To complete a form from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, start on the TDLR website, pick your trade from the list of regulated industries, and download the current version of the form you need. TDLR forms are organized by program, so the paperwork for an electrician looks nothing like the paperwork for a cosmetologist or an air conditioning contractor, and the fees, supporting documents, and insurance requirements all track the specific license you’re applying for.
Find the Right Form for Your Trade
Every TDLR program has its own forms page. Once you select your industry, the site lists every form available for that program: initial applications, renewals, certificates of insurance, change-of-address notices, and complaint documents.1Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Each form carries an identification number and a revision date in the bottom-left corner. Check it against the current forms index before you fill anything out.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Industrialized Housing and Buildings Forms Submitting an outdated version is one of the fastest ways to have your paperwork returned. Download a fresh copy rather than reusing one you saved months ago.
What to Gather Before You Fill Anything Out
Most TDLR applications ask for the same baseline information: full legal name, Social Security number, date of birth, and a verified business or home address. Beyond that, requirements branch by trade.
Experience and Education
Trades with apprenticeship tiers, such as electricians and air conditioning technicians, require documented supervised work hours. A journeyman electrician applicant, for example, must show qualifying experience under a licensed supervisor before TDLR will process the application.3Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Electricians at a Glance Application forms include fields for training-program certificates, school transcripts, national certification numbers, and out-of-state license details for reciprocity applicants. Keep dates and past-employer contact information current, because TDLR staff will verify them.
Insurance
Contractor-level licenses generally require proof of general liability insurance, filed on a separate Certificate of Insurance form alongside the application. Minimums vary by trade and license class. An air conditioning and refrigeration Class A license requires at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate; a Class B license requires $100,000 per occurrence and $200,000 aggregate.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor Certificate of Insurance Electrical contractors must carry at least $300,000 per occurrence and $600,000 aggregate.5Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Electrical Contractor Certificate of Insurance
Criminal History
Every individual license application, new or renewal, goes through a criminal background check run by the Texas Department of Public Safety using the applicant’s name and date of birth. You must disclose all convictions and deferred adjudications. TDLR evaluates criminal history under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 53, weighing the nature of the offense, time elapsed, and its relationship to the duties of the licensed occupation.6Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Criminal History Evaluation at a Glance
If you have a record and want to know where you stand before paying application fees or committing to training, request a Criminal History Evaluation Letter. You submit the request form with a criminal history questionnaire for each conviction or deferred adjudication and a $10 fee. TDLR reviews court and police records, sometimes interviews the requestor or people familiar with the applicant’s background, and issues the letter within 90 days of receiving a complete request.7Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Criminal History Evaluation Letter Incomplete packets are not processed.
How to Submit the Form
TDLR accepts most forms through its Online Licensing Services portal at vo.licensing.tdlr.texas.gov, and online submission is almost always faster. Online applications go directly to the licensing division without the mail-sorting and payment-processing steps in between. You create an account, complete the required fields, upload supporting documents, pay electronically, and get an immediate receipt.8Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Online Licensing Services – TDLR
Paper forms go to:
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, Texas 787119Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Contact Information for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Mail submissions require payment by check or money order payable to TDLR, in the exact fee amount for your application type. A mismatched payment gets the whole package returned. Use trackable shipping for anything containing a Social Security number.
Fees by Program
Fees vary widely. An electrical apprentice registration is $20, a journeyman electrician license is $30, a master electrician license is $45, and an electrical contractor business license is $110.3Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Electricians at a Glance A cosmetology operator application is $50.10Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for a Cosmetology Operator License An air conditioning and refrigeration contractor license application is $115.11Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor License Industrialized housing manufacturer registrations reach $750 per manufacturing location.12Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Industrialized Housing and Buildings Fee Schedule Every fee is non-refundable, so confirm the correct license type before you pay.
What Happens After You Submit
TDLR assigns a tracking or application number you can use to check status through the online portal. Straightforward renewals filed online move fastest. Initial applications that require background checks, experience verification, or insurance review take longer.
If TDLR finds missing information or conflicting data, it sends a Request for Information letter. You generally have one year from the original application date to resolve the deficiency and meet all licensing requirements. Miss that window and you start over with a new application, new supporting materials, and a new fee.13Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Apply for a New Assistant in Speech-Language Pathology License Respond promptly. A year sounds generous until you’re chasing court records or employer verifications.
Renewal Forms and Continuing Education
Most TDLR renewal forms require you to certify that you completed continuing education hours before your license expiration date. Required hours and topics vary by program. Barber and cosmetology licensees who have held a license for fewer than 15 years must complete four CE hours per renewal cycle: one hour of sanitation, two hours of trade-related coursework, and one hour of human trafficking prevention. Licensees with 15 or more years complete two hours, one in sanitation and one in human trafficking prevention.14Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. New Continuing Education Requirements Effective September 1, 2025
Check your program’s renewal page for the specific CE requirements before you submit. Filing a renewal without the required hours completed can lead to rejection or a lapse in your authorization to practice.
Military, Veteran, and Military Spouse Exceptions
Standard renewal rules do not apply the same way to active-duty military members, veterans, and military spouses. If your Texas license expired while you were on active duty, you get an additional two years to renew, no late fees, expedited processing, and a potential waiver of the examination requirement. Veterans receive the same benefits for licenses that lapsed during their service.15Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Military Licensing Homepage
Active-duty members and veterans holding an occupational license from another state, U.S. territory, or foreign country can transfer that license to Texas through an expedited process. Military spouses can transfer an out-of-state license or apply for a new Texas license with expedited processing, though late renewal fees still apply to spouses.15Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Military Licensing Homepage
Complaint Forms Against a Licensee
TDLR forms are not limited to applications. If you need to file a complaint against a licensed individual or business, the department uses an online complaint form. You have two years from the date of the incident to file. The form asks for the respondent’s name, license number, company name, and contact information, plus a description of what happened. Attach receipts, invoices, photographs, and other supporting documents. Total attachments are capped at 35 MB, and the form times out after 15 minutes of inactivity.16Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. File a Complaint
You can file anonymously by leaving the complainant fields blank, but you will not receive status updates. If an investigation opens, TDLR’s enforcement procedures forward a copy of the complaint and all documentation, including your name and contact information, to the person or business you complained about.