With more than one million licensed professionals nationwide, the beauty and spa sectors continue to grow. However, state-by-state licensing restrictions have historically limited professionals’ ability to practice across borders—contributing to workforce shortages and operational challenges for salons, spas, franchises, educators, and brands alike. Interstate compacts provide a collaborative, state-led solution that preserves licensing standards while allowing professionals greater mobility.

That is changing. 

The professional beauty and spa industries are celebrating significant nationwide progress advancing license mobility through the Cosmetology Interstate Compact and the Esthetics Interstate Compact, marking a pivotal moment for licensed professionals, employers, and the businesses that support them. The momentum represents an unprecedented level of collaboration across industry organizations, brands, educators, and advocacy groups working together to modernize licensure and strengthen the future workforce.

The Cosmetology Interstate Compact has now been enacted in 10 states: Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, and Maryland. Active legislation is underway in Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. This growing bipartisan momentum reflects broad recognition that modernizing licensure reduces workforce barriers, expands career opportunity, and helps businesses better serve their communities.

Building on that success, esthetics compact legislation has been introduced in Alabama, Kansas, and Virginia, with additional bills drafted in California, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is also working with policymakers and industry leaders in Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland to advance esthetics compact legislation in those states.

“Interstate compacts honor professional credentials while addressing the realities of today’s workforce,” said Leslie Roste, Director of State Relations & Policy Development for PBA. “This progress reflects a shared commitment across the industry to mobility, opportunity, and respect for licensed professionals.”

In parallel with legislative activity, development of the compact licensing database began in early December. This critical infrastructure will enable secure license verification, issuance of multi-state licenses, and coordinated enforcement among participating states. The database is expected to be released for state testing in March.

If testing proceeds as planned and states have appropriate license types in place, participating states could begin issuing multi-state licenses as early as this summer. Alabama, Kansas, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Arizona, Colorado, and Maryland could potentially issue multi-state esthetician licenses in late 2026, pending legislative success.

“This is a transformative step forward for the beauty and spa industries,” Roste added. “The cosmetology and esthetics compacts strengthen workforce mobility, support economic growth, and ensure professionals can continue serving clients wherever opportunity takes them.”

Industry Collaboration Driving Progress

Advancement of both interstate compacts reflects strong collaboration across the professional beauty and spa sectors. The progress to date recognizes the leadership of the Future of the Beauty Industry Coalition (FBIC) and the organizations participating in the esthetics working group, including:

• Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)
• The Esthetics Council
• International SPA Association (ISPA)
• National Coalition of Estheticians Association (NCEA)
• National Aesthetic Spa Network (NASN Pro)
• Professional Beauty Association (PBA)
• The Skin Games

Through shared advocacy, expertise, and alignment around long-term workforce sustainability, these organizations have helped move the industry toward a modern, portable licensure model that benefits professionals, businesses, and consumers alike.

Visit www.estheticscompact.org

for more information and to make a donation.

About the Professional Beauty Association (PBA)

The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is the national trade organization representing licensed professionals, salon and spa owners, independent stylists, students, distributors, and manufacturers across the beauty industry. As the leading membership organization serving the professional beauty community, PBA keeps professionals beautiful by championing policies that protect the industry, providing trusted education and resources, and fostering a community built on connection, creativity, and growth. PBA is home to the PBA North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), PBA Beacon Student Program, and PBA Executive Summit, and supports beauty professionals in times of crisis through the PBA Disaster Relief Fund and other charitable programs. Through PBA Future Leaders, PBA develops and supports the next generation of industry leaders. Learn more at probeauty.org.