The Barbering and Cosmetology program offers something most TDLR programs do not: an inactive license status for licensees who stop practicing but do not want to lose their license.
How it works:
- Going inactive is free. Submit TDLR's Request for a Change in License Status form (BAC-LIC-017-E).
- No CE while inactive. Continuing education is not required as long as you are not practicing.
- You still renew on schedule. The license must be renewed before its expiration date even while inactive — the $50 renewal fee continues.
- No practicing. Providing or even offering services while inactive is prohibited.
- Reactivation costs $25 (non-refundable) and requires completing your CE first. You can activate during the renewal period, which opens 60 days before expiration.
It is built for career pauses — parental leave, a move, a stretch in another field — where dropping the license entirely would mean reapplying as a new applicant later.
What it means for your renewal
Inactive status saves you the CE, not the renewal. Miss the renewal date while inactive and the standard late fees and expiration rules apply — and after 3 years expired, you start over as a new applicant.
Before reactivating, complete a TDLR-approved CE course; the $25 reactivation fee is paid to TDLR on top of it.