Texas Cosmetology Operator License Requirements
What it takes to be licensed as a cosmetology operator in Texas — the hours, the fee, the exams and the order they happen in.
1,000
Course hours
$50
Application fee
2 yrs
Licence term
17
Minimum age
What TDLR requires
- Complete a 1,000-hour Cosmetology Operator course at a school licensed in Texas.
- Written exam eligibility generates at 900 hours.
- The practical exam follows all 1,000 hours and a passed written exam.
- Same hours and fee as the Class A Barber licence — the difference is scope of practice, not length.
Next steps
Sourced from TDLR's own application page — Apply for a Cosmetology Operator License. Requirements change; confirm against the Department before you apply or pay anything. Read it at tdlr.texas.gov
Other Texas licence guides
Common Questions
How many hours do you need for a Texas cosmetology operator licence?
1,000 hours of instruction at a school licensed in Texas.
How much does a Texas cosmetology operator licence cost?
$50 to apply, non-refundable, and the licence is valid two years from the date of issue.
How long is a Texas cosmetology operator licence valid?
Two years from the date of issue, then it renews on a two-year cycle.
Which exams do you have to pass?
Both the written and the practical, administered by PSI on TDLR's behalf. Written eligibility generates at 900 hours, so you can sit it before the course ends; the practical comes only after all hours are complete and the written is passed.