Step 1 — Knock out your CE
Since TDLR merged the barbering and cosmetology programs, barbers follow the same CE rule as cosmetologists: 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education per two-year license period — 1 hour of sanitation, 1 hour of human trafficking prevention, and 2 hours of approved topics like Texas barbering law and rules.
Barbers who have held their license 15 years or more qualify for the reduced 2-hour requirement (sanitation + human trafficking prevention).
The course is the only step that takes real time — 200 minutes of seat time for the 4-hour course, 100 for the 2-hour (a TDLR CE hour is 50 minutes). Ours is audio-based, so most barbers finish it between clients over a day or two.
Step 2 — Renew online
Renewal happens in TDLR's online licensing system. TDLR mails a notice about 30 days before expiration, but a missed notice doesn't excuse a late renewal — the expiration date on your license is the only date that matters.
Your CE provider reports your hours electronically (we report within 24 hours; TDLR allows up to 7 days). You can verify your recorded hours with TDLR's CE course lookup before renewing.
Step 3 — Pay the fee
$50 for an on-time Class A barber renewal. Late renewal costs roughly $75 for a recent lapse and $100 for a longer one — and you can't legally cut hair between expiration and renewal, so on-time is worth it.
Renewing a barbershop too?
Establishment (shop) licenses renew separately — currently $78 on time — and shops don't have a CE requirement; only practitioners do. If you own the shop and hold the chair license, you're renewing both, on their own schedules.
Already expired?
No grace period: you can't perform licensed barbering until renewed. Under 18 months, renew online with the late fee after finishing CE. Past 18 months, extra steps kick in — see our expired-license guide for the tier-by-tier breakdown.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to renew a Texas barber license?
$50 for an on-time Class A barber renewal. Late renewal runs roughly $75–$100 depending on how long the license has been expired.
How many CE hours does a barber need in Texas?
4 hours of TDLR-approved CE per two-year period — 1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention, 2 hours approved electives. Barbers licensed 15+ years need only 2 hours.
Do barbers and cosmetologists take the same CE?
Yes — TDLR's combined barbering and cosmetology program applies one CE rule to both, and one approved course covers the requirement. If you hold both licenses, CE completed once counts for both.
Can I do my barber CE on my phone?
Yes. Our course is audio-based and works on any device, with progress saved automatically — built to be finished in short sessions between clients.
Does my barbershop license need CE?
No. The CE requirement applies to practitioner licenses only. Establishment licenses renew on their own two-year cycle with a fee but no CE.