Laser Hair Removal Certificates in Texas: Apprentice, Technician, Senior Technician and Professional

The four TDLR certificate levels for people who perform laser hair removal in Texas, what training and experience each requires, who must supervise whom, and who is exempt.

Everyone who performs it needs a certificate

In Texas, a person may not perform or attempt to perform laser hair removal without the appropriate TDLR certificate (Health and Safety Code §401.504). There are four levels, each building on the one below. Knowing them helps you understand who is treating you and who is responsible for supervision.

1. Laser hair removal apprentice-in-training

The entry level. An applicant must be at least 18 and have at least 24 hours of training in safety, laser physics, skin typing, skin reactions, treatment protocols, burns, eye protection, emergencies and post-treatment protocols (§401.508). An apprentice must work directly under the supervision of a senior laser hair removal technician or a certified laser hair removal professional.

2. Laser hair removal technician

A technician must meet the apprentice requirements and have performed at least 100 laser hair removal procedures under the direct supervision of a senior technician or certified professional (§401.507).

3. Senior laser hair removal technician

A senior technician must meet the technician requirements and have supervised at least 100 laser hair removal procedures, as audited by a certified laser hair removal professional (§401.506). For licensed health professionals, the qualifications are set by the board that licenses their profession. A senior technician can supervise apprentices and technicians, and can keep a facility running for up to 45 days if its certified professional leaves (§401.517).

4. Certified laser hair removal professional

The top level. An applicant must be certified by a recognized certifying agency, such as the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal or another entity TDLR approves, meet the senior technician requirements, and pass an examination required by TDLR (§401.505). A certified professional acting under the protocol established with a consulting physician may perform laser hair removal without supervision. Every licensed facility must have a certified professional, or a qualifying licensed health professional, present to supervise during operating hours.

Terms and continuing education

Certificates, like facility licenses, expire on the second anniversary of issue and may be renewed (§401.512). The law also provides for continuing education (§401.509), and TDLR publishes the requirements on its laser hair removal program pages. Certificate holders must display their certificate in an open public area of the facility (§401.513).

Who does not need a TDLR certificate

• Physicians, and a physician's employee or delegate acting under the physician delegation rules in Occupations Code Chapter 157 (§401.504(d)). TDLR's FAQ gives the example of a facialist working under a dermatologist, who does not need a certificate while working under those conditions.
• Licensed health professionals whose own licensing board treats laser hair removal as within their scope of practice (§401.504(c)).

Nurses are a special case. TDLR's FAQ points to Texas Board of Nursing Position Statement 15.9, which says delivering laser energy is not within the scope of nursing practice as an independent nursing function. Nurses who accept physician delegation must meet the criteria in that statement. If a nurse will treat you, it is reasonable to ask how that arrangement works at the facility.

What a certificate does not cover

A laser hair removal certificate authorizes only nonablative cosmetic hair removal. It does not authorize the holder to diagnose or treat any illness, disease, injury, defect or deformity, and holders must disclose that limit in writing to clients and prospective clients (§401.504(b)). Treating a medical condition with a laser is the practice of medicine (§401.521).

How to check who is treating you

1. Look for the certificates displayed in the facility; the law requires them to be posted publicly.
2. Ask the person treating you for their certificate level and number.
3. Look the number up on TDLR's license search.
4. If the person is an apprentice or technician, ask who is supervising and whether that person is on site, since the law requires direct supervision for those levels.

For people considering the career

The ladder rewards experience: apprentices log supervised procedures to qualify as technicians, technicians supervise procedures to qualify as senior technicians, and senior technicians add an outside certification and TDLR's exam to become professionals. TDLR lists approved training providers and application forms for each level on its program pages. Ask any employer how it supervises and documents the procedures you will need for the next level.

Training providers and applications

TDLR approves training for the apprentice-in-training level and publishes the application forms for each certificate on its program pages. If you are starting out, check that a course is on TDLR's approved list before you pay for it, and keep your certificate of completion with your application. Employers should keep training affidavits for their technicians on site; TDLR lists them among the records a facility must maintain.

Why the levels matter to clients

The levels are a rough guide to experience: a technician has performed at least 100 supervised procedures, and a senior technician has also supervised at least 100. A newer apprentice can deliver a good treatment under close supervision, but you are entitled to know who is treating you and who is overseeing them.

Comparing facilities

This site lists the facility license, not individual staff, because TDLR's certificate file shows only a county for each certificate holder, not where they work. When you compare facilities, ask each one about the certificate levels of its staff and how many certified professionals it has. Use "+ Compare" on the listings to keep up to three facilities side by side while you call around.

Updated 2026-10-16.

General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Texas Laser Check is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.