Texas Cosmetology Licensing Is Managed by TDLR
Texas no longer has a standalone licensing agency called the Texas State Board of Cosmetology. Barbering and cosmetology licensing is administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, while the Barbering and Cosmetology Advisory Board provides advice and recommendations to TDLR.
Use this page to verify a license, renew a Cosmetology Operator credential, check continuing-education rules, apply for a new license, prepare for PSI exams, transfer an out-of-state license, understand establishment licensing or file a complaint.
Quick Answer: Who Regulates Cosmetology in Texas?
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation administers the state’s Barbering and Cosmetology program. TDLR handles individual licenses, establishments, schools, examinations, renewals, inspections, complaints and enforcement.
The current Barbering and Cosmetology Advisory Board is a nine-member advisory body. It provides input to TDLR but is not a separate licensing agency that independently issues cosmetology licenses.
Choose the Right TDLR Action
TDLR Cosmetology Phone Number, Address and Contact Hours
TDLR customer service handles questions about applications, renewals, fees, exams, continuing education and inspections. Phone service is currently available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
TDLR Main Office
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation920 Colorado Street
Austin, TX 78701
Mailing Address
Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationP.O. Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711
Online Help
Use TDLR’s customer-service page for license-specific assistance and secure contact options.
Texas Cosmetology License Lookup
Use the official TDLR license search to verify both the practitioner and, when applicable, the establishment where services are provided. A salon license and an individual’s professional license are separate records.
Check the individual
Confirm the person’s legal or registered name, exact license type, license number, status and expiration date.
Check the establishment
Verify the salon, specialty establishment, mini-establishment or other required business credential separately.
Open TDLR License Search · Search enforcement information
For a deeper Texas verification workflow, see the internal TDLR Cosmetology License Lookup guide.
How to Get a Texas Cosmetology Operator License
A standard Texas Cosmetology Operator applicant must complete a 1,000-hour operator course at a TDLR-licensed school, pass the required written and practical examinations, meet the age requirement and complete the licensing process.
Complete the required education
Finish a 1,000-hour Cosmetology Operator program through a Texas-licensed school. Students are issued a student permit while enrolled.
Become eligible for the written exam
After 900 of the required 1,000 hours are completed and reported, the school notifies TDLR. Once TDLR verifies eligibility, PSI sends scheduling instructions.
Complete all 1,000 hours
The full education requirement must be completed before the practical-exam eligibility process is finished.
Pass the written and practical exams
Texas requires both examinations for the Cosmetology Operator credential.
Submit the license application
The current nonrefundable Cosmetology Operator application fee is $50. Applicants must be at least 17 years old.
Verify the issued license
After approval, check the official TDLR record and confirm the credential is active before relying on it for work.
Texas Cosmetology Exams and PSI Eligibility
TDLR uses PSI for barbering and cosmetology examinations. After the school reports qualifying hours, TDLR states that eligibility normally takes about 24 to 48 hours to generate and reach PSI.
Written exam
Cosmetology Operator students can become eligible for the written exam after completing 900 of the required 1,000 hours.
Practical exam
Practical eligibility follows completion of the full program hours and the required written-exam progression.
Candidate bulletin
Use the current PSI candidate information bulletin for exam content, passing score, question count, time limits, fees and test-site procedures.
TDLR Exam Information · Check eligibility, results or reported hours
Texas Cosmetology License Renewal
Texas Cosmetology Operator licenses are valid for two years. The current ordinary practitioner renewal fee is $50. Before renewal, complete the applicable continuing education and use the TDLR practitioner-renewal route that matches the license’s actual status.
Check the expiration date and status
Verify the official record first so you know whether you qualify for ordinary renewal or need a late-renewal or reapplication route.
Complete required continuing education
Use a department-approved provider and confirm that the required course hours are complete before renewal.
Update personal information
Address, contact details, legal-name changes and other record issues should be handled through the appropriate TDLR process.
Submit the correct renewal
Use the official online licensing route and select the existing practitioner credential rather than starting a new application unnecessarily.
Save the payment receipt
Keep your confirmation and any messages from TDLR in case additional action is required.
Verify the renewed license
Check the official license record after processing and confirm that the new expiration date and active status appear correctly.
Texas Cosmetology Continuing Education Requirements
Beginning September 1, 2025, the standard renewal requirement for a barbering or cosmetology license held for fewer than 15 years is four hours of department-approved continuing education every two years.
| License history | Total CE | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Held Texas license fewer than 15 years | 4 hours | 1 hour sanitation + 1 hour human trafficking awareness + 2 approved elective hours |
| Held applicable Texas license at least 15 years | 2 hours | 1 hour sanitation + 1 hour human trafficking awareness |
The provider must report course completion electronically to TDLR no later than seven days after the course is completed. The provider must also issue a completion certificate within 15 days. Licensees must keep the certificate for two years after completion.
