Texas barbers must now complete continuing education before renewing their licenses. This is an important change because barbers were previously exempt from the state’s continuing education requirements.
Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas barber license holders must complete either two or four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education during each two-year renewal period. The number of hours you need depends on how long you have held a Texas practitioner license.
This guide explains the current Texas barber continuing education requirements, the subjects your coursework must cover, and the steps you should follow to renew your license.
How Many Continuing Education Hours Do Texas Barbers Need?
Most Texas barbers must complete four hours of continuing education every two years.
However, barbers who have held a Texas practitioner license for at least 15 years qualify for a reduced two-hour requirement.
| Time Licensed in Texas | Required CE Hours |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 15 years | 4 hours |
| At least 15 years | 2 hours |
Your courses must be approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Courses from an unapproved provider may not count toward your license renewal.
Requirements for Barbers Licensed Fewer Than 15 Years
If you have held your Texas license for fewer than 15 years, you must complete four hours of TDLR-approved continuing education.
Those four hours must include:
- One hour of sanitation
- One hour of human trafficking awareness
- Two additional hours in approved subjects
The additional hours may cover topics such as Texas barbering and cosmetology laws and rules, professional skills, sanitation, mental health awareness, or subjects included in the state-approved barbering and cosmetology curriculum.
The TDLR continuing education requirements provide the official list of required and permitted course topics.
Requirements for Barbers Licensed at Least 15 Years
If you have held a Texas practitioner license for at least 15 years, you only need two hours of continuing education for each renewal.
Both hours are required subjects:
- One hour of sanitation
- One hour of human trafficking awareness
The other two hours normally required for a four-hour renewal are waived.
The reduced requirement is based on how long you have held a Texas license—not your age or the number of years you have worked in the barbering industry. If you are unsure when your license was first issued, review your records or contact TDLR before selecting a course.
Why Did the Requirements Change for Texas Barbers?
Texas barbers were exempt from continuing education requirements before September 1, 2025. Under the updated rule, the same general continuing education requirements that apply to other licensed practitioners now apply to barbers when renewing their licenses.
This means a barber renewing on or after September 1, 2025, should not rely on instructions from a previous renewal cycle. Even if you renewed without continuing education in the past, you may now need either two or four approved hours.
The change is addressed in Texas Administrative Code §83.25.
What Is Covered in the Required Courses?
Sanitation
The required sanitation instruction reviews practices that help protect barbers, clients, and other people in the establishment. Topics may include:
- Cleaning and disinfecting tools
- Preventing cross-contamination
- Proper hand hygiene
- Handling blood and body-fluid exposure
- Storing clean and used implements
- Following TDLR health and safety standards
Sanitation education helps barbers maintain a safer workplace and avoid violations during a TDLR inspection.
Human Trafficking Awareness
The required human trafficking course must address:
- Activities commonly associated with human trafficking
- How to recognize potential victims
- Ways to assist victims
- How suspected trafficking can be reported
Barbers often build trusted relationships with clients and may notice human trafficking warning signs that other people miss. The training is designed to help professionals recognize concerning situations and respond appropriately without placing themselves or a potential victim in greater danger.
Additional Approved Topics
Barbers completing the four-hour requirement need two additional hours of approved education. These hours may include subjects such as:
- Texas barbering and cosmetology laws and rules
- Customer service and professional ethics
- Business and establishment management
- Workplace safety
- Mental health awareness
- Barbering techniques and professional knowledge
- Additional sanitation education
Always confirm that both the provider and course are approved for Texas continuing education credit.
Can Texas Barber Continuing Education Be Completed Online?
Yes. Texas barber continuing education can be completed online when the course and provider are approved by TDLR.
Online courses allow you to complete your required hours from a phone, tablet, or computer without attending an in-person class. This can be especially convenient for barbers working full schedules or renewing near their license expiration date.
One continuing education hour represents at least 50 minutes of actual instruction. Therefore, a four-hour course requires at least 200 minutes of instruction, while a two-hour course requires at least 100 minutes.
For step-by-step guidance on choosing a course, completing your hours, and verifying TDLR reporting, see our guide: How to Complete Texas Barber Continuing Education Online.
When Should You Complete Your Barber Continuing Education?
Your required coursework must be completed during the two-year period immediately preceding your license renewal date.
It is a good idea to finish early enough to allow the provider to submit your completion record to TDLR. Do not wait until the final hours before your license expires, especially if you need time to correct an inaccurate license number or resolve a reporting issue.
You also cannot earn credit for completing the same course more than once during the applicable renewal period.
Who Reports Your Continuing Education to TDLR?
The continuing education provider is responsible for electronically reporting your completed hours to TDLR. Under the state requirements, the provider must submit the course completion report no later than seven days after the course is completed.
At Cosmetology-CE.com, we report completed continuing education to TDLR within 24 hours.
Before enrolling, carefully enter your name and TDLR license number. Incorrect information may delay the provider’s ability to match your course completion to your license.
You can use the TDLR Continuing Education Courses Look Up to verify that your completed hours have been recorded.
Keep Your Completion Certificate
Your course provider must issue a certificate of completion within 15 days after you finish the course. You must retain a copy for two years from the completion date.
TDLR may request the certificate during an inspection or investigation, so save a digital copy somewhere you can easily retrieve it. Your certificate does not replace the license-renewal process, but it provides important documentation that you completed the required education.
How to Renew Your Texas Barber License
The basic renewal process is:
- Check your license expiration date.
- Determine whether you need two or four CE hours.
- Complete the correct TDLR-approved course.
- Download and save your completion certificate.
- Allow the provider to report your hours to TDLR.
- Verify your reported education if desired.
- Submit your license renewal and fee through TDLR.
You can begin the official renewal process through the TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology website.
Remember that completing continuing education does not automatically renew your barber license. You must still submit the renewal application and pay the required renewal fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Texas barbers need continuing education?
Texas barber practitioner license holders renewing on or after September 1, 2025, are generally subject to the continuing education requirements. The number of hours depends on how long the person has held a Texas practitioner license.
Do experienced barbers still need continuing education?
Yes. A barber who has held a Texas practitioner license for at least 15 years must complete two hours: one hour of sanitation and one hour of human trafficking awareness.
Is human trafficking training required for Texas barbers?
Yes. One hour of department-approved human trafficking awareness is required for renewals on or after September 1, 2025.
Can I complete all four hours in one online course?
Yes, provided the course is approved by TDLR and includes the required sanitation and human trafficking instruction.
Does my continuing education provider renew my license?
No. The provider reports your completed hours to TDLR, but you are responsible for submitting your renewal application and paying the renewal fee.
How long should I keep my certificate?
TDLR requires licensees to keep their course completion certificates for two years after the completion date.
What happens if my hours do not appear in the TDLR system?
Contact your course provider first and verify that the correct name and license number were reported. TDLR advises contacting the provider if the completion has not appeared within seven days.
Complete Your Texas Barber Continuing Education Online
The new Texas barber continuing education requirements make it especially important to choose the correct course for your experience level.
If you have held your Texas license for fewer than 15 years, select the four-hour continuing education course. If you have held a Texas practitioner license for at least 15 years, the two-hour sanitation and human trafficking course should satisfy your reduced requirement.
Cosmetology-CE.com offers convenient TDLR-approved continuing education that you can complete online using your phone, tablet, or computer. You receive access to your completion certificate, and we report your completed education to TDLR within 24 hours.
View our Texas barber continuing education courses
You can find more information about renewing your license on our Texas License Renewal Resources page.
Requirements can change. Confirm your individual licensing requirements with TDLR before renewing.
