Reciprocal Information

Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act Attestation Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS: If you are a natural person applying for a license, registration, certification or other benefit you must:

1.  Attest, under penalty of perjury, to your status as either a United States citizen, a qualified alien as defined in Tennessee’s Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act, or a foreign national not physically present in the United States, by selecting your status in Part A below signing on the line labeled “Applicant’s Signature,” printing your name on the line labeled “Printed Name” and putting the current date on the line labeled “Date.”

AND

Do one (1) of the following: 

2. If you are claiming United States citizenship, present one (1) of the forms of identification provided for in Part B below. If you provided your Social Security Number as part of your application for licensure, registration, certificate or other benefit, no additional documentation is required; however, please be aware that efforts may be made to verify any such number. 

3. If you are claiming qualified alien status, present two (2) forms of documentation of identity and immigration status, as determined by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be acceptable for verification through the SAVE program, as provided in Part C below. 

4. If you are claiming qualified alien status but you are unable to present two (2) forms of documentation provided for in Part C of this form, then you shall present at least one (1) such document that shall then be verified through the SAVE program. 

or 

5. If you are claiming you are foreign national not physically present in the United States, contact the program issuing the license, registration, certification or other benefit for which you are applying to provide such documentation as may be required to verify such status.

Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act Additional Required Documentation

Part B. If you are claiming United States citizenship, you must present one (1) of the following:

• A valid Tennessee driver license or photo identification license issued by the Department of Safety; 
• A valid driver license or photo identification license from another state where the issuance requirements are at least as strict as those in Tennessee, as determined by the Department of Safety; 
• An official birth certificate issued by a state, jurisdiction or territory of the United States, including Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, or Guam; provided that Puerto Rican birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010, shall not be recognized; 
• A United States government-issued certified birth certificate; 
• A valid, unexpired United States passport; 
• A United States certificate of birth abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545); 
• A report of birth abroad of a citizen of the United States (FS-240); 
• A certificate of citizenship (N560 or N561); 
• A certificate of naturalization (N550, N570 or N578); 
• A United States citizen identification card (I-197, I-179); 
• Any successor document of those listed at Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 4-58-103(c)(4)-(9); or 
• A social security number that may be verified with the Social Security Administration in accordance with federal law (if you provided your social security number as part of your application for licensure, no additional documentation is required; however, please be aware that efforts may be made to verify any such number).

Part C. If you are claiming qualified alien status, you must present two (2) forms of documentation of identity and immigration status, as determined by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be acceptable for verification through the SAVE program. Such forms of identification may include:

• I-327 (Reentry Permit);
• I-551 (Permanent Resident Card);
• I-571 (Refugee Travel Document);
• I-766 (Employment Authorization Card);
• Certificate of Citizenship;
• Naturalization Certificate;
• Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (with Temporary I-551 Language);
• Temporary I-551 Stamp (on passport or I-94);
• Unexpired Foreign Passport;
• WT/WB Admission Stamp in Unexpired Foreign Passport
• I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status);
• DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status);
• Any other document determined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to be acceptable through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program created pursuant to the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Part D. If you are claiming qualified alien status, but you are unable to present two (2) forms of documentation as described in Part C, then you shall present at least one (1) such document as described in Part C, which shall then be verified through the SAVE program.

Part E. If you are claiming that you are a foreign national not physically present in the United States, please contact the program issuing the license, registration, certification or other benefit for which you are applying to provide such documentation as may be required to verify such status.

Instructions

1. Complete the online application for "Out of State" applicant for the specific license type you hold and are applying for in Tennessee.

2. Go to: https://core.tn.gov/datamart/login.do to apply, pay the fee and attach all the required documents.

3. Read carefully to determine what you need to attach. Go through the items required so, if you do NOT meet the minimum requirements, you know what else to provide. 

4. Contact your state board and request that they send us your current CERTIFICATION OF LICENSE.

**PLEASE NOTE** If you have been licensed in more than one state – please contact each state board that you are/were licensed in and have them send certification.  Only one license needs to be current. 

5. A non-Refundable application fee must be included to start the reciprocity State application process – the online application will allow you to pay by credit or debit card.

**Receipt of certifications from other States vary in time so please allow three to four weeks’ for processing once you have submitted everything needed per these instructions.

6. Once approved for licensure in Tennessee, a license will be mailed to the address you provided. Please make sure to update the board if you have moved. Your license expires every two years and, by statute, you must inform the board of a change of address within 30 days, or update it online yourself.

7. If you do not meet Tennessee’s hourly requirement, you may submit proof of the last 5 years work experience in the form of notarized statements. Statements must show proof of continuous and lawful employment in the cosmetology field for at least five years immediately prior to the filing of the application. Exact dates of employment are required as well as the owner/manager’s signature. If you do not meet the minimum hourly requirement and cannot provide affidavits of 5 years work experience immediately prior to your application date, you will be required to take and pass the Tennessee examination and possibly take additional hours in order to substantially meet licensure requirements. If the State you were licensed in did not require a State Practical exam, you will be required to take one.

NOTE:  You will be required to produce proof of identification at all times. Make sure your name on the license matches your identification documents.

TEXAS APPLICANTS: In addition to instructions provided above, applicants with education from Texas must also include Certified Transcript of Texas Education.

Proof of Work Experience

If your hours of school training were less than 1500 hours for cosmetologist, 750 for aesthetician, or 300 for shampoo tech, natural hair stylist or instructor, follow the instructions below. (You MAY still qualify for reciprocity) Submit any of the documents listed below:

1. NOTARIZED affidavits.
2. Statements from employers on original letterhead documenting five (5) years of licensed work experience immediately prior (ending within the year before application) to application.
3. If you were self-employed (owned your own shop) work experience affidavits/statements may be approved if you can provide any of the following documents.
4. Tax preparer, or accountant tax records.
5. Copies of IRS form 1040, w-2 or 1099 forms.
6. Shop licenses dating back five (5) years.

If you do not meet minimum requirement for reciprocal licensure, your application may be deemed necessary to be presented to the Board at the next meeting, visit: Public Meeting Information

Tennessee Reciprocity Requirements

Cosmetologist - 1500 hours (school)

Manicurist - 600 hours (school)

Aesthetician - 750 hours (school)

Shampoo Tech - 300 hours (school)

Natural Hair Stylist - 300 hours (school)

Instructor - 1500 cosmetologist hours plus (must teach the discipline you are licensed in) 300 hours licensed instructor training

NOTE: Applicants applying for instructor reciprocity must attach proof of at least a 12th grade education or equivalent and proof the applicant has completed and passed a board approved course of instruction of at least 300 hours for instructors.

YOU MAY NOT WORK UNTIL YOU RECEIVE YOUR LICENSE OR CAN CONFIRM THAT YOUR ARE ACTIVE BY VISITING: https://verify.tn.gov/

It is our intent and desire to make all reciprocal license transactions as quick and convenient as possible; however, state laws, board rules and office policies must be observed – these requirements may not be waived and exceptions are not considered. DO NOT ASK THE OFFICE STAFF FOR “SPECIAL HANDLING” AS ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE PROCESSED IN THE SAME MANNER AND OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM WILL NOT PROCESS INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS.

THE PRACTICE OF COSMETOLOGY IS PROHIBITED IN THIS STATE UNTIL A PROPER TENNESSEE LICENSED IS SECURED.