 2026
- Jun 2026
- Jul 2026
Esthetics compact members (3)
- Apr 2026
- Apr 2026
- Apr 2026
Cosmetology bills pending (3)
- SD 2627
- A3380
- A4424 / S3917
Last checked September 2026 against the official cosmetology and esthetics compact maps. States can join at any time, so confirm with your state board before you plan a move around it.
Compact status in all 50 states and DC
13 states have enacted the cosmetology compact, and Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York have bills pending. 3 states have enacted the esthetics compact (Alabama, Kansas and Virginia), and no other state has introduced one.
For each member, the Source column links the official enactment announcement or the bill itself. For everyone else it links the official compact map. Until multistate licenses exist, the board column is the one that matters: that's where you apply to work in the state, whether you're transferring a license or starting fresh.
"Not a member" with no note means the official map lists no bill for that state. Board links go to each board's official site, often its laws and rules page. Also checked against the Council of State Governments lists for the cosmetology and esthetics compacts.
What the two compacts do
Each compact is an agreement among states, and a state joins by passing the model law. Once a compact is running, someone with an active license in the member state they live in can apply for a multistate license. That one license lets them work in every other member state without applying there. The official cosmetology FAQ compares it to a driver's license.
The two are separate. The cosmetology compact covers cosmetologists, the esthetics compact covers estheticians, and neither covers barbers or nail technicians. A state can join one without the other. So far Alabama, Kansas and Virginia are the only states in both.
Why you can't use either one yet
The cosmetology compact passed its 7-state threshold in June 2024, when Colorado signed it, and its Commission first met in October 2024. The Commission's page says it hopes to open the compact to licensees in early 2026. That date has passed. Its rules on fees and the shared license database were drafted in May 2026, public comment closed July 15, and the rulemaking page still lists the vote date as to be determined. The latest official announcement, Pennsylvania's in July 2026, says cosmetologists in member states "cannot yet practice through the compact."
The esthetics compact is further back. Alabama, Kansas and Virginia signed it in April 2026, and it needs 7 states before a Commission can form and start writing rules. Associated Skin Care Professionals reported draft bills in California, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee in April, but none was on the official map when we checked.
So living in a member state doesn't change how you get licensed yet. You need a license from each state you work in, and the table above links every board.
Frequently asked questions
Which states are in the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
Thirteen states as of September 2026: Kentucky, Arizona and Alabama (2023); Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Colorado and Ohio (2024); Kansas and Washington (2025); and West Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania (2026). New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have bills pending. That matches the official map at cosmetologycompact.gov and the Council of State Governments' list.
Which states are in the Esthetics Licensure Compact?
Three: Alabama (SB 163), Kansas (HB 2533) and Virginia (HB 1247), all signed in April 2026. The compact needs seven states before it can start, and as of September 2026 no other state has introduced a bill, according to the official map at estheticscompact.org.
Can I use one cosmetology license in several states yet?
No. The cosmetology compact passed its seven-state threshold in June 2024, and its Commission has met since October 2024. Its rules on fees and the shared license database were still waiting on a vote in September 2026, and no multistate licenses have been issued. Until they are, you need a license from each state's board, even if you live in a member state.
What is the Cosmetology Licensure Compact?
It is an agreement among states, passed into law in each one. Once it is running, a cosmetologist with an active license in the member state they live in can apply for a multistate license and work in every other member state without a separate license there. The official FAQ compares it to a driver's license: issued by your home state, recognized in the others. The Esthetics Licensure Compact does the same for estheticians.
Does the compact cover barbers, estheticians, and nail technicians?
The cosmetology compact covers cosmetologists only. Estheticians have their own Esthetics Licensure Compact, which has three member states and isn't running yet. Barbers and nail technicians aren't covered by either compact, so they still get licensed state by state.