Short answer: Maybe — but it depends. Illinois law and IDFPR rules let licensed cosmetology schools accept transferred hours in some situations, but acceptance and the number of hours credited are determined by the receiving school (and specific rules apply in cases such as a school closure). You must get official transcripts and follow Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Professional Regulation) requirements.

What the rules say (key points)

• A full cosmetology program in Illinois is 1,500 clock hours (or 50 credit-hour equivalency). A school may accept certain outside training (for example, up to 1,000 barber hours toward cosmetology for overlapping subjects) if documentation meets the rules. (law.Cornell.edu)
• If a school discontinues/ closes, students who already have 750 or more clock hours may transfer all accumulated hours to another licensed cosmetology school, with the receiving school’s approval; the closing school must provide official transcripts. (ilga.gov)
• For other transfers (student moves between active schools, or training from other states/countries), Illinois rules require official transcripts and the receiving school (and the Board/Division as needed) to determine whether prior training “substantially complies” and how many hours will be credited. The Board may require additional coursework or a refresher if training is not substantially equivalent. (beta.ilga.gov)

Practical steps to transfer credits

1. Request an official transcript from your current (or closed) school — Illinois rules specifically require an official transcript for reviews. If the school closed, the school must provide a transcript and notify the Division where records are stored. (ilga.gov)
2. Contact the cosmetology school you want to transfer into and ask their transfer policy. Schools evaluate transcripts and decide what hours/subjects they will accept. (They may require an in‑school evaluation or additional hours to meet curriculum requirements.) (law.Cornell.edu)
3. If your training was done out-of-state or in another country, be prepared to provide detailed transcripts, proof of licensure, and possibly a credential evaluation; the Board may require extra education or an interview. (beta.ilga.gov)
4. If you plan to use transferred hours toward Illinois licensure, confirm with the Division/Board whether the accepted hours will meet the 1,500-hour requirement and whether you still must pass any Illinois exams or refresher courses. (law.Cornell.edu)

Who to contact

• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Division of Professional Regulation) — they administer cosmetology schooling/licensure and can confirm policy or special requirements for your situation. (Use the Division’s cosmetology school/licensing contacts on the IDFPR website.)

If you want, tell me:

• whether your current/previous school is still open or has closed, and
• whether your prior hours were in Illinois, another state, or another country — and I’ll outline the most likely path and exact documents you’ll need and can pull relevant contact links and forms.