Quick Answer
To renew your Texas cosmetology license: (1) complete 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education — 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 renewal fee. Your license renews every 2 years on the anniversary of its issue date, and all CE must be done before you submit the renewal.
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
Finish 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education (1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention, 2 hours electives). If you have held your license 15+ years, you only need the 2 mandatory hours. You can complete all of it online with OnlineTexasCE — we report your completion to TDLR within 24 hours.
- 02
Log in to TDLR Online Services
Go to tdlr.texas.gov and sign in to TDLR Online Services with your 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 cosmetology license, click Renew, and attest that you completed the required CE hours. Your approved provider reports the completion to TDLR directly, but keep your own completion certificate for at least 2 years.
- 04
Pay the $50 renewal fee
Pay online and you're done. Renew on time to avoid late fees — $75 if your license has been expired 90 days or less, $100 once you're more than 90 days past expiration.
When Is My Renewal Deadline?
Texas cosmetology licenses are valid for 2 years and expire on the anniversary of the date your license was issued — not on your birthday. TDLR sends a reminder email roughly 60 days before expiration, and we recommend starting at least 30 days early so your CE has time to post and any issues can be resolved.
Not sure when your license expires? Look it up free in the TDLR license search — your expiration date is on your public license record.
CE Hours You Need (Rules Since September 1, 2025)
Under TDLR's 2025 rule change in 16 TAC §83.25, which applies to licenses expiring on or after September 1, 2025, the CE requirement for Texas barbering and cosmetology licenses is:
- 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 (the electives are waived)
One CE hour equals 50 minutes of instruction. The same rules cover every license in the program: cosmetology operators, estheticians, manicurists, eyelash extension specialists, hair weaving specialists, and Class A barbers — and they all take the same 4-hour course. If you hold both a cosmetology and a barber license, CE completed for one satisfies the other (each license still renews separately with its own $50 fee).
For the full topic breakdown, see Texas cosmetology CE requirements.
What If I Don't Renew on Time?
You can still renew an expired cosmetology license, but it costs more — and you cannot legally work on an expired license. Practicing with an expired license is a Class B violation with fines from $1,000 to $3,500. If 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.
Do I Have to Prove My CE to TDLR?
You attest to your hours when you renew, and your TDLR-approved provider reports the completion to TDLR directly — that provider reporting is how barbering and cosmetology CE gets verified. Keep your own completion certificate for at least 2 years anyway: TDLR retains general authority to inspect or investigate license records, and the certificate is the fastest way to settle any question about a cycle's hours.
As a TDLR-approved provider (#2273), we report your completion electronically — within 24 hours — and your downloadable certificate is issued the moment you finish.
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: Practicing with an expired cosmetology license is a Class B violation — fines run $1,000–$3,500 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.01How much does it cost to renew a Texas cosmetology license?
The TDLR renewal fee is $50 for all practitioner license types, plus the cost of your continuing education course. Renewing late costs more: $75 if expired 90 days or less, $100 once you're more than 90 days past expiration (and from 18 months to 3 years the renewal also needs TDLR executive director approval).
Q.02How many CE hours do I need to renew?
4 hours every 2 years: 1 hour of sanitation, 1 hour of human trafficking prevention, and 2 hours of electives. If you have held your license 15 or more years, you only need the 2 mandatory hours — the electives are waived.
Q.03Can I renew my Texas cosmetology license online?
Yes. Both halves of the process are online: complete your CE with a TDLR-approved provider like OnlineTexasCE, then renew through TDLR Online Services at tdlr.texas.gov and pay the $50 fee.
Q.04Do I need to send TDLR my CE certificate?
No. As a TDLR-approved provider, we report your completion electronically within 24 hours. Keep your certificate for at least 2 years anyway — TDLR retains general authority to inspect or investigate license records.
Q.05My license already expired. Can I still renew?
Yes, if it has been expired less than 3 years: pay $75 (expired 90 days or less) or $100 (more than 90 days) and complete your CE. From 18 months to 3 years the renewal also requires TDLR executive director approval. Once expired 3 years or more you cannot renew — you must meet the current requirements for a new applicant, which may include any applicable examinations. You cannot work until the license is renewed.
Q.06Does the same renewal process apply to estheticians and manicurists?
Yes. Estheticians, manicurists, eyelash extension specialists, and hair weaving specialists follow the same 2-year cycle, $50 fee, and CE requirement — and all of them take the same TDLR-approved 4-hour course.
Q.07I hold both cosmetology and barber licenses. Do I renew twice?
Each license renews separately with its own $50 fee, but you only complete CE once — hours completed for one barbering or cosmetology license satisfy the requirement for the other.
Related Resources
Last updated August 27, 2026