The Class A Barber license is TDLR's barber designation, covering haircutting, shaving, beard trimming, shampooing, chemical hair treatments, and related grooming services. Since 2021, barbers and cosmetologists have been regulated under one unified program governed by Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603.
Earning the license requires 1,000 hours at a TDLR-licensed barber school and passing the written and practical exams. The minimum age was adjusted to 17 years old in the September 2023 rule updates, and both the application fee and the biennial renewal fee are $50.
The change many barbers have missed: continuing education. Prior to September 1, 2025, Texas barbers could renew without any CE. Under TDLR's 2025 rule change (16 TAC §83.25), every Class A Barber renewal now requires 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE every 2 years — 1 hour of sanitation, 1 hour of human trafficking prevention, and 2 elective hours (2 hours total if you have held the license 15+ years). CE completed for a barber license also counts toward a cosmetology license, and vice versa.
Practicing on an expired barber license is a Class B violation with fines from $1,000 to $3,500 — so if your renewal is coming up, complete the CE first.
What it means for your renewal
If you have renewed for years without coursework, the rules changed on September 1, 2025: TDLR now expects CE before every barber renewal, and many Texas barbers are not yet aware of the change. Don't find out at renewal time.
Our 4-hour barber CE course is $22.95 with no final exam, and we report your completion to TDLR within 24 hours.
Authority: Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603