Expired Texas Cosmetology License: Late Fees and Reapplication
| License status | Current practitioner amount / route | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Current and active | $50 | Complete required CE and renew normally. |
| Expired 90 days or less | $75 | Late renewal at 1.5 times the normal fee. |
| Expired more than 90 days but less than 18 months | $100 | Late renewal at two times the normal fee. |
| Expired at least 18 months but less than 3 years | $100 plus Executive Director approval | Use the current Executive Director expired-license route. |
| Expired 3 years or more | Reapplication | The old license cannot be renewed through ordinary renewal; current initial-license requirements apply. |
2026 Lawful-Presence Documentation Rule
TDLR’s current lawful-presence process began in January 2026, and the related rule took effect May 1, 2026. Certain applicants for an initial license or renewal may be asked to provide documentation establishing lawful presence in the United States.
Not every applicant should send documents automatically. Follow the official application or renewal process and respond if TDLR requests documentation. When documentation is required, follow TDLR’s current acceptable-document instructions.
Texas Salon and Cosmetology Establishment Licenses
A practitioner’s personal license does not replace the establishment license required for a regulated salon or location. TDLR separately licenses full-service establishments, specialty establishments, mini-establishments and mobile establishments.
| Establishment type | Current application fee | Current on-time renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Service Establishment | $78 | $78 |
| Specialty Establishment | $78 | $78 |
| Mini-Establishment | $70 | $70 |
Establishment licenses are generally valid for two years. TDLR also states that establishments may not employ or lease space to a person intending to practice regulated barbering or cosmetology unless that person holds the required license.
Transfer an Out-of-State Cosmetology License to Texas
Texas uses a license-by-equivalence process for qualifying applicants who hold a license from another U.S. jurisdiction. Eligibility depends on the issuing jurisdiction, current license status, credential type, training route and how long the applicant has held the license.
Start with the Texas equivalence tool
Select the state or territory, license status, profession, training route and license history. TDLR then directs you to the applicable Texas path.
Do not assume reciprocity is automatic
An active license from another state can support the application, but Texas determines whether the applicant meets the current equivalence requirements.
File a Texas Cosmetology Complaint or Check Enforcement
TDLR accepts complaints involving possible violations, including unlicensed activity. After a consumer complaint is received, the Enforcement Division first reviews whether TDLR has jurisdiction and whether the information indicates that a violation may have occurred.
Before filing
- Verify the individual’s license.
- Verify the establishment separately.
- Save receipts, dates, messages and photographs when relevant.
- Describe the facts clearly rather than guessing about intent.
Disciplinary actions
License status and enforcement history are separate issues. TDLR provides a disciplinary-action and administrative-order search for sanctions and formal enforcement results.
Texas Cosmetology Laws, Rules and Scope of Practice
Texas barbering and cosmetology regulation is primarily organized under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603 and Title 16, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 83, together with TDLR’s general enabling law and procedural rules.
TDLR also publishes scope-of-practice guidance because services that appear similar may fall under different agencies. Medical procedures, certain body-contouring services and other treatments should not be assumed to fall within an ordinary cosmetology license simply because they are offered in a salon or medspa.
Related Board-of-Cosmetology.org Guides
Texas State Board of Cosmetology FAQs
Does Texas still have a State Board of Cosmetology?
What is the Texas cosmetology licensing phone number?
How many hours are required for a Texas Cosmetology Operator license?
How old must I be to get a Texas Cosmetology Operator license?
How much is the Texas Cosmetology Operator application fee?
How much does Texas cosmetology license renewal cost?
How many CE hours are required for Texas cosmetology renewal?
What happens if a Texas cosmetology license has been expired for three years?
Does Texas require both written and practical cosmetology exams?
Can an out-of-state cosmetologist transfer a license to Texas?
Where is TDLR located?
Board-of-Cosmetology.org is not TDLR, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation or the Barbering and Cosmetology Advisory Board. Complete applications, renewals, payments, license searches, complaints and document uploads only through official Texas government systems. Do not enter Social Security numbers, identity documents, payment-card information or government-account passwords into this page.
Best Next Step: Use the Exact TDLR Service You Need
Verify the license before renewing or hiring, use the practitioner-renewal route for an existing credential, use the Cosmetology Operator application process for a new license, and use the out-of-state equivalence tool if you already hold a license elsewhere.