Quick Answer
TDLR offers two free public lookups, and which one you need depends on your question:
- License status & expiration: search any license by name or number at TDLR License Search
- CE hours on file: confirm your reported continuing education at the TDLR CE Course Search
Both are free, public, and require no account — all you need is a name or license number.
How to Look Up a TDLR License
- 01
Open TDLR's license search
Go to tdlr.texas.gov/verify.htm — TDLR's free public search covers every program it licenses, including cosmetology, barbering, electricians, and HVAC contractors.
- 02
Search by license number or name
A license number gives an exact match. Searching by name? Add a city or pick the license type to narrow common names.
- 03
Read the status and expiration date
The record shows whether the license is active, when it expires, and the license type. If renewal is coming up, complete your CE before submitting the renewal.
- 04
Check your CE record before renewing
Use TDLR's CE course search (tdlr.texas.gov/ContinuingEducation/CourseSearch.aspx) with your license number to confirm your completed hours are on file.
What the License Statuses Mean
TDLR shows a status on every license record but doesn't explain it. Here's the plain-language version:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Active / Current | The license is valid. Check the expiration date — if it's inside 30 days, it's time to complete CE and renew. |
| Expired | The renewal date passed. Working on an expired license is a violation; most TDLR licenses can still be renewed late for a higher fee within a limited window. |
| Inactive | The holder voluntarily paused their practice (available in the barbering and cosmetology program). No working until the license is reactivated — reactivation costs $25 and requires current CE. |
| Suspended / Revoked | The result of a TDLR enforcement action. The holder cannot legally work. Enforcement history is searchable in TDLR's administrative orders database. |
How to Confirm Your CE Hours Were Reported to TDLR
You don't mail anything to the state — your CE provider reports your completion for you. To see what's on file, open the TDLR CE Course Search and enter your license number. Every reported course appears with its completion date, course number, and provider.
Timing matters: TDLR gives providers up to 7 days after course completion to submit the report (16 TAC §59.51(e)). As a TDLR-approved provider (#2273), OnlineTexasCE reports completions electronically — within 24 hours — and your downloadable certificate is issued the moment you finish, so you always have proof in hand.
Hours missing? Wait a couple of days first. If they still haven't appeared after 7 days, contact your CE provider with your license number and completion certificate — the provider corrects and resubmits the report. Keep your certificate for at least 2 years; it's your audit-proof record.
Pre-Renewal Checklist
Renewing Soon? Start With Your Trade's Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01What is a TDLR number?
It depends which one you're looking at. Your TDLR license number is the number the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation printed on your license — the one you enter to renew and that CE providers report your hours under. A CE provider number identifies the school (OnlineTexasCE is provider #2273), and a CE course number identifies an approved course; both appear on your completion certificate, but neither is your license number.
Q.02Where do I find my TDLR license number?
On your license card or certificate from TDLR, and in TDLR's public license search — look yourself up by name and the record shows your license number, license type, and expiration date (active licenses only). In the search's License Type list, cosmetology operators, estheticians, manicurists, and the other cosmetology specialty licenses are under Cosmetologists; barbers are under Barbers. HVAC contractors: the digits in your TACLA or TACLB number are your license number.
Q.03How do I look up a TDLR license?
Use TDLR's free public search at tdlr.texas.gov/verify.htm. You can search by license number, name, or business name. The record shows the license type, status, and expiration date. No account is needed.
Q.04How do I check if my CE hours were reported to TDLR?
Use TDLR's continuing education course search at tdlr.texas.gov/ContinuingEducation/CourseSearch.aspx and enter your license number. It lists every CE course a provider has reported for you, with the completion date and course number.
Q.05How long does a provider have to report my CE to TDLR?
TDLR rules give CE providers up to 7 days after the course completion date to submit the completion report (16 TAC §59.51(e)). OnlineTexasCE reports completions electronically within 24 hours.
Q.06My CE hours aren't showing in the TDLR system. What do I do?
First, allow a couple of days after finishing the course — reporting isn't instantaneous. If hours still don't appear after 7 days, contact your CE provider with your license number and completion certificate; the provider corrects and resubmits the report. Keep your completion certificate — it's your proof of completion for at least 2 years.
Q.07Can I search a TDLR license by name instead of license number?
Yes. TDLR's license search accepts a first and last name (and business names for company licenses). If the name is common, narrow results by city or license type, or ask the license holder for their number — number searches are exact.
Q.08My barber license number changed in 2023. Which number do I search?
Either one. TDLR reissued every Texas barber license with a new number in 2023 when the barbering and cosmetology programs merged, and the search on this page matches old pre-2023 barber numbers to their reissued numbers automatically. Cosmetology numbers were never renumbered.
Q.09What does each TDLR license status mean?
A status of "Active" (or "Current") means the license is valid to work under. "Expired" means the renewal date passed — working on it is illegal until renewed. "Inactive" means the holder voluntarily paused practice (no working until reactivated). Suspended or revoked statuses come from TDLR enforcement actions.
Q.10Do employers use the TDLR license search?
Yes — salons, contractors, and shops routinely verify license status and expiration dates for everyone they hire or rent booths to, since letting someone work on an expired license exposes the business to TDLR enforcement.
Last updated August 26, 2026