# Texas Barber License Fee Schedule, Explained

> Every fee a Texas Class A Barber pays — application, exams, renewal, and the Full-Service Establishment license — sourced from TDLR and PSI.

Canonical: https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-license-fees  
Last updated: 2026-07-26

Getting and keeping a Texas Class A Barber license means paying several separate fees to two different organizations: the [Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/apply-barber.htm), which issues the license, and [PSI](https://www.psiexams.com/test-takers/tdlr/), which administers the exams on TDLR's behalf. Here's every real fee, sourced directly from TDLR's own published fee schedule, PSI's current Candidate Information Bulletin, and — for the late-renewal breakpoints, where TDLR's summary page and the underlying statute don't quite line up — the Texas Occupations Code itself.

## Getting licensed: application & exam fees

- **TDLR application fee: $50**, non-refundable, paid once when you apply for your Class A Barber license.
- **PSI written exam fee: $55**, paid to PSI each time you sit for the written exam.
- **PSI practical exam fee: $76**, paid to PSI each time you sit for the practical exam.

Add those together and a candidate who passes both exams on the first attempt pays **$181 total** to go from application to licensed barber. Fail an exam and you'll pay that exam's fee again for each retake — PSI's bulletin is explicit that "a separate fee is required for each examination attempt," and exam eligibility itself is good for 5 years from your school-reported hours.

## Keeping it: renewal & late-renewal fees

A Class A Barber license is valid for **two years**. The on-time renewal fee is **$50**. Past your expiration date, the exact fee is governed by [Texas Occupations Code Section 51.401(b)-(c)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.51.htm), which applies to every TDLR-regulated license, not just barbering:

- **Expired 90 days or less: $75** — 1.5x the normal renewal fee.
- **Expired more than 90 days but less than 18 months: $100** — 2x the normal fee.
- **Expired 18 months to 3 years: $100** — still 2x the fee, but this tier requires the **TDLR executive director's discretionary approval**; it is not automatic just because you're willing to pay.
- **Expired more than 3 years: cannot be renewed at all.** At that point you have to meet the full requirements for an original license again, fees and exams included.

**Note on a real discrepancy:** [TDLR's own published fee-schedule page](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/feechanges.htm) summarizes this more simply as "$75, expired less than 18 months" and "$100, expired 18 months to 3 years" — which doesn't reflect the statute's 90-day breakpoint for the first tier. The dollar amounts on TDLR's page match the statute exactly; only the day-count boundary for when $75 stops applying differs between TDLR's summary and Section 51.401(b)-(c) itself. Section 51.401 is the more precise, authoritative source for the exact breakpoint, so it's what we've used above — but budget for $100 (not $75) anywhere past 90 days late, to be safe either way. Continuing education is required before you can renew at any point in this window; see the [license renewal & continuing education guide](https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-license-renewal) for the CE hours themselves, and the [expired-license guide](https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-license-late-renewal) for the full breakdown of what happens once you lapse.

## If you own the shop: Full-Service Establishment license fees

These are separate from your personal barber license and only apply if you're licensing a shop, not just working in one. As of a March 2024 TDLR reclassification, the license covering a standard barbershop is officially called a **Full-Service Establishment** license (see the [establishment license guide](https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-shop-establishment-license) for the full rename history). The same 1.5x/2x late-fee structure from Section 51.401 applies here too:

- **Initial application: $78**
- **On-time renewal: $78**
- **Late renewal, expired 90 days or less: $117** (1.5x)
- **Late renewal, expired more than 90 days, up to 3 years: $156** (2x — the 18-month-to-3-year portion again requires executive director approval)

## All fees at a glance

- Application (TDLR, one time): **$50**
- Written exam (PSI, per attempt): **$55**
- Practical exam (PSI, per attempt): **$76**
- License renewal, on time (every 2 years): **$50**
- Late renewal, ≤90 days expired: **$75**
- Late renewal, 90 days–3 years expired: **$100**
- Full-Service Establishment license, initial or on-time renewal: **$78**
- Establishment late renewal, ≤90 days expired: **$117**
- Establishment late renewal, 90 days–3 years expired: **$156**

Applying from out of state instead of through a Texas school? That's a different fee — see the [license reciprocity guide](https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-license-reciprocity) for the $100 reciprocity application fee.

## How fadejunkie helps

Once you've paid for your seat at the written exam, fadejunkie's free [flashcards](https://fadejunkie.com/education/flash) and [timed practice quiz](https://fadejunkie.com/education/quiz) cover all 13 tested topics — a free account required, with a one-time $15 lifetime pass for full multi-topic study and the complete question bank. New to the process entirely? Start with the [state board exam guide](https://fadejunkie.com/guide/texas-barber-state-board-exam).

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to become a licensed barber in Texas?

$181 in TDLR/PSI fees alone if you pass both exams on the first try: $50 application, $55 written exam, $76 practical exam — not counting school tuition.

### How much does it cost to renew a Texas barber license?

$50 on time. Late is $75 if expired 90 days or less, or $100 if expired more than 90 days up to 3 years (per Occupations Code §51.401(b)-(c); the 18-month-to-3-year portion needs executive director approval).

### What happens if my license has been expired for more than 3 years?

TDLR won't renew it at all — you have to meet the requirements for a brand-new original license, fees and exams included.

### Do I pay a separate fee to license my own barbershop?

Yes. A Full-Service Establishment license is $78 to start or renew on time, separate from your personal barber license.

### Do I pay again if I fail an exam?

Yes — PSI charges its $55 written or $76 practical fee for every attempt.

## Sources

- [TDLR — Barbering and Cosmetology Fee Schedule](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/feechanges.htm)
- [TDLR — Apply for a Class A Barber License](https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/barbering-and-cosmetology/individuals/apply-barber.htm)
- [Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 51 (Section 51.401)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/OC/htm/OC.51.htm)
- [PSI — TDLR Candidate Information Bulletin](https://test-takers.psiexams.com/api/content/bulletin/701)
- [PSI — TDLR Certification Exams](https://www.psiexams.com/test-takers/tdlr/)

## Related
- [Texas Barber Guides](https://fadejunkie.com/guide)
- [Barber Exam Practice Questions — All 13 Topics](https://fadejunkie.com/practice)