# Texas Barber License & Criminal History, Explained > Can you get a Texas barber license with a criminal record? TDLR's case-by-case review factors and the $10 evaluation letter, explained. Canonical: https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-license-criminal-history Last updated: 2026-07-28 A criminal record does not automatically disqualify anyone from becoming a licensed Texas barber. TDLR reviews every applicant's criminal history individually, under a specific state law — not a banned-offense checklist. Here's exactly how that review works, sourced directly from [TDLR's own published criminal-history policy](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/criminal-history/) and [Texas Occupations Code Chapter 53](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.53.htm). ## What you have to disclose Every original and renewal license application TDLR receives is subject to a criminal background check. If you've ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor — other than a minor traffic violation — or pleaded guilty or no contest resulting in deferred adjudication, you're required to complete a Criminal History Questionnaire (TDLR Form ENF001) for each offense and submit it with your application. Leaving it off isn't a way around the review; TDLR runs the background check regardless. ## How TDLR actually decides — Texas Occupations Code §53.025(a) State law gives TDLR four specific factors to weigh for every applicant with a criminal history, not open-ended discretion: - The nature and seriousness of the crime. - The relationship of the crime to the purposes of requiring a license to practice barbering. - The extent to which a license might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal activity of the same type. - The relationship of the crime to the applicant's ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties of a licensed barber. On top of those four, TDLR's published fitness guidelines also weigh: the extent and nature of past criminal activity, the applicant's age when the crime was committed, how much time has passed since the last criminal activity, conduct and work history before and after, evidence of rehabilitation or rehabilitative effort, and letters from prosecutors, law enforcement, or community leaders. ## There's no disqualifying-offense list TDLR's own guidelines are explicit that they're "not intended to be an exclusive listing" — there's no published list of crimes that automatically bar someone from a barber license, and no crime automatically clears someone either. Every case gets the same individualized review under §53.025(a). One thing that does draw extra scrutiny: TDLR states multiple violations of any criminal statute should always be reviewed as a pattern, regardless of license type. ## Find out before you enroll — the Criminal History Evaluation Letter The single most useful tool here, especially before spending money on barber school: TDLR lets anyone request a **Criminal History Evaluation Letter (CHEL)** and find out likely eligibility *before* applying for a license at all. To request one: - Submit TDLR's prescribed request form plus a completed criminal history questionnaire for each conviction or deferred adjudication. - Pay the **$10** fee. - TDLR issues the letter within **90 days** of receiving a complete request. The letter states whether TDLR would recommend granting a license based on everything available at that time. Critically, a positive determination — that you're eligible — is **binding** on the department unless your circumstances change or new evidence turns up later. If the letter instead recommends denial, that's not final: you can still apply anyway, and if TDLR denies the actual license, you can request a hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), where the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation — not the evaluation letter — makes the final call. ## How fadejunkie helps This guide covers eligibility, not exam prep — for the written and practical exams every applicant still has to pass, see the [state board exam guide](https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-state-board-exam). Once you're enrolled and studying, [flashcards](https://fadejunkie.com/education/flash) and a [timed practice quiz](https://fadejunkie.com/education/quiz) cover all 13 tested topics; free account required, with a one-time $15 lifetime pass for full multi-topic study and the complete question bank. ## FAQ ### Can I get a Texas barber license with a criminal record? Possibly, yes — there's no automatic disqualification. TDLR reviews every case individually under §53.025(a). ### Do I have to disclose my criminal history? Yes. Every application gets a background check, and any qualifying conviction or deferred adjudication requires a Criminal History Questionnaire. ### What does TDLR actually weigh? The crime's nature and seriousness, its relationship to barbering, whether a license would create further opportunity for crime, and your fitness for the job — plus age, time elapsed, and rehabilitation evidence. ### Can I check eligibility before enrolling in school? Yes — a $10 Criminal History Evaluation Letter, issued within 90 days, that's binding if it comes back eligible. ### What if the evaluation recommends denial? You can still apply and, if denied, request a SOAH hearing — the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation makes the final decision. ## Sources - [TDLR — Information for Applicants with Criminal History](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/criminal-history/) - [TDLR — Criminal History Evaluation Letter](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/crimhistoryeval.htm) - [TDLR — Criminal Conviction Guidelines](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/crimconvict.htm) - [TDLR Form ENF001 — Criminal History Questionnaire](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/misc/lic002.pdf) - [Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53 — Monitoring Criminal Conduct](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.53.htm) ## Related - [Texas Barber Guides](https://fadejunkie.com/guide) - [Barber Exam Practice Questions — All 13 Topics](https://fadejunkie.com/practice)