Transferring Your Barber License From Another State

License holders from other states and territories may be eligible for a Texas license if their state has education and examination requirements substantially equivalent to Texas license requirements. Your work experience in certain states may also be credited toward the substantially equivalent requirement.

If you are a Texas licensee moving to another state, please check with that state's licensing agency concerning your Texas license. The information on this page does not reflect whether other states recognize Texas licenses.

Note: Texas does not accept training by apprenticeship.

States and Territories with Apprenticeship Programs

TDLR does not accept training or work experience obtained through an apprenticeship program. Texas law requires that hours of instruction are completed in a licensed barber school (see 1601.253). If you hold a license from one of the states or territories listed below, you must also provide a Certified Transcript of Hours as proof of non-apprenticeship training for reciprocity.

We will need a Certified Transcript of Hours in addition to the Letter of Certification in a sealed envelope from the issuing state board or school if you are licensed from the following states or territories: Alabama, Alaska, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

States and Territories with Substantially Equivalent Requirements as Texas

Texas Class A Barber License: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Guam, Idaho Master Barber, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire Master Barber, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah Barber/Cosmetologist, Virginia

Texas Barber Instructor License: Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire Master, Oregon (1000 hour program), Pennsylvania, Wyoming.

If you found your state listed for your current occupation above (States and Territories with Substantially Equivalent Requirements as Texas), download the reciprocity barber license application or the reciprocity barber instructor license application to apply.

Note: Texas does not accept training by apprenticeship.

States and Territories Which Require One Year of Experience to Be Eligible for a Texas License

Texas Class A Barber License: Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah/Barber, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Texas Barber Instructor License: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire Barber, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington.

Note: Barber Instructor applicants must provide the number of years teaching/instructing (not barber occupation experience).

If you found your state listed for your current occupation above (States and Territories Which Require One Year of Experience to Be Eligible for a Texas License), download the reciprocity barber license application or the reciprocity barber instructor license application to apply. Your one year of experience will be proven by the letter of certification required from the state in which you are currently licensed (see #10 in the application instructions).

Note: Texas does not accept training by apprenticeship.

States and Territories Which Require Two Years of Experience to Be Eligible for a Texas License

Texas Class A Barber License: Connecticut, Florida, Idaho Barber, Massachusetts, New Hampshire Barber, Oregon, Utah Barber, Vermont, Wyoming

Texas Barber Instructor License: Minnesota, Vermont, Wisconsin, Virginia

Note: Barber Instructor applicants must provide the number of years teaching/instructing (not barber occupation experience).

If you found your state listed for your current occupation above (States and Territories Which Require Two Years of Experience to Be Eligible for a Texas License), download the reciprocity barber license application or the reciprocity barber instructor license application to apply. Your two years of experience will be proven by the letter of certification required from the state in which you are currently licensed (see #10 in the application instructions).

Note: Texas does not accept training by apprenticeship.