How to Get a Barber License in Texas: Hours, Exams, and Fees

To get a barber license in Texas, you need to be at least 16 with a high school diploma or equivalent, complete 1,000 hours at a TDLR-approved barber school, pass a written and a practical exam through PSI, and submit a $50 application to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Start to finish, most students reach a Class A Barber license in seven to nine months. Texas does not offer an apprenticeship route, so barber school is the only path.

Who Can Enroll

Under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603, you need two things before you can start school: you must be at least 16 years old, and you must hold a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent such as a GED.1State of Texas. Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603 – Regulation of Barbering and Cosmetology There is no residency requirement and no prior-experience requirement. If you meet both, you can enroll in any TDLR-approved barbering program.

Complete 1,000 Hours of Barber School

Texas requires 1,000 hours of instruction at a licensed barber school, spread over a minimum of six months. The curriculum covers hair cutting, shaving, chemical services, and hair coloring, along with sanitation, sterilization, and health safety. Most of your time is hands-on practice under a licensed instructor.

Your school registers you with TDLR at enrollment, which includes a $25 student permit fee. You do not have to wait until you finish all 1,000 hours to start testing. Once you hit 900 hours, your school notifies TDLR that you are eligible to sit for the written exam, so you can knock that out while finishing your remaining training.2TDLR.Texas.gov. Apply for a Class A Barber License

Pass the Written and Practical Exams

Both exams are administered by PSI, TDLR’s third-party testing vendor, at locations across Texas. You need at least 70 percent on each.3TDLR.Texas.gov. Exam Information for Barbers and Cosmetologists

The written exam comes first. It tests your knowledge of barbering laws, sanitation, and safety procedures, and you become eligible to schedule it once your school reports your 900 hours. PSI will email you with scheduling instructions after that.

The practical exam comes after you finish all 1,000 hours and pass the written test. It is a hands-on evaluation covering hair shaping, straight-razor shaving, and chemical services. You bring your own supplies and equipment based on PSI’s guidelines.

Submit Your License Application

Once both exams are behind you, apply for your Class A Barber license through TDLR’s online licensing portal. Applying online routes your file straight to the licensing division and processes faster than the mail-in PDF option, which requires extra sorting and payment handling.2TDLR.Texas.gov. Apply for a Class A Barber License

The application fee is $50, non-refundable, paid at submission.4TDLR.Texas.gov. Barbering and Cosmetology Upcoming Fee Changes Effective 09/01/2023 Your school usually sends your education records to TDLR directly, so you do not have to chase down transcripts. If you have a criminal record, you will complete a criminal history questionnaire as part of the application. TDLR verifies your exam scores, hours, and background before issuing the license.

What You Will Pay TDLR

Tuition varies by school and is separate from the state fees. Here is what TDLR itself charges:

Budget separately for supplies, a mannequin, and the equipment kit you will need for the practical exam. Most schools hand out a supply list at enrollment.

If You Have a Criminal Record

A criminal history does not automatically disqualify you. TDLR reviews each applicant individually, but some offense categories draw closer scrutiny for barbering applicants: sexual offenses or crimes involving children; crimes against the person such as homicide, kidnapping, and assault; drug manufacturing or delivery; and human trafficking. Multiple violations of any type, even minor ones, can also raise concerns.6TDLR.Texas.gov. Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions

Before paying tuition, you can request a Criminal History Evaluation Letter. You submit the request form, complete a questionnaire for each conviction or deferred adjudication, and pay $10. Within 90 days, TDLR tells you whether it would likely grant or deny a license based on what you disclosed. The response is not binding, but it gives you a realistic read before you commit.5TDLR.Texas.gov. Criminal History Evaluation Letter You must report every conviction and deferred adjudication no matter how old. The only exception is minor traffic violations.

Already Licensed in Another State

If you hold an active barber license in another state, you may be able to skip barber school through TDLR’s equivalence process. You complete an online questionnaire covering where you were licensed, the status of that license, how you were trained, and how long you have held it. Your out-of-state license must be current and in good standing. Depending on your answers, TDLR may require you to take the Texas exams, complete additional training hours, or both before it issues a license.7TDLR.Texas.gov. Apply for a Cosmetology or Barbering License by Equivalence

After You’re Licensed: Renewal and Continuing Education

Your Class A Barber license renews every two years. On-time renewal is $50. Let it lapse and the penalty climbs: $75 if it has been expired less than 18 months, and $100 if expired between 18 months and three years.4TDLR.Texas.gov. Barbering and Cosmetology Upcoming Fee Changes Effective 09/01/2023

Each renewal cycle also requires four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education: one hour in sanitation, one hour in human trafficking awareness, and two hours in elective topics from the approved list.8TDLR.Texas.gov. Continuing Education Providers for Barbers and Cosmetologists Four hours over two years is manageable, but plan for it. Renewing late or short on hours means extra fees you could have avoided.