Texas esthetician scope of practice
What can an esthetician do in Texas?
Texas licenses estheticians as an Esthetician through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Barbering and Cosmetology. A licensed Esthetician may perform or advertise the TDLR-listed services: facial treatments, beautifying and cleansing treatments of the face, neck, shoulders and arms, scalp and face massage, body hair removal, and eyelash extensions, and no other barbering or cosmetology services. Below: whether that license covers microneedling, chemical peels, dermaplaning, laser and IPL, and Botox or fillers, each answered from Texas's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026.
- Microneedling
- Not allowed
- Chemical peels
- With conditions
- Dermaplaning
- Not allowed
- Laser and IPL
- With conditions
- Botox and fillers
- Not allowed
Licensed by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), Barbering and Cosmetology.The board's page The state's own words
Microneedling
Can estheticians do microneedling in Texas?
No. Estheticians' facial treatments exclude medical-type procedures that require needles, and microneedling is one of them.
Chemical peels
Can estheticians do chemical peels in Texas?
Only with conditions. Estheticians may do light or superficial chemical peels that do not pierce the dermis; medium and deep peels are medical procedures regulated by the Texas Medical Board.
Dermaplaning
Can estheticians do dermaplaning in Texas?
No. TDLR says dermaplaning with a razor requires a Class A Barber license, and dermaplaning with a medical scalpel is a matter for the Texas Medical Board, so the esthetician license covers neither.
Laser and IPL
Can estheticians do laser hair removal in Texas?
Only with conditions. Laser hair removal needs TDLR's separate Laser Hair Removal license on top of the esthetician license; other laser procedures go to the state health department and the Texas Medical Board.
Botox and fillers
Can estheticians do Botox or fillers in Texas?
No. A Texas esthetician license does not authorize using hypodermic needles to inject Botox or other substances, even for cosmetic purposes.
Advanced license
Does Texas have a master esthetician license?
Texas's official pages we read name no advanced or master esthetician license; the basic Esthetician license is the one that sets the scope.
Good to know
What else Texas says about an esthetician's scope
- An esthetician may not perform barbering or cosmetology services beyond those TDLR lists for the license.
Sources
What Texas's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Texas's own statutes, board rules or board statements, read on October 27, 2026. Scope rules change and boards interpret them: confirm with TDLR before you offer a treatment.
- The license and its scope
“A licensed Esthetician can perform or advertise the following services to the public in exchange for compensation:”
tdlr.texas.gov “An Esthetician cannot perform any other barbering or cosmetology services other than those listed above.”
tdlr.texas.gov - Microneedling
“Microneedling Contact the Texas Medical Board”
tdlr.texas.gov “administer facial treatments, (please note that these treatments do NOT include injectables, fillers and other types of medical-type procedures that require the use of needles)”
tdlr.texas.gov - Chemical peels
“Chemical Peeling Contact the Texas Medical Board”
tdlr.texas.gov “Estheticians and cosmetology operators may perform “light peels” or “superficial peels” that are non- invasive and/or non-aggressive in nature and enhance or beautify the epidermis by removing dead cells, but do not pierce the dermis (living tissue).”
tdlr.texas.gov ““Medium peels” and “deep peels” penetrate the dermis (living tissue) and are considered medical procedures regulated by the Texas Medical Board.”
tdlr.texas.gov - Dermaplaning
“Dermaplaning or Dermablading”
tdlr.texas.gov “TDLR (Requires a Class A Barber license )”
tdlr.texas.gov - Laser and IPL
“TDLR (Requires a Laser Hair Removal license license)”
tdlr.texas.gov - Botox and fillers
“Botox Contact the Texas Medical Board”
tdlr.texas.gov “An esthetician or cosmetology operator license does not authorize the esthetician or cosmetology operator to use hypodermic needles to inject botulinum toxic (for example, Botox) or other substances, even for cosmetic”
tdlr.texas.gov - The board
“TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology rules and regulations focus on health, safety and sanitation”
tdlr.texas.gov
Questions
Texas esthetician license, answered
What is the esthetician scope of practice in Texas?
Plan the rest
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