As of September 1, 2025, Texas barbers are required to complete continuing education for the first time. Under TDLR's 2025 rule change (16 TAC §83.25), all Class A Barber license holders must now complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE every 2 years to renew. Our online course (Provider #2273) satisfies this new requirement — no final exam.
Class A Barber CE — At a Glance
CE Hours
4
hours
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years (biennial)
Renewal Fee
$50
Course Price
$22.95
New Requirement: Texas Barbers Now Need CE
This is new. Prior to September 1, 2025, Texas barbers could renew their license without any continuing education. That changed with TDLR's 2025 CE rule change (16 TAC §83.25), which restructured CE requirements for the entire Barbering and Cosmetology program for licenses expiring on or after September 1, 2025.
If you hold a Class A Barber license from TDLR, you are now required to complete 4 hours of CE every 2 years — the same requirement that has applied to cosmetology operators for years. This applies to all barber license renewals on or after September 1, 2025.
Many Texas barbers are not yet aware of this change. If your license is up for renewal, you must complete CE before you can renew. Do not wait — late renewals carry extra fees, and practicing on an expired license is a Class B violation with fines from $1,000 to $3,500.
What Texas Barbers Need to Know
A Class A Barber license issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) authorizes you to perform barbering services including haircutting, shaving, beard trimming, shampooing, chemical hair treatments, and related grooming services. The barber and cosmetology programs were merged into a single unified program under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603 in 2021 via HB 1560.
Under the 2025 CE restructuring (16 TAC §83.25), CE courses taken for a barber license also satisfy the CE requirement for a cosmetology license, and vice versa. If you hold both a barber and cosmetology license, you only need to complete CE once — though each license must be renewed separately with its own $50 fee.
Barber CE Requirements
- Standard (licensed less than 15 years): 4 hours total
- 1 hour — Sanitation (health and safety)
- 1 hour — Human trafficking prevention
- 2 hours — Elective topics from the TDLR-approved list
- Experienced (licensed 15+ years): 2 hours total
- 1 hour — Sanitation
- 1 hour — Human trafficking prevention
- The 2 elective hours are waived
One CE credit hour equals 50 minutes of instruction time. All hours must be completed before submitting your renewal application. Retain your completion certificate for at least 2 years. Your TDLR-approved provider reports your completion directly to TDLR, and TDLR keeps general authority to inspect or investigate licensee records.
What's Covered in the Course
Our 4-hour course covers the full CE requirement for barbers. Topics include:
- Sanitation and infection control — proper disinfection of clippers, shears, razors, and other barber tools; updated TDLR protocols that moved away from alcohol-based disinfection; preventing skin infections and bloodborne pathogen transmission
- Human trafficking recognition — TDLR-required training on identifying potential victims in service-industry settings, including barbershops, and how to report suspected trafficking
- Hair care and chemical safety — safe handling of chemical relaxers, haircoloring agents, and texturizing products
- Skin and scalp conditions — recognizing diseases and disorders that require medical referral
- Texas law and rules — overview of 16 TAC Chapter 83 and TDLR regulations as they apply to barbers
- Professional ethics and business practices
This is the same course that cosmetology operators, estheticians, manicurists, and other cosmetology sub-types take. Under the unified program, one TDLR-approved CE course satisfies the requirement for both barber and cosmetology license holders.
No final exam is required. You answer only short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks as you go, depending on the approved course design — complete the hours and receive your certificate.
How to Renew Your Texas Barber License
Follow these steps to renew your Class A Barber license with TDLR:
- Step 1: Complete your 4 hours of CE through a TDLR-approved provider (like OnlineTexasCE)
- Step 2: Log in to TDLR Online Services at tdlr.texas.gov
- Step 3: Select your barber license and click "Renew"
- Step 4: Attest that you have completed the required CE hours
- Step 5: Pay the $50 renewal fee
TDLR sends a reminder email approximately 60 days before your license expires. Start renewal at least 30 days before your expiration date. Your barber license renews every 2 years on the anniversary of your issuance date.
Late renewal fees: $75 if you are 90 days or less past expiration, $100 if you are more than 90 days past expiration. From 18 months to less than 3 years expired, renewal also requires TDLR executive director approval. After 3 years or more you cannot renew — you must meet the current requirements for a new applicant, which may include any applicable examinations.
Late Renewal Fees
| Time After Expiration | Fee |
|---|---|
| 90 days or less expired | $75 (1.5x) |
| More than 90 days, less than 18 months expired | $100 (2x) |
| 18 months to less than 3 years expired | $100 (2x) — executive director approval required |
| 3 years or more expired | Cannot renew — must meet current new-applicant requirements |
Important: Practicing with an expired license can result in fines of $1,000–$5,000 per violation. Complete your CE before your license expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01Do Texas barbers really need continuing education now?
Yes. Under TDLR's 2025 rule change (16 TAC §83.25), Class A Barber license holders must complete 4 hours of continuing education every 2 years. This is a new requirement — barbers were previously exempt from CE. It applies to barber licenses expiring on or after September 1, 2025.
Q.02How many CE hours do Texas barbers need?
4 hours every 2 years if you have been licensed less than 15 years (1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention, 2 hours elective). If you have held your barber license for 15 or more years, you only need 2 hours (the elective hours are waived).
Q.03Is there a test for Texas barber CE?
No. There is no final exam — just short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks, depending on the approved course design. Our course is completion-based — finish the required instruction hours and your CE certificate is issued immediately.
Q.04I have both a barber and cosmetology license. Do I need CE for each?
No. Under the 2025 CE restructuring (16 TAC §83.25), CE hours completed for one license satisfy the requirement for your other barbering and cosmetology licenses. You only need to take the course once. However, each license must be renewed separately with its own $50 renewal fee.
Q.05How much does the Texas barber CE course cost?
Our TDLR-approved 4-hour course costs $22.95 and includes all required topics for barber license renewal. You also pay a separate $50 renewal fee directly to TDLR.
Q.06How long does the barber CE course take to complete?
The course requires a minimum of 200 minutes (50 minutes per credit hour for 4 hours) of instruction time. Most barbers finish in a single sitting. It is self-paced and available 24/7, so you can work through it between clients or on your day off.
Q.07Can I take the barber CE course on my phone?
Yes. The course is fully mobile-friendly and works on any device. You can start on your phone at the shop and finish on a computer at home.
Q.08Does TDLR automatically receive my CE completion?
Yes. As TDLR-approved Provider #2273, we report your completion directly to TDLR. Keep your certificate for at least 2 years for your own records.
Q.09What happens if I don't complete CE before my barber license renewal?
You will not be able to renew your license. If your license expires, you face late fees ($75 if you are 90 days or less past expiration, $100 after that — and executive director approval on top of the $100 once you are 18 months to less than 3 years expired) and cannot legally practice barbering. Practicing on an expired license carries fines from $1,000 to $3,500.
Q.10Is this the same course that cosmetologists take?
Yes. Under the unified TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology program, all sub-types — barbers, cosmetology operators, estheticians, manicurists, eyelash extension specialists, and hair weaving specialists — take the same TDLR-approved 4-hour CE course.