Texas license lookup / Cosmetology / Renewal guide
Renewing a Texas cosmetology license
Four hours of approved continuing education every two years, a renewal fee, and a deadline that does not move. Here is the whole process, plus how many Texas cosmetology licences are up for renewal right now.
The short version
Cycle: every two years, on the expiration date shown on your licence record.
Continuing education: 4 hours from a TDLR-approved provider, made up of 1 hour of sanitation, 2 hours of barber or cosmetology related content and 1 hour of human trafficking prevention. If you have held the licence for 15 years or more, only the sanitation and human trafficking hours are required.
Where: through your TDLR online account, after your provider reports your hours.
Since 1 May 2026: TDLR may ask selected applicants for documents establishing lawful presence before it renews a licence.
Step by step
- Check your expiration date. It is on your licence record and it does not shift because you renewed early.
- Take the 4 hours of CE with an approved provider. The same course satisfies both requirements if you hold a barber and a cosmetology licence.
- Wait for the provider to report your hours to TDLR. Providers report the completion; if your hours are not visible in your TDLR account after a week, contact the provider first.
- Log in to TDLR online services and open the renewal for the licence you want to renew.
- Confirm your continuing education and pay the fee. Keep the payment confirmation and your course certificate.
If the licence has already expired
You cannot legally work with an expired licence, and a salon with expired practitioner licences can be fined. Renewal is still possible for a while, with an increasing late fee:
- Up to 90 days late: renewal with a late fee.
- More than 90 days and less than 18 months: a higher late fee.
- Between 18 months and 3 years: renewal requires approval from the executive director.
- More than 3 years: the licence cannot be renewed. You have to apply as a new applicant under the current requirements.
Fees change, so confirm the current amounts on the TDLR fee page linked at the end before you pay anything.
The lawful presence rule
A TDLR rule in force since 1 May 2026 lets the department select applicants for an eligibility verification check and require documentation establishing lawful presence in the United States before issuing or renewing a licence. It applies to applicants who are selected rather than automatically to everyone, and the accepted documents include a REAL ID-compliant Texas driver licence or state ID, a United States passport or passport card, a birth certificate together with a valid state ID, a military ID, a Texas handgun licence, or qualifying federal immigration documents. TDLR has said the rule does not impose a citizenship requirement and that non-citizens who meet the federal eligibility criteria can still be licensed. If you are asked for documents, having them ready avoids a delay in the renewal.
How many cosmetology licences renew, and when
From the public TDLR file: 299,782 active cosmetology licences in Texas across operator, esthetician, manicurist, eyelash extension and hair weaving specialities, of which 145,389 expire in the next twelve months, an average of 12,116 every month.
Cosmetology licences expiring each month over the next year. Source: public TDLR file, 20 September 2026.
Where they are
| County | Active cosmetology licences |
|---|---|
| Harris | 51,267 |
| Dallas | 27,559 |
| Tarrant | 23,728 |
| Bexar | 18,176 |
| Out Of State | 15,979 |
| Travis | 11,244 |
| Collin | 10,738 |
| Denton | 9,611 |
Questions
How many CE hours do I need?
Four every two years: one of sanitation, two of barber or cosmetology related content and one of human trafficking prevention. Two hours if you have held the licence for 15 years or more.
Do the hours count for two licences?
Yes. If you hold both a barber and a cosmetology licence, continuing education taken for one satisfies the requirement for the other.
Can I renew before my hours are reported?
No. The renewal asks you to confirm your continuing education, and the hours have to be on file. Providers report them for you, which takes a few days.
What if my licence expired more than three years ago?
It cannot be renewed. You would apply as a new applicant and meet the requirements in force at that time.
Sources
Continuing education requirements and the September 2025 change: TDLR barbering and cosmetology continuing education. Fees: TDLR fee schedule. Renewal: TDLR online services. Lawful presence: TDLR notices.
Reviewed 21 September 2026. This guide is written by an independent site and is not legal advice or an official TDLR publication. Rules and fees change: confirm yours with TDLR before renewing.