Texas esthetician license
requirements, 2026.

Texas requires 750 hours of esthetics training — more than California's 600 — and both a written and a practical exam. There is no apprenticeship pathway for esthetics in Texas; you must attend a TDLR-licensed school. If you're coming from another state that eliminated its practical exam, note that Texas still requires it.

Texas esthetics licensing is regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which contracts with PSI Services to administer both examinations. This guide covers the training requirements, both exam components, fees, CE at renewal, and reciprocity rules.

The basics: who qualifies

• Age 17 or older.
• High school diploma or GED.
• 750 hours of esthetics training at a TDLR-approved barbering or cosmetology school. No apprenticeship pathway exists for esthetics in Texas.
• Social Security Number required for the application.

What a Texas esthetician license covers

A Texas esthetician license authorizes skin care services, specifically:

• Facials, cleansing treatments, and facial massage
• Steaming, masks, and exfoliation
• Waxing and other hair removal from the face and body
• Makeup application
• Eyelash tinting (within esthetics scope)

An esthetician license does not cover eyelash extensions (requires a separate Eyelash Extension Specialist license), hair cutting or coloring, or nail services. Texas also offers a combined Manicurist/Esthetician license for practitioners who hold both.

The Texas esthetics examination

Both examinations are administered by PSI. The written exam must be passed before the practical can be scheduled.

Written examination

• 75 scored questions + 7 unscored pretest questions (82 total)
• 105 minutes to complete (1 hour 45 minutes)
• Multiple choice, computer-based
• Available at PSI test centers statewide and via remote proctoring (E-Exam)
• Available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese
• Passing score: 70%
• Fee: $55, non-refundable

Written exam content areas

Per the TDLR/PSI content outline, the Texas esthetics written exam covers:

• Scientific concepts — skin anatomy, physiology, histology
• Skin care and services — facials, steaming, masks, chemical exfoliation
• Facial treatments and massage movements
• Hair removal — waxing, threading, related techniques
• Makeup application
• Infection control and safety
• Texas laws and rules

Practical examination

• Hands-on demonstration before a PSI examiner
• Takes approximately 1 hour 55 minutes to complete
• Typically conducted at PSI practical sites in Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio, and other Texas cities
• Passing score: 70%
• Fee: $76, non-refundable
• Bring tools and supplies as specified in the PSI candidate handbook

Ready to start studying? See pricing below ↓

Step-by-step: how to get licensed in Texas

1. Complete 750 hours at a TDLR-approved esthetics school

   Verify your school's approval at tdlr.texas.gov. Full-time programs typically run 4–6 months. Out-of-state training is handled through TDLR's License by Equivalence process.

2. Submit your TDLR license application and pay the $50 fee

   Apply online at tdlr.texas.gov or by mail. TDLR conducts a criminal history background check on all applicants. Processing typically takes 1–6 weeks.

3. Receive PSI eligibility notice and schedule the written exam

   Once TDLR approves your application, PSI sends scheduling instructions by email. Schedule online at test-takers.psiexams.com/tdlr or by phone at (833) 333-4741. Pay the $55 written exam fee at scheduling.

4. Pass the written examination

   Computer-based multiple-choice exam. You'll receive your score from the PSI proctor at the test center. 70% or higher is required to advance to the practical.

5. Schedule and pass the practical examination

   Schedule the practical at a PSI site. Pay the $76 practical fee. Bring tools as specified in the candidate handbook. A temporary 21-day license may be issued at the site upon passing.

6. Receive your two-year esthetician license by mail

   TDLR mails your full license. You can legally begin working using your temporary license while waiting.

Continuing education at renewal

Texas requires CE to renew. Requirements effective September 1, 2025:

• Licensed under 15 years: 4 hours — 1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention, 2 hours cosmetology-related topics.
• Licensed 15+ years: 2 hours — 1 hour sanitation, 1 hour human trafficking prevention.

One set of CE hours satisfies all TDLR cosmetology licenses you hold simultaneously. If you also hold a manicurist license, completing CE once covers both.

License renewal in Texas

Your Texas esthetician license is valid for two years from the date of issue. Renewal fee is $50 on time. Late fees escalate: $75 within 90 days late, $100 between 91 days and 18 months, and re-application required after 3 years lapsed. Renew through the TDLR online portal at tdlr.texas.gov.

Reciprocity: if you're licensed in another state

Texas calls this "license by equivalence." To qualify, you must hold an active esthetician or cosmetology license from a state with substantially equivalent education and examination requirements. Required documents:

• Letter of certification from your original state's licensing agency (sealed envelope)
• Transcript of training hours
• License by Equivalence application with the $100 non-refundable fee

Texas does not recognize equivalence for Eyelash Extension Specialist, Hair Weaving Specialty, or combination specialty licenses from other states for the equivalence pathway.

If you don't pass on the first try

Retakes are unlimited within a 5-year eligibility window from TDLR application approval. Wait 24 hours after a failed attempt before rescheduling. You only retake the component you failed. Each retake requires paying the applicable exam fee.

Most esthetics candidates who fall short on the written exam miss in infection control sequencing and skin pathology (contraindications — recognizing when not to proceed). Both areas are predictable and respond well to targeted review.

Other Texas beauty licenses

Common questions

How many hours of training does Texas require for an esthetician license?

Texas requires 750 hours of esthetics training at a TDLR-approved barbering or cosmetology school. There is no apprenticeship pathway for esthetics in Texas — school attendance is required.

Does the Texas esthetician exam include a practical component?

Yes. Texas requires both a written examination and a practical (hands-on) examination for the esthetician license. You must pass the written exam before scheduling the practical. Both are administered by PSI.

Does Texas use the NIC national esthetics exam?

Texas uses its own state-specific esthetics examination developed for TDLR by PSI, not the NIC National Esthetics Theory Examination. Content coverage overlaps significantly — infection control, skin anatomy, facial services, hair removal — but the item bank and domain weights are TDLR-specific.

How much does it cost to get a Texas esthetician license?

Total initial costs are approximately $181: $55 for the written exam and $76 for the practical exam (both paid to PSI), plus $50 for the TDLR license application fee. All exam fees are non-refundable.

Does Texas require continuing education to renew an esthetician license?

Yes. Texas requires 4 hours of TDLR-approved CE every two years for licensees with fewer than 15 years of experience, or 2 hours for those with 15 or more years. CE covers sanitation, human trafficking prevention, and cosmetology-related topics. One set of CE hours satisfies all TDLR cosmetology licenses you hold simultaneously.

Official Texas esthetics resources

• TDLR — Apply for an Esthetician License — official application page with current requirements and fees.
• PSI Exams — TDLR — schedule written and practical exams, access candidate handbooks.
• TDLR Exam Information — exam locations, scheduling, and structure details.

Last verified May 2026 against the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and PSI Candidate Information Bulletins. Fees and requirements change — always confirm current information with TDLR before applying. NICPrep is an independent prep resource and is not affiliated with TDLR, PSI, or the State of Texas.