Texas · TDLR
Texas cosmetology license lookup.
Texas licenses cosmetologists, barbers and the shops and schools they work in through one agency, TDLR. This guide shows where to check a licence and what the licence itself requires.
Short answer: open the TDLR Verify a License search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/ and look the person or shop up. A Texas Cosmetology Operator licence is valid for two years from issue and takes 1,000 hours of school training plus a written and a practical exam.
At a glance
- Regulator: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Barbering and Cosmetology program
- Where to check: TDLR Verify a License (tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/)
- Licence categories on the board page: Individual, establishment, mobile establishment, school
- Cosmetology Operator training: 1,000 hours at a licensed school
- Validity: Two years from the date of issue
- Application fee: $50, non-refundable
Official links
How to check a Texas cosmetology licence
TDLR's Barbering and Cosmetology page points to a “Verify a License” search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/. The board page lists four kinds of licence you can hold or look for: individual licences, establishment licences, mobile establishment licences and school licences. If you are checking a stylist, search the individual; if you are checking a salon, search the establishment.
The board page does not define licence status values such as current or expired, and it does not describe the search fields, so treat the search result as the record and ask TDLR customer service if a status is unclear. For a general walk-through of the search tool, see our TDLR license search guide. Discipline is searched separately: TDLR links a disciplinary actions search from the same page, and complaints go through its complaint form.
What a Cosmetology Operator licence requires
TDLR's application page for the Cosmetology Operator licence sets these requirements: you must be at least 17; you must complete a Cosmetology Operator course of 1,000 hours of instruction at a licensed school; and you must pass both a written and a practical exam. Written exam eligibility is triggered when the school reports 900 of the 1,000 hours as complete; practical exam eligibility follows completion of all 1,000 hours and a passed written exam. Applicants trained outside Texas use a separate equivalence application.
The application fee is $50 and non-refundable. A candidate who passes the practical exam and meets the prerequisites can receive a temporary licence printed with the score report, valid for 60 days while the two-year licence is mailed. All applicants undergo a background check, and certain convictions, deferred adjudications or pleas require a Criminal History Questionnaire; TDLR says reviews take one to six weeks and are decided case by case.
Renewal and continuing education
A licence is valid for two years. TDLR's continuing education page requires 4 hours of department-approved courses every two years: 1 hour of sanitation, 1 hour of human trafficking awareness, and 2 hours chosen from listed topics (including Texas Barbering and Cosmetology law and rules, required sanitation topics and mental health awareness). Licensees who have held a Texas licence for at least 15 years need only 2 hours, 1 of sanitation and 1 of human trafficking awareness. The page does not give an effective date for these rules, so confirm the current hours with TDLR before you take courses.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot say whether any person or shop is licensed. A licence record changes when a licence is renewed, lapses or is disciplined; only TDLR's search shows the current record. Rules and fees can change, so use the TDLR pages in the source list as the authority.
Sources
- TDLR: Barbering and Cosmetology (Retrieved November 2026)
- TDLR: Apply for a Cosmetology Operator License (Retrieved November 2026)
- TDLR: Continuing education for barbers and cosmetologists (Retrieved November 2026)
- TDLR: Knowledge base for individuals (Retrieved November 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Texas cosmetologist's licence?
Use TDLR's Verify a License search at tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/. The Barbering and Cosmetology page lists individual, establishment, mobile establishment and school licences.
How long is a Texas Cosmetology Operator licence valid?
Two years from the date of issue, according to TDLR's application page.
How many training hours does Texas require for a cosmetology licence?
The Cosmetology Operator course is 1,000 hours of instruction at a licensed school, followed by a written and a practical exam. Applicants must be at least 17.
How much continuing education do Texas cosmetologists need?
TDLR's page lists 4 hours every two years (1 sanitation, 1 human trafficking awareness, 2 elective), or 2 hours for licensees who have held a Texas licence for 15 years or more.
Does this page confirm a licence?
No. It links to TDLR and summarises TDLR's published requirements. Only TDLR's search shows a licence record.
A guide, not a verification
TNAADO is not a licensing board and this page does not check anyone's licence or imply official verification. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere. This is general information, not legal advice. Use the official links to confirm status, and check the regulator's site for current rules and fees.