Quick Answer
To renew your Texas Class A Barber license: (1) complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education — this is new since September 1, 2025; only 2 hours if you've been licensed 15+ years — (2) log in to TDLR Online Services and submit your renewal, and (3) pay the $50 fee. Your license renews every 2 years on its issuance anniversary, and CE must be finished before you renew.
Running late? You can still renew online up to 18 months past expiration — $75 in the first 90 days, $100 after (late-fee table below) — and CE hours finished after expiration still count toward a late renewal (16 TAC §83.25(d)).
Check your renewal date
Checks TDLR public records, updated daily — informational, not an official record or legal advice. Name searches also match "Last, First".
Provider #2273
Renewal at a Glance
CE Hours
4 (2 if licensed 15+ yrs)
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
TDLR Fee
$50
CE Course
$22.95
How to Renew, Step by Step
- 01
Complete your CE hours (required since Sept 2025)
Finish 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education: 1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention, 2 hours electives. Licensed 15+ years? You only need the 2 mandatory hours. Barbers take the same TDLR-approved course as cosmetologists — complete it online with OnlineTexasCE and we report it to TDLR within 24 hours.
- 02
Log in to TDLR Online Services
Go to tdlr.texas.gov and sign in with your barber license number. TDLR emails a renewal reminder about 60 days before your expiration date.
- 03
Submit your renewal and attest to your CE
Select your Class A Barber license, click Renew, and attest that you completed the required CE. Your approved provider reports the completion to TDLR directly, but keep your own certificate for at least 2 years.
- 04
Pay the $50 renewal fee
Pay online and you're done. Late renewals cost $75 (expired 90 days or less) or $100 (more than 90 days past expiration).
New: Texas Barbers Need CE to Renew
This is a recent change. Before September 1, 2025, Texas barbers could renew without any continuing education. TDLR's 2025 CE rule change (16 TAC §83.25) changed that: for licenses expiring on or after September 1, 2025, every Class A Barber renewal requires TDLR-approved CE — the same requirement cosmetology operators have had for years.
Many barbers haven't heard about this yet. If your renewal date is coming up, build in time to finish your CE first — you must complete the hours before you can renew, and practicing on an expired license is a Class B violation with fines from $1,000 to $3,500.
How Many CE Hours Do Barbers Need?
- Licensed less than 15 years: 4 hours — 1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention, 2 hours of TDLR-approved electives
- Licensed 15+ years: 2 hours — 1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention
One CE hour equals 50 minutes of instruction, and there is no final exam — CE is completion-based, with short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks depending on the approved course design. Since the barber and cosmetology programs merged into one TDLR program (Occupations Code Chapter 1603), barbers take the same TDLR-approved 4-hour course as cosmetology operators, estheticians, and manicurists. If you hold both a barber and a cosmetology license, one course covers both — each license still renews separately with its own $50 fee.
Full topic details: Texas barber CE requirements.
When Is My Renewal Deadline?
Class A Barber licenses are valid for 2 years and expire on the anniversary of the issue date. TDLR emails a reminder about 60 days out; start at least 30 days before expiration so your CE posts in time. You can check your expiration date free in the TDLR license search.
What If My Barber License Already Expired?
You can still renew within 3 years of expiration — it just costs more (see the late-fee table below), and from 18 months out it also takes TDLR executive director approval. You cannot legally cut hair until the renewal goes through. Once your license has been expired 3 years or more, you cannot renew it: you must meet the current requirements for a new applicant, which may include any applicable examinations.
Late Renewal Fees
| Time After Expiration | Fee |
|---|---|
| Expired 90 days or less | $75 (1.5× the $50 fee) |
| Expired 91 days – 18 months | $100 (2× the $50 fee) |
| Expired 18 months – 3 years | $100, with TDLR executive director approval |
| Expired 3 years or more | Cannot renew — must meet current new-applicant requirements |
Important: Barbering with an expired license is a Class B violation — fines run $1,000–$3,500 per violation.
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 TDLR-approved CE before each renewal for licenses expiring on or after September 1, 2025 — 4 hours, or 2 hours if you've been licensed 15+ years. Barbers were previously exempt.
Q.02How much does it cost to renew a Texas barber license?
The TDLR renewal fee is $50, plus the cost of your CE course. Late renewal costs $75 (expired 90 days or less) or $100 (more than 90 days past expiration; from 18 months to 3 years it also takes TDLR executive director approval).
Q.03Is there a test in the barber CE course?
There is no final exam. TDLR continuing education is completion-based — you work through the approved course and answer short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks, depending on the approved course design. Finish the required hours and your certificate is issued immediately.
Q.04Is the barber CE course different from the cosmetology course?
No — under the unified TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology program, barbers, cosmetology operators, estheticians, and manicurists all take the same TDLR-approved 4-hour course.
Q.05Can I renew my Texas barber license online?
Yes. Complete your CE online with a TDLR-approved provider, then renew through TDLR Online Services at tdlr.texas.gov. We report your CE completion electronically within 24 hours.
Q.06I hold both barber and cosmetology licenses. Do I need CE twice?
No. CE completed for one barbering or cosmetology license satisfies the requirement for the other. You do renew each license separately, each with its own $50 fee.
Related Resources
Last updated August 27, 2026