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Data refreshed 20 Sep 2026 · Not affiliated with TDLR

Barber trimming a client's hair with clippers

Texas license lookup / Get licensed / Class A barber

How to get a barber license in Texas

The standard barber license in Texas is the Class A Barber. The path mirrors cosmetology: 1,000 hours at a licensed school, a written exam that opens at 900 hours, and a practical once every hour is done.

Reviewed 8 October 2026 against TDLR's application page

At a glance

Training1,000 hours in a Class A Barber course at a school licensed in Texas
Minimum age17
ExamsWritten (from 900 hours) and practical (after 1,000 hours), scheduled through PSI
Application fee$50, non-refundable
License term2 years

Official TDLR application page Exam guide and pass rates

Step by step

  1. Train 1,000 hours at a licensed school. You hold a student permit while training.
  2. Take the written exam after 900 hours. Your school notifies TDLR, and PSI emails scheduling instructions once TDLR verifies eligibility.
  3. Finish your hours and pass the practical. Eligibility for the practical follows completion of all 1,000 hours and a passing written exam.
  4. Apply and pay the fee. Apply online (preferred) or by mail with the $50 fee. Apply early, before the written exam, if you want the temporary license at the practical.

Cosmetologist to barber

Licensed cosmetology operators can cross over with credit for their training. TDLR explains the route on its cosmetologist to barber page. Continuing education taken for one license also satisfies the other, so holding both is less work than it sounds.

How many people hold this license

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 26,184 active class a barber licenses, of which 13,443 come up for renewal in the next twelve months.

Where they are: Harris County (4,258), Dallas County (3,140), Tarrant County (1,817), Bexar County (1,610), Hidalgo County (1,372).

See the full county breakdown and renewal calendar

After you are licensed

  • Renewal: every two years, judging by the expiration dates in the license file.
  • Continuing education: 4 hours every 2 years: 1 sanitation, 2 related content, 1 human trafficking. Licensed 15+ years: 2 hours. TDLR CE rules
  • Full renewal guide for this trade

Before you apply

  • Criminal history. TDLR runs a background check on every applicant. With any conviction other than a minor traffic offence, or a guilty or no-contest plea with deferred adjudication, include the Criminal History Questionnaire. Reviews take one to six weeks. You can ask TDLR in advance whether a conviction would bar you, through a criminal history evaluation letter.
  • Lawful presence. TDLR may ask for proof of lawful presence in the United States. Send documents only if it asks. What TDLR accepts.
  • Trained outside Texas? Use TDLR's out-of-state equivalence process instead of the standard application.
  • Military. Service members, veterans and spouses may qualify for fee waivers and other provisions.

Questions

How many hours do you need for a barber license in Texas?

1,000 hours in a Class A Barber course at a school licensed in Texas.

Can a cosmetologist become a barber in Texas?

Yes. TDLR has a dual-credit route from cosmetology operator to barber.

How many people hold this license in Texas?

The public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026 shows 26,184 active class a barber licenses.

Related licenses

Sources

TDLR: Apply for a Class A Barber license. License counts compiled from the public TDLR license file dated 20 September 2026.

Reviewed 8 October 2026. Written by an independent site; not an official TDLR publication and not legal advice. Fees and requirements change: confirm them on the TDLR page before you apply.

Cite this page

PermitPulled (2026). How to get a barber license in Texas. Retrieved from https://permitpulled.com/get-licensed/barber-license-texas

Figures compiled from the public TDLR license file and published under CC BY 4.0. Attribution required.

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