Texas Cosmetology Law & TDLR Administrative Rules

Who Regulates Texas Estheticians

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) regulates esthetics through its Barbering and Cosmetology program. There is no longer a stand-alone 'Texas State Board of Cosmetology' — that board was abolished and its duties moved to TDLR. The policy-setting body is the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation, which adopts the rules TDLR enforces.

The legal authority comes from three layers. The statutes are in the Texas Occupations Code, primarily Chapter 1601 (Barbers), Chapter 1602 (Cosmetologists), and Chapter 1603 (Regulation of Barbering and Cosmetology). The administrative rules are in Title 16, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 83. House Bill 1560 (2021) consolidated barbering and cosmetology into a single program but did not change the esthetician's day-to-day scope.

Why it matters for the exam

A common trap question names the wrong regulator. The correct answer is always TDLR — not the Texas Medical Board, not a Board of Health, and not the Texas Education Agency. Another trap cites the old 'State Board of Cosmetology'; treat that as outdated.

Getting Licensed: Education and Exams

To qualify, you must complete 750 hours of esthetician (skin care specialist) training at a TDLR-licensed barber or cosmetology school and be at least 17 years old. Online-only or out-of-Texas schools that lack TDLR licensure do not qualify.

After your hours are certified, you test through PSI Services, TDLR's exam vendor. You must pass two exams:

• A written exam (computer-based, multiple choice) covering skin sciences, services, sanitation, and Texas law.
• A practical exam demonstrating hands-on skills under proctor observation.

A score of 70% or higher is required to pass the written exam. After passing both, you submit the license application to TDLR and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee.

Fees change periodically — always confirm the current amounts in the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and on the TDLR fee schedule.

Renewal, Continuing Education, and Lawful Presence

The esthetician license is valid for two years and must be renewed before it expires. TDLR sends a courtesy renewal reminder roughly 60 days out, but renewing on time is the licensee's responsibility even if no notice arrives.

Renewal requires 4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education (CE) each cycle:

• 1 hour of sanitation
• 1 hour of human-trafficking prevention awareness (now required of all license types)
• 2 hours of cosmetology-related topics

A key exception: a licensee who has held a Texas license for 15 years or more completes only 2 hours of CE (1 sanitation + 1 human-trafficking). Beginning May 1, 2026, TDLR renewals also require proof of lawful presence in the United States.

Exam trap: older study materials say CE is '1 hour sanitation + 3 hours other.' The current rule adds the mandatory human-trafficking hour, so the split is 1 + 1 + 2.

Worked example. Maria first licensed on June 1, 2024. Her license expires May 31, 2026. To renew, she completes 4 CE hours (1 sanitation, 1 human-trafficking, 2 cosmetology-related), pays the renewal fee (~$53), and — because she renews on or after May 1, 2026 — provides proof of lawful presence. If she misses the deadline, the license goes into expired status: she may renew late with late fees, and an expired license that lapses too long can require re-examination. Practicing while expired is itself a TDLR violation.

Out-of-state applicants

An esthetician licensed in another state may seek a Texas license through licensure by reciprocity/credit. TDLR generally requires equivalent education (at least the 750 Texas hours, or experience that offsets a shortfall) and a current license in good standing elsewhere. Applicants often must still pass the Texas laws and rules portion. Holding a license in another state does not by itself authorize you to practice in Texas — you must obtain the Texas credential first.

Establishments, Display, and Inspections

Licensing is two-sided. Each practitioner needs an individual esthetician license, and the location where services are performed needs a separate establishment (salon) license from TDLR. A licensed esthetician working in an unlicensed shop is a violation.

Texas law requires you to display your current, valid license where the public and inspectors can see it. TDLR inspectors make unannounced inspections to verify license display, sanitation and disinfection practices, equipment safety, and recordkeeping.

Scope of practice (heavily tested)

Under Occupations Code §1603.0011, an esthetician may perform services on the face, neck, shoulders, and arms, including:

• Cleansing and beautifying treatments, facials, and masks
• Superficial chemical exfoliation and peels (no medical-depth peels)
• Hair removal such as waxing and tweezing
• Applying makeup and semipermanent eyelash extensions
• Massage of the face, neck, shoulders, scalp, and arms

An esthetician may not cut or color hair, perform nail (manicure/pedicure) services, give injections (Botox, fillers), prescribe or dispense medication, diagnose disease, or perform any procedure that penetrates below the stratum corneum (the outer dead-cell layer). When you suspect a medical condition — a suspicious mole, active infection — you refer to a physician; you never treat or diagnose it.

Discipline and Penalties

Practicing esthetics without a license, or in an unlicensed establishment, exposes you to administrative penalties, fines, and possible criminal charges. For lesser violations (sanitation lapses, expired license, improper display), TDLR may issue warnings, administrative fines, probation, suspension, or revocation. The severity scales with the nature and frequency of the violation. Knowing where esthetics ends and medicine begins — and keeping your license current and displayed — is the single best protection against discipline.