Short answer. A Texas practitioner license that has been expired less than 18 months can be renewed for a $75 late fee. From 18 months to three years it is $100 and needs executive director approval. Past three years the license cannot be renewed at all and you must meet original licensing requirements, including examinations.
The three windows
TDLR publishes the late amounts for practitioners as flat figures rather than as a formula (TDLR — barbering and cosmetology fee schedule):
- Expired less than 18 months — $75 late renewal
- Expired 18 months to 3 years — $100, and it requires executive director approval
- Expired more than 3 years — cannot be renewed
On that last one TDLR's wording is blunt: “Licenses expired for more than 3 years cannot be renewed. The requirements for an initial license must be met, including any applicable fees and examinations.” (TDLR — barbering and cosmetology fee schedule)
Why you also see a 1.5x and 2x formula
Other TDLR program pages state the underlying statutory formula: 1.5 times the renewal fee if expired 90 days or less, and 2 times the renewal fee from 91 days to 18 months, with the 18-month-to-three-year window available only on executive director approval (TDLR — renew a laser hair removal certificate).
Both are true. The formula is the statute, and the flat $75 and $100 figures are how TDLR publishes it for barbering and cosmetology practitioners. The practitioner fee table does not change at the 90-day mark.
The statute itself, which TDLR's forms page directs licensees to, reads: “a person whose license has been expired for 18 months or more may not renew the license. The person may obtain a new license by complying with the requirements and procedures, including the examination requirements, for obtaining an original license.” (Texas Occupations Code §51.401, and TDLR — barbering and cosmetology forms)
Does continuing education still count if you are late
Yes, you still owe the hours — being late does not remove the requirement. TDLR's standard practice across programs is that continuing education for a late renewal must have been completed within the one-year period immediately before the renewal date, so hours from three years ago may not carry.
That is stated plainly on another TDLR program page rather than on the barbering and cosmetology page. If your license is already expired, call the department and confirm your specific case before you pay for hours: Education and Examination, (512) 463-6599 or (800) 803-9202.
We will tell you when a rule is not published in black and white for our program. That is more useful than a confident guess.
Common questions
How late can I renew a Texas cosmetology license?
Up to three years past expiration. Under 18 months the late fee is $75. From 18 months to three years it is $100 and requires executive director approval. Beyond three years the license cannot be renewed and you must apply as a new licensee.
Will I have to retake the exams?
Only if you fall outside the renewal windows. The statute TDLR cites states that a person whose license has been expired 18 months or more may not renew and must obtain a new license by meeting original requirements, including the examination requirements. The executive director pathway is the exception up to three years.
Can I work while my Texas license is expired?
No. An expired license is not an active license, and practising on one is what generates the complaint and the penalty. Renew first. You can confirm your own status any time on TDLR's public license search.
Do I still need CE hours for a late renewal?
Yes. The hour requirement does not disappear because you renewed late, and TDLR's general practice is that CE for a late renewal must have been completed within the year immediately before you renew. Confirm your own case with TDLR before paying for hours.
Our course tracks
Course numbers and tuition will be published here once TDLR issues them. Nothing is for sale before then.
Other guides
Last updated: July 2026 · Written and reviewed by Rozmin Shirazee, Laser Hair Removal Technician (License No. ZP11290) and Cosmetology Operator (License No. 1404280).