The rule
TDLR rule 16 TAC §83.25 requires 1 hour of sanitation in every renewal period's CE — it's the constant across every license type and both hour tiers. The topic is also an approved elective, so a 4-hour course may lawfully include more than one sanitation hour.
What sanitation CE covers
The instruction tracks Texas health and safety rules for licensed services, including:
- Cleaning, disinfection, and when items must be discarded (single-use items)
- Disinfectant types, contact times, and how to use them correctly
- Tool and implement handling — clippers, shears, nail implements, wax equipment, foot spas
- Workstation, towel, and linen requirements between clients
- Blood spill procedures and when services must be refused (skin conditions, infestations)
Why it's the permanent topic
Sanitation violations are among the most common findings in TDLR salon inspections, and they're the fastest way for a licensee to pick up administrative penalties. The recurring CE hour exists to keep the rules current in working professionals' heads — disinfection standards and product rules change more often than most people realize.
It's also simply the part of your license that protects clients most directly. An hour every two years is a low bar for the thing that keeps your chair safe.
How to complete it
Both of our TDLR-approved courses include the required sanitation hour: the 4-hour course (sanitation + human trafficking prevention + Texas law and professional practices) and the 2-hour course for 15+ year licensees (sanitation + human trafficking prevention). Online, self-paced, English or Spanish.
Frequently asked questions
Does every license type need the sanitation hour?
Yes — every practitioner license under TDLR's combined barbering and cosmetology program includes 1 hour of sanitation in each renewal period's CE, regardless of license type or years licensed.
Is sanitation CE different for barbers vs manicurists?
The requirement is the same 1 hour. Good courses (ours included) cover the disinfection rules across service types — clipper and blade handling, nail implements and foot spas, wax equipment — since many licensees work in mixed-service settings.
Can sanitation count for more than 1 of my 4 hours?
Yes. Sanitation is both the required first hour and an approved elective topic under TDLR's rule, so additional sanitation instruction can count toward the 2 elective hours.
Is the sanitation hour included in the 2-hour course for 15+ year licensees?
Yes — the reduced requirement is exactly 1 hour sanitation + 1 hour human trafficking prevention, and our 2-hour course covers both.