# Texas Barber Exam (2026): Written and Practical, Topics and Pass Rates > Source: PermitPulled, https://permitpulled.com/exams/barber-exam-texas > Compiled from the public TDLR license file. Published under CC BY 4.0; attribution to PermitPulled required. > For an individual license record, use the official TDLR search: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/ [Texas license lookup]() / [Exam guides]() / Class A barber # The Texas Class A barber exam The barber written exam has the lowest pass rate of any beauty exam TDLR publishes: 37%. The practical, by contrast, is passed nine times out of ten. Based on PSI's candidate bulletin dated 1 January 2026 ยท Reviewed 9 October 2026 ## The exam at a glance Exam| Questions| Time| To pass| Fee| Format ---|---|---|---|---|--- Written| 85 scored + 8 unscored| 90 min + 10| 70%| $55| Closed book Practical| 11 sections, 163 points| 3 h 29 min| 115 points (70%)| $76| Mannequin, own kit "+ N" is extra time or questions for unscored items, which PSI includes to trial new questions. Exam fees are paid to PSI, separately from TDLR's license application fee. ## How many people pass | Pass rate| Taken| Passed ---|---|---|--- Written| **37.2%**| 8,457| 3,150 Practical| **89.8%**| 2,972| 2,669 Fiscal year 2025 (September 2024 to August 2025). Counts are exams taken, not people, and exclude no-shows. Source: [TDLR examination statistics](). ## What is on it: written exam (85 scored items) Topic| Items| Share ---|---|--- Health and safety, including infection control| 25 | 29% Shaving| 15 | 18% Licensing and regulation| 13 | 15% Haircutting and hairstyling| 12 | 14% Haircoloring| 6 | 7% Chemical texture services| 6 | 7% Hair and scalp care| 4 | 5% Nail and skin care| 4 | 5% ## The practical, section by section Sections are done in this order, each with its own time limit. Points are only awarded for steps done in the listed order. #| Section| Time| Points ---|---|---|--- 1| Pre-exam set-up and disinfection| 10 min| 4 2| Manicure, five nails| 22 min| 16 3| Professional shave| 42 min| 34 4| Blood exposure incident| 12 min| 12 5| Facial and massage| 17 min| 13 6| Haircut| 37 min| 43 7| Blow drying and thermal curling| 22 min| 11 8| Chemical application preparation| 10 min| 4 9| Permanent wave| 17 min| 13 10| Single process color retouch| 10 min| 10 11| End of exam disinfection| 10 min| 3 | Total| | **163** ## The two sections that decide the practical The haircut (43 points) and the professional shave (34 points) are 77 of the 163 points between them. The shave is also the longest section at 42 minutes. ## The written: health and safety first Health and safety plus licensing rules are 38 of the 85 written questions, more than shaving and haircutting combined. With a 37% pass rate, the written exam is the real gate for barbers. ## Languages The written is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Simplified Chinese at no extra cost. ## Scheduling and exam day * **Eligibility first.** TDLR reviews your application, then PSI emails you that you are eligible and how to book. You cannot book before that. * **Booking.** Online through your PSI account, or by phone; your name must match your government ID exactly. * **On the day.** PSI's TDLR bulletins ask you to arrive 30 minutes early with one valid government photo ID; late arrivals are turned away and lose the fee. * **Cancelling.** Cancel or reschedule at least two days ahead through PSI, or the fee is forfeited. * **Results.** Scores are given at the test center. PSI gives failing candidates a diagnostic report by topic, which is the best study guide for a retake. [Read PSI's candidate bulletin]() ## Before and after the exam * [How to get a barber license in Texas](): hours, application and fees * [License statistics and renewal for this trade]() * [Renewal calculator]() for once you are licensed * [All exam guides and pass rates]() For context: Texas has **26,184** active licenses of this type in the public TDLR file dated 20 September 2026. ## Questions ### How many questions are on the Texas barber written exam? 85 scored questions plus 8 unscored, in 90 minutes plus 10. 70% passes. ### What is the pass rate for the Texas barber exam? In fiscal year 2025, 37% of written exams and 90% of practical exams were passed, according to TDLR. ## Sources PSI Services, [candidate information bulletin]() dated 1 January 2026. Pass rates: [TDLR examination statistics](). Exam fees, formats and outlines change when PSI reissues a bulletin: the bulletin sent with your eligibility notice is the one that applies to you. Independent site, not affiliated with TDLR or PSI. We do not sell courses or practice tests. **Cite this page** PermitPulled (2026). _The Texas Class A barber exam._ Retrieved from `https://permitpulled.com/exams/barber-exam-texas` Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under [CC BY 4.0](). Attribution required.