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
License 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 license — the difference is scope of practice, not length.
Next steps
Other Texas license guides
Common Questions
How many hours do you need for a Texas cosmetology operator license?
1,000 hours of instruction at a school licensed in Texas.
How much does a Texas cosmetology operator license cost?
$50 to apply, non-refundable, and the license is valid two years from the date of issue.
How long is a Texas cosmetology operator license 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.
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