Can I keep working while it's expired?
No. Texas Occupations Code §51.401 says a person whose license has expired may not engage in activities that require a license until it's renewed, and TDLR's barbering and cosmetology rules define the time between expiration and renewal as an "unlicensed period" in which you may not perform any act of barbering or cosmetology that requires a license.
Working on an expired license risks administrative penalties on a license you're about to ask TDLR to renew — stop working, renew fast, and get back behind the chair legally, usually within days.
Expired less than 18 months: renew with a late fee
This is the situation most people are in, and it's fixable online. You'll renew through TDLR's online licensing portal and pay a late-renewal fee instead of the standard $50: state law sets it at 1.5 times the normal fee if you recently expired (roughly $75) and 2 times the fee for longer lapses (roughly $100). TDLR's online renewal system calculates your exact fee based on your expiration date.
You still need your continuing education first. TDLR requires CE for late renewals too — completed within the two-year period immediately preceding your renewal date. If you haven't done your hours (or your old hours are now more than two years old), complete the course before you renew.
- Complete your CE: 4 hours (or 2 hours if you've held your license 15+ years)
- Log in to TDLR's online licensing system and start the renewal
- Pay the late fee the system calculates (typically $75–$100 for practitioners)
- Stop performing licensed services until the renewal is issued
Expired 18 months to 3 years: executive director approval
Between 18 months and 3 years, you can no longer renew automatically. You submit TDLR's "Request to Executive Director for Expired License Renewal" (form LIC003) with twice the renewal fee, and you must meet all renewal requirements — including current CE — before the license is issued.
Approval is discretionary, but the path exists precisely so experienced licensees don't have to start over. File the request promptly: the closer you get to the 3-year mark, the fewer options you have.
Expired more than 3 years: a new license
Past 3 years, the license can't be revived. You apply for a new license using TDLR's Expired Texas License Application (currently a $50 non-refundable application fee) and must meet the current license requirements — including examinations — within 12 months of filing.
One important exception: if you moved away and have been licensed and practicing in another state for the two years preceding your application, Texas law lets you obtain a new license without retaking exams, paying twice the renewal fee. If that's you, look at TDLR's reciprocity path.
The fastest route back to work
For most expired licensees the critical path is simply CE — it's the one piece you can't do inside TDLR's portal. Our TDLR-approved courses are online and self-paced; most students finish the same day, we report your hours to TDLR within 24 hours, and your certificate arrives by email immediately. Then you renew online and you're done.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a grace period to keep working after my Texas license expires?
No. Under Texas Occupations Code §51.401 and TDLR rules, you may not perform licensed barbering or cosmetology services between your expiration date and the date your renewed license is issued.
How much is the late renewal fee?
State law sets late renewal at 1.5x the normal fee for recent lapses and 2x for longer ones — for practitioner licenses (normally $50), TDLR publishes late fees of $75 and $100. The online renewal system calculates your exact amount from your expiration date.
Do I still need continuing education if my license is expired?
Yes. TDLR rule 16 TAC §83.25(d) requires CE for late renewals, completed within the two-year period immediately preceding the renewal date. If your hours are older than that, you need to retake CE before renewing.
My license has been expired over 3 years — do I have to retake the exams?
Generally yes: you apply for a new license and must meet current requirements including examinations. Exception: if you've been licensed and practicing in another state for the 2 years before applying, Texas law allows a new license without reexamination.
How fast can I fix an expired license?
If you're within 18 months: complete your CE course (finishable in one day), then renew online with the late fee — many licensees are legal again within a few days. We report CE hours to TDLR within 24 hours of completion.