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Day 3: Texas TDLR Cosmetology Licensing Deep-Dive

Lesson Overview
Time 50 minutes
Objectives Navigate the TDLR website to find Texas cosmetology licensing requirements; complete a licensing pathway worksheet; compare 3 routes to a license (HS pathway, post-HS school, apprenticeship)
TEKS d(2)(A), d(3)(G)
Deliverable Completed TDLR Licensing Pathway worksheet with 3 routes compared
Materials Chromebooks, TDLR website (tdlr.texas.gov), printed TDLR Licensing Pathway worksheet, projector

Warm-Up (5 min)

WARM-UP: In Texas, you need a license from the state to legally cut hair for money. Why do you think the state requires a license to cut hair?

Take 3-4 student responses. The class should land on safety reasons (sanitation, chemicals, customer protection) and quality reasons (skilled work, consumer trust). Bridge: today they explore the actual Texas licensing process.

Activity 1: TDLR Website Navigation Demo (10 min)

Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, tdlr.texas.gov

Project the TDLR home page on the screen. Walk students through finding the Cosmetology page step-by-step:

  1. From the TDLR home page, click Programs → Cosmetology
  2. The Cosmetology page lists license types (Operator, Esthetician, Manicurist, Salon, etc.)
  3. Click on Cosmetology Operator → find the requirements section
  4. Look for: Required Hours, Exam Requirements, Application Fee, Renewal Process

Demonstrate one of these sections live on the screen. Then have students open the TDLR site on their own Chromebooks.

Common Issue

The TDLR website can be hard to navigate for middle schoolers. The breadcrumbs change frequently. If students get lost, direct them to use the search bar on tdlr.texas.gov and search "Cosmetology Operator", the top result should be the right page.

Activity 2: TDLR Licensing Pathway Worksheet (25 min)

Source: TDLR Cosmetology page + Irving ISD Ratteree pathway info

Distribute the TDLR Licensing Pathway worksheet. Students fill in the 3-column comparison:

Route Route 1: Ratteree HS Pathway Route 2: Post-HS Cosmetology School Route 3: Apprenticeship
Where is the training?
Hours required
Approximate cost
Length (months/years)
Exam at the end?
Earn money while learning?
Pros
Cons

For Route 1, students use the Irving ISD pathway info (Ratteree offers cosmetology hours in high school. Students can begin earning hours toward their license while still in high school).

For Route 2, students use TDLR data on standard cosmetology school requirements (typically 1,000 hours in Texas).

For Route 3, students research apprenticeship options on TDLR (Texas allows licensed cosmetologists to train apprentices under specific rules).

After filling in the table, students answer:

"Which route would you choose, and why? Use at least one specific data point from your worksheet to defend your answer."

DOK 3: What conclusions can you draw about the advantages of starting the Cosmetology pathway in high school versus waiting until after graduation? Name 2 advantages and use specific data.

Activity 3: Quick Pair Share (8 min)

In the last 8 minutes, students pair up and trade worksheets. Each partner reads the other's choice and asks one question: "Why didn't you pick [the other route]?" This forces both students to defend their reasoning out loud.

Exit Ticket (2 min)

EXIT TICKET (Ranked Justification) · Printable PDF:

Rank these three routes to a Texas cosmetology license from FASTEST to license (1) to SLOWEST (3). Use your TDLR Licensing Pathway worksheet to back up each rank.

  • Ratteree HS pathway: rank ____
  • Post-HS Cosmetology school: rank ____
  • Apprenticeship under a licensed cosmetologist: rank ____

For EACH rank, write one sentence using a specific data point from your worksheet (hours, cost, or months).

  • Rank 1 (fastest): _____________

  • Rank 2: _____________

  • Rank 3 (slowest): _____________

Final step: List the 3 main steps required to get the license, in the order they happen. (d(2)(A), d(3)(G))

  1. ____ 2. ____ 3. _______

Differentiation

  • Support: Pre-fill the worksheet with the route names and the "Where is the training?" row already filled in. Students focus on the data fields.
  • Extension: Compare Texas cosmetology licensing to ANOTHER state (e.g., California requires 1,500 hours; Florida requires 1,200 hours). Why might states require different hours?
  • ELL: Pre-teach: License = Licencia, Apprenticeship = Aprendizaje, Hours = Horas, Exam = Examen. Bilingual licensing pathway worksheet with Spanish column headers. Provide a visual TDLR navigation guide with screenshots.