Big Wins and Momentum for the Esthetics Licensure Compact

The esthetics profession hit a milestone, and it’s worth celebrating. The first few months of the 2026 legislative session delivered a clean sweep: Alabama, Kansas, and Virginia officially enacted the Esthetics Licensure Compact (Compact).

Why is this a big deal? The answer is two-fold. First, only three Compact bills were introduced this year, and all three were enacted. A 100 percent success rate is rare in any legislative effort, and it puts us closer than ever to true license portability for skin care pros. Second, estheticians have never had a national pathway to mobility. This breakthrough momentum marks a major step toward modernizing how the profession works across state lines and giving estheticians more freedom in where and how they build their careers.

And the update gets even sweeter. Several more states already have draft bills in the pipeline—California, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, and sights are set to get legislation underway in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, and North Carolina. If the success of the first three states is any indicator, Alabama, Kansas, and Virginia will likely be welcoming additional member states soon. You can follow progress in real time using the Compact map here.

With so much movement, we’ve been hearing a lot of great questions. Let’s walk through the ones popping up most often.

How Does the Compact Address Tiered Licensing?

One of the biggest questions comes from estheticians in states like Virginia, where basic and master licenses are offered. The straightforward answer is that the Compact doesn’t differentiate between basic and master licenses, and this was intentional. The goal is to keep the Compact process simple and accessible so as many estheticians as possible can participate.

Instead of focusing on license tiers, the Compact uses one clear eligibility requirement: You must hold an active esthetics license in good standing in your home state. That license can be a basic or master license. 

How Will the States Work Together?

A lot of esties are curious about how states will coordinate and communicate with one another once the Compact is active. One of the biggest benefits of a Compact is improved information sharing among state boards because:

• It helps reduce fraud and identity issues
• It supports consistent professional standards
• It allows boards to verify licenses quickly and accurately

For estheticians, this state coordination means fewer delays (or surprises) and fewer administrative headaches when you move to a new state. When states can communicate efficiently, your licensing experience becomes faster and more predictable.

What Will the Compact Mean for Your Career?

Once enough states join, the Compact will unlock new career flexibility and opportunity. Here’s what you can expect:

• Work in multiple states with one multistate license. This is ideal for estheticians living in border communities, traveling professionals, military families, and anyone expanding clientele.
• Less paperwork and admin delays. You won’t have to repeat the same process to transfer your license repeatedly.
• More career options. Doors will open for you to accept offers for seasonal opportunities and more.
• Better information sharing across states. Anticipate a streamlined and secure licensing system for everyone.

What Happens Next?

With three states on board—Alabama, Kansas, and Virginia—the Compact needs at least four more to join before multistate licenses can be issued. Even though many state legislatures have adjourned for the year, there’s still a chance another state or two could adopt the Compact before 2027. However, most of the remaining action will likely happen next session. 

Once seven states join, here’s what happens:

• A Compact Commission will form. Think of this group like your multistate version of a cosmetology board. This commission will oversee the Compact’s operations and compliance.
• Rules and procedures will be written. These will outline how the multistate license works, how estheticians apply, what fees and requirements may be involved, etc.
• The multistate license will launch. At this point, eligible estheticians will be able to apply for the new license and begin practicing across member states.

What if I Don’t Want to Participate?

That’s totally fine! The Compact’s multistate license will be optional. If your single-state license works best for you and your career, you can keep it. If you choose to participate once the Compact is active, the multistate license will allow you to practice only in states that enact the Compact.

ASCP is tracking every step of the process and will keep you informed as more states pass Compact legislation. Curious for more info? Learn the ins and outs about the Compact here.

A Big Thank You to the Leaders Behind the Progress

The Compact’s success so far hasn’t happened overnight or by accident. This is a result of strong partnership across the beauty and spa industry. ASCP gives a special shout-out to Director of State Relations & Policy Development Leslie Roste from Professional Beauty Association, whose dedication, relationship-building, and persistence have been instrumental in moving this Compact forward.