Esthetician License Requirements in Texas
- Training hours
- 750 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $50
- Exam
- Esthetician Licensing Examination (Written), Esthetician Licensing Examination (Practical)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 17 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants with a felony or misdemeanor conviction (other than a minor traffic violation) must submit a Criminal History Questionnaire; TDLR runs a criminal-history background check on all applicants (review generally takes one to six weeks). As of May 1, 2026, TDLR also requires all new applicants to provide documentation of lawful presence in the U.S. (e.g., U.S. passport, green card, birth certificate, or Employment Authorization Document). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 750 hours of training at a state-approved program. 750 hours of instruction in a TDLR-licensed barbering/cosmetology school's Esthetician curriculum. Texas does not operate a two-tier esthetician license structure (no separate 'master esthetician' credential); all hands-on practical hours must be completed in person even in hybrid programs that allow some online theory instruction. [1]
- 3
Esthetician Licensing Examination (Written)
Pass the Esthetician Licensing Examination (Written). Computer-based, offered at PSI testing sites across Texas A score of 70% or better is required to pass. TDLR's own exam-information page does not publish the dollar fee and states it is listed in PSI's Candidate Information Bulletin, which was not independently retrievable at time of research, so the fee is left unset rather than guessed. [2]
- 4
Esthetician Licensing Examination (Practical)
Pass the Esthetician Licensing Examination (Practical). In-person practical skills exam at a PSI testing site Both the written and practical exams must be passed within 12 months of TDLR approval to test. A temporary license is available for 21 days after passing the practical exam. Exact fee not published on TDLR's own site, so left unset rather than guessed. [2]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) with the $50 application fee. [3]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues your Esthetician for Texas.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $50 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $50 |
| Esthetician Licensing Examination (Written) [2] | None specified |
| Esthetician Licensing Examination (Practical) [2] | None specified |
| Late renewal (up to 90 days late) [3] | $75 |
| Late renewal (91 days to 18 months late) [3] | $100 |
TDLR charges a single $50 non-refundable fee for the Esthetician Specialty Practitioner License application, effective on/after 9/1/2023, which also covers initial license issuance; there is no separate license-issuance fee. On-time renewal is also $50.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 4 continuing education hours required per cycle.
4 hours of TDLR-approved continuing education per 2-year cycle (1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human-trafficking prevention, 2 elective hours) for licensees held fewer than 15 years; reduced to 2 hours (sanitation + human-trafficking) for those licensed 15+ years, effective September 1, 2025. TDLR's CE page is titled for 'Barbers and Cosmetologists' generically; Esthetician is a Cosmetology specialty license under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1603 and is not called out as exempt from this requirement.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
Out-of-state licensed estheticians apply through TDLR's 'License by Equivalence' pathway. Military service members, veterans, and military spouses licensed elsewhere are eligible for expedited license transfer and, if applicable, extra time to renew a license that lapsed during active duty. Texas is not a confirmed member of the Cosmetology Licensure Compact; as of mid-2026 the compact has been enacted in roughly 10 states (not including Texas), is not yet operational anywhere (no multistate licenses issued), and it remains unconfirmed generally whether enacting states' versions cover estheticians.
56 state-approved training providers in Texas — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $50
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours do I need to become a licensed esthetician in Texas?
750 hours of instruction at a TDLR-licensed barbering/cosmetology school.
What exams do I need to pass?
A written exam and a practical exam, both administered by PSI, and both must be passed within 12 months of TDLR approving you to test. A score of 70% or better is required.
How much does it cost to apply for an esthetician license?
TDLR charges a single, non-refundable $50 fee for the Esthetician specialty practitioner license application, which also covers issuance. On-time renewal is also $50.
Do I need continuing education to renew my license?
Yes. Licensees held for fewer than 15 years need 4 hours every two years (including 1 hour of sanitation and 1 hour of human-trafficking-prevention training); those licensed 15 or more years need only 2 hours.
Will a criminal record stop me from getting licensed?
Not automatically. TDLR conducts a background check and reviews any felony or misdemeanor conviction, other than minor traffic violations, submitted with a Criminal History Questionnaire as part of the application.
Sources
- [1] tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/apply-esthetician.htm — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/examinations.htm — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/feechanges.htm — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/continuing-education.htm — accessed 2026-07-11
- [5] tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/out-of-state/ — accessed 2026-07-11