A Texas cosmetology license is issued by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) under its unified Barbering and Cosmetology program. Whether you want to become an operator, esthetician, or manicurist, the path is the same: complete the required training hours at a licensed school, pass a written and a practical exam, and then keep the license current by renewing every 2 years with a $50 fee and TDLR-approved continuing education. This guide walks through each license type, what it takes to get one, and what it takes to keep it.
Who Regulates Cosmetology Licenses in Texas?
TDLR regulates all cosmetology and barbering licenses in Texas under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603, with administrative rules in 16 TAC Chapter 83. The barber and cosmetology programs used to be separate (Chapters 1601 and 1602), but HB 1560 consolidated them into one unified Barbering and Cosmetology program in 2021 — which is why barbers and cosmetologists now share the same rules, fees, and CE framework.
It is also TDLR's largest program by far: roughly 305,000 individual licenses plus about 52,766 business and facility licenses, the most of any of the 39 programs TDLR administers.
What Are the Texas Cosmetology License Types?
The program covers several individual practitioner licenses. All of them require continuing education and renew on the same 2-year cycle:
| License Type | Initial Training | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetology Operator | 1,000 hours | $50 every 2 years |
| Esthetician | 750 hours | $50 every 2 years |
| Manicurist | 600 hours | $50 every 2 years |
| Esthetician/Manicurist Combo | ~800 hours | $50 every 2 years |
| Eyelash Extension Specialist | Specialty program | $50 every 2 years |
| Hair Weaving Specialist | Specialty program | $50 every 2 years |
The Class A Barber license also belongs to the same program — see our Texas barber license guide for the barber-specific details, or the Texas esthetician license guide if skin care is your focus.
Two categories no longer exist: separate instructor licenses were eliminated under HB 1560 (teachers now simply hold a license in the specialty they teach), and the shampoo apprentice permit was eliminated in the program consolidation.
How Do You Get a Cosmetology License in Texas?
The process has three parts:
- Complete your training hours at a TDLR-licensed school — 1,000 hours for the operator license, 750 for esthetician, 600 for manicurist. Since September 1, 2023, there is no high school diploma or GED requirement for cosmetology operators.
- Apply to TDLR — the initial application fee is $50 for all practitioner types.
- Pass the exams — a written exam and a practical exam, each with a 70% passing score, administered by PSI Services.
The exams are a real hurdle: in FY2025, TDLR's program administered 77,520 barbering and cosmetology exams with an overall pass rate of 66.48%. The operator written exam alone accounted for 21,331 tests.
How Do You Look Up or Verify a Texas Cosmetology License?
Every TDLR license is a public record. You can confirm a license number, check its status, and see its expiration date with our free TDLR license search, or directly through tdlr.texas.gov. Salon owners and booth renters use the same lookup to verify that everyone working in the shop holds a current license.
How Often Do You Renew — and What Does It Cost?
Texas cosmetology licenses renew every 2 years on the anniversary of the issue date, with a flat $50 renewal fee for all practitioner types. Renewal happens online through TDLR Online Services, and TDLR emails a reminder about 60 days before your expiration date. Complete your continuing education before you submit the renewal — you attest to it as part of the application. For the full walkthrough, see our step-by-step Texas cosmetology license renewal guide.
What Are the Cosmetology CE Requirements?
Under TDLR's 2025 rule change (16 TAC §83.25), which applies to licenses expiring on or after September 1, 2025, every renewal requires TDLR-approved continuing education:
- Licensed less than 15 years: 4 hours — 1 hour of sanitation, 1 hour of human trafficking prevention, and 2 hours of electives from the TDLR-approved list
- Licensed 15+ years: 2 hours — just the two mandatory hours; the electives are waived
The sanitation hour covers content drawn from the program's curriculum standards — sterilization, disease prevention, tool disinfection, and chemical safety. The human trafficking hour dates back to HB 2059 in 2020 (codified in Texas Occupations Code Chapter 116) and became a distinct CE hour in the 2025 restructuring. The elective hours come from a TDLR-approved topic list that includes anatomy, skin and nail diseases and disorders, chemistry, hair and skin care theory, business skills, Texas law and rules, and mental health awareness.
One CE hour equals 50 minutes of instruction, and there is no final exam — just short in-lesson knowledge or attendance checks, depending on the approved course design. Your approved provider reports the completion directly to TDLR, so there is nothing for you to file; still, keep your completion certificate for two years as your own record, since TDLR retains general authority to inspect or investigate licensee records. All license types in the table above take the same TDLR-approved 4-hour course — full details in our Texas cosmetology CE requirements guide. As TDLR-approved Provider #2273, OnlineTexasCE reports your completion electronically within 24 hours.
What Happens If Your License Expires?
You can still renew an expired license, but it costs more: $75 if expired 90 days or less, $100 if expired more than 90 days but less than 18 months, and $100 plus TDLR executive-director approval from 18 months to less than 3 years. At 3 years or more you can no longer renew — you must meet the current requirements for a new applicant, which may include any applicable examinations. And you cannot work in the meantime — practicing with an expired license is a Class B violation carrying fines from $1,000 to $3,500 per violation.
Can You Transfer an Out-of-State License to Texas?
Texas is moving toward easier transfers. HB 11, passed in 2025, directs TDLR to maximize the creation of occupational license reciprocity agreements with other states, with rules due by January 1, 2026. The exact paperwork for your situation depends on the state you are licensed in, so check the current out-of-state-applicant instructions on TDLR's Barbering and Cosmetology page before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01What is the difference between a cosmetology operator and an esthetician license?
The cosmetology operator license is the full cosmetology license and requires 1,000 hours of training. The esthetician license is a specialty license requiring 750 hours, limited to skin care services such as facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, hair removal, and makeup application. Both renew every 2 years with the same $50 fee and the same CE requirement.
Q.02I hold both a cosmetology and a barber license. Do I complete CE twice?
No. Since September 1, 2025, continuing education completed for one barbering or cosmetology license satisfies the requirement for the other. Each license still renews separately with its own $50 fee.
Q.03Do salons need their own license?
Yes. Salon and establishment licenses are facility licenses, separate from your individual practitioner license. Mobile service providers need a booth rental or mobile salon license.
Q.04Is there still a cosmetology instructor license in Texas?
No. Separate instructor licenses were eliminated by HB 1560, effective September 1, 2021. Individuals teaching in licensed schools must hold a TDLR barbering/cosmetology license in the specialty area they teach — no separate instructor license is required.
Q.05Can I put my cosmetology license on inactive status?
Yes. The Barbering and Cosmetology program offers an inactive status option: there is no fee to go inactive, but you cannot practice and you must still renew before your expiration date. Returning to active status costs a $25 non-refundable reactivation fee, and your CE must be complete before reactivation.
Q.06How long is a Texas cosmetology license valid?
Two years from the date of issue. Your license expires on the anniversary of its issuance date — not on your birthday — and TDLR emails a renewal reminder approximately 60 days before expiration.
Last updated July 22, 2026