4-Hour Texas Cosmetology Continuing Education Course

Course Summary

4-Hour Texas Cosmetology Continuing Education Course (TDLR Course Approval #27283)

Confused about your Texas cosmetology board renewal? Below is our free renewal checklist to walk you through the renewal step by step.

Texas Cosmetology Board Renewal Checklist (Cosmetologists, Operators, Manicurists, Estheticians)

Whether you are right out of cosmetology school, just moved to the state of Texas, or you have been licensed since they started regulating cosmetology in Texas, you may have some questions about your license renewal and your required continuing education.

Let’s not waste time and get the answers to the questions you have about renewing your hair, operator, nail, esthetician, instructor, salon, or whichever license you hold. We will get you on the right path, help you complete your continuing education, and get your hours reported to the board/TDLR quickly. That way you can renew your license and get back to your clients.

First, let’s start off with some basic Texas cosmetology board license renewal information.

License Renewal Requirements

How many hours of Texas cosmetology continuing education am I required to complete?

Cosmetology board licensees are required to complete four (4) hours of department-approved continuing education courses to renew any of the following license types:

• Operator License (aka – Cosmetologists or Hairstylists in many states)
• Specialty Licenses
  • Estheticians
  • Manicurists
  • Esthetician/Manicurists
  • Eyelash Extensions
• Specialty Certificates
  • Hair Weaving

Can I complete my Texas continuing education courses online?

Yes, as long as the course is department-approved.

Does the Texas cosmetology board approve continuing education courses?

Yes. They approve both individual courses and providers. This 4-hour Texas Cosmetology Continuing Education Course is currently approved by the TDLR and Cosmo Credits is an approved TDLR provider.

Which specific continuing education courses are required to renew my license?

Each licensee is required to complete one hour of sanitation and three hours of cosmetology-related topics.

All department-approved continuing education courses must dedicate a portion of time to human trafficking information. At a minimum, the information should include:

1. Activities commonly associated with human trafficking
2. Recognition of potential victims of human trafficking, and
3. Methods for assisting victims of human trafficking, including how to report human trafficking.

Do I have to sit at my computer for the entire 4 hours?

Yes, the board requires we verify your attendance during the course for 50 minutes of each hour. To do this, there will be periodic questions during the course to see if you are still at your computer or on your device.

If you step away and are idle, your place in the course will be saved and you will be logged out of the course. Simply return to the course when you have time to work on it again.

Once the course timer hits 200 minutes, or approximately three and half hours, you will be prompted to verify your attendance and immediately get your course completion certificate. We will automatically get sent a copy of your completed course and will get to work on reporting your credits to the TDLR.

I have completed my Texas continuing education requirements, where do I go to renew my Texas cosmetology license?

You can renew your Texas license here.

What is the current fee to renew my Texas operator license or specialty license?

Currently, the renewal fee for all license types is $50.

When is my renewal deadline or expiration date? How can I find this information?

Unlike other states, Texas licensees do not share renewal deadlines. This means we all have different renewal deadlines every two years.

You can check your license for your expiration date, or you can check your expiration date here.

I have been licensed for 15 years. I only need a 1 hour sanitation course. Do you offer a 1-hour sanitation course ?

Yes! If you have held a cosmetology license for at least 15 years, you only need to complete the one-hour requirement sanitation course. The additional three hours of continuing education will be waived and will not be required. Courses must be TDLR-approved courses.

If you only need 1 hour of sanitation to renew your license, check out this page for more information on our TDLR-approved sanitation course: Texas 1 Hour Sanitation Course.

I am ready to complete my course, but I do not know my Texas license number. Where can I look up my number?

You can either check your actual license, or you can look up your license number here. Once you start the course, you will enter your Texas license number(s). At the end of the Texas cosmetology continuing education course, you will verify your information one more time and then click to complete the course. Your certificate will automatically be generated and we get notified to report your hours too.

What happens if my license has expired?

The steps and requirements to getting your license back in good standing vary based on how long it has been since your license expiration date.

Expired less than 90 days

If it has been 90 days or less, you may renew your license by paying 1.5 times the renewal fee.

Expired less than 18 months

If it has been more than 90 days, but less than 18 months, you may renew your license by 2 times the renewal fee.

Expired less than 3 years

If your license has been expired for at least 18 months but less than three years, upon approval by the executive director (see Request to Executive Director for Expired License Renewal Form – PDF), you may renew the license by paying the department a renewal fee equal to 2 times the renewal fee.

Expired more than 3 years

If your license has been expired for three years or more, you must apply for a new license and retake the required exams. You can use the Expired Cosmetology License Application (PDF) to start your application process.

How do I renew my Texas instructor license?

Required courses:

• One hour in sanitation
• Three hours in methods of teaching in accordance with Section 83.120 of the Administrative Rules

In addition to the above courses, there is a $60 renewal fee.

At this time, we do not offer a Texas Cosmetology Continuing Education Course for instructor license renewals.

Here is the link to renew your instructor license.

Special note on the future of Texas instructor licenses from the TDLR website:

House Bill 1560 was passed during the 87th Texas Legislative Session and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 15, 2021. Section 3 of the bill eliminates barber and cosmetology instructor licenses no later than September 1, 2023. TDLR will provide advance notice of the date for transitioning instructors to new license types at renewal. Until this transition occurs, licensed instructors who are eligible for renewal should continue to renew their instructor licenses.

I do not see an option for renewing my wig specialist license. Why?

Effective September 1, 2021, cosmetology wig specialists were deregulated. This means wig specialists are no longer required to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). There is no license to renew.  You can read the updates on laws and rules here.

Do salon licenses need continuing education to renew?

No. Texas salon licenses do not require continuing education in order to be renewed.

Approved Provider Questions

Are you an approved provider for the Texas cosmetology advisory board or TDLR?

Cosmo Credits Provider Number: 2246

Course Approval Number: 28749

You can verify our approval status here: Search for a TDLR-approved continuing education provider

Do you report my completed credits or send my certificates to the cosmetology board in Texas or TDLR?

Yes, as a department-approved provider, we are required to report your hours within 7 days of completion. However, we know you want your hours posted quicker than that. We make it a priority to post your CE credits by the next business day after completion. Once you complete your 4-hour Texas cosmetology continuing education course, we quickly report your hours to the TDLR.

If it has been 72 hours, or 3 days, since you completed your Texas cosmetology continuing education course on CosmoCredits.com and your hours have not been posted, here is what to do.

First, make sure you provided the correct license number on your exam. You can check your certificate here. Next, let us know if your hours have not been posted and if you provided a correct or incorrect license number.

Do I need to pay you $5 to report my course?

We do not charge an additional fee for your first course completion submission.

However, if you provide us with incorrect license information when you submit your Texas cosmetology continuing education course exam, you will need to pay an additional fee to have your hours submitted again.

Texas Advisory Board/TDLR Contact Information

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Cosmetology
PO Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711

Phone: (800) 803-9202 [in state only] Phone: (512) 463-6599
Fax: (512) 463-9468
Relay Texas-TDD: (800) 735-2989

Texas Cosmetology Board Website

Texas TDLR Website

Ready to complete your Texas Cosmetology Continuing Education Course?

Again, this 4 hour Texas cosmetology continuing education course is approved for hair (operator), nail (manicurist), and esthetician licenses. There is no exam, extra fees, and we report your hours to the TDLR within one business day. Just scroll to the top of the page, add this product to the cart. Then you can check out, get started, and be one step closer to your license renewal.

Grab your free Texas Cosmetology Board Renewal Checklist (For Cosmetologists, Operators, Manicurists, and Estheticians)!