Before applying for a Manicurist license, you must complete a Manicurist course consisting of 600 hours of instruction at a barbering/cosmetology school licensed in Texas.
Students enrolled in a barbering/cosmetology school licensed in Texas will be issued a student permit while in training.
Find a School
If you did not receive your training in Texas, please see the Apply for a Cosmetology or Barbering License by Equivalence page.
A Manicurist license may be combined with an Esthetician license to create a single combination Manicurist/Esthetician license. To qualify for this license, you must either:
You must pass written and practical licensing exams to obtain a Manicurist license or a Manicurist/Esthetician license (if obtained through completion of the 800 hour Manicurist/Esthetician course).
After completing all training requirements, you will become eligible to take the written and practical exams. Once TDLR has verified your eligibility to take the exams, our third-party vendor (PSI) will send you an email confirmation with instructions for scheduling an appointment to take the exams.
Please see the exam information page for complete details.
After you have passed both the written and practical exams, you may apply online. The non-refundable application fee of $50 must be paid when you apply.
Begin Your Application
You must be at least 17 years old to apply.
Manicurist and Manicurist/Esthetician licenses are valid for two years from the date of issue.
You may also apply by mail using a printable PDF application form.
Most applicants should generally apply online for faster service.
If you have ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation) or pleaded guilty or no contest (resulting in a deferred adjudication) to any in-state, out-of-state or federal criminal offense, you must provide a completed Criminal History Questionnaire (PDF) along with your application materials.
The department will conduct a criminal history background check on all persons who apply for a license. Criminal convictions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Licenses may be denied based on the nature of the conviction and how long prior to the application the conviction occurred. Depending on your criminal history, a review can take from one to six weeks to complete.
Individuals may request TDLR review their criminal background before actually applying for a license. TDLR uses the same process for this pre-application evaluation as the process for a license application. See the Criminal History Evaluation Letter page for more information.
Please see the Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions, which describe the process that TDLR uses to determine whether a criminal conviction renders an applicant an unsuitable candidate for the license, or whether a conviction warrants revocation or suspension of a license previously granted.