How to Get a Vermont Tattoo License

Body Art Apprenticeship Application

You are required to have a tattoo license to perform tattoos and other body art services on the skin in Vermont. The application fee for getting a license is $75. 

Tattoo licenses expire on September 30th of even years. License renewal costs $240.

Your first step in becoming a tattoo artist in Vermont is to complete an apprenticeship.

To get a tattoo apprentice tattoo license and complete an apprenticeship, you will need to:

Apply online for an apprentice license and submit the application fee ($75).

Renewal applications for tattooing and body piercing open six weeks prior to expiration. You'll receive an email from the Office of Professional Regulation when your renewal period opens.

Submit a Supervising Statement (signed by mentor and apprentice).

All body art applicants must submit a signed statement from their apprenticeship body art program director verifying that the applicant was enrolled in an accredited apprenticeship program. This statement must be submitted with the completed Body Art Application. 

You can contact the office of professional regulation for more information on what services are accepted by the office for means of supervision.

Complete at least 1,000 hours of apprenticeship as a tattoo artist/body piercer. This covers everything you need to know about completing body art services on the skin. (You’ll need to submit this form to prove you’ve done the 1,000 hours.)

Note: If you wish to request related education, training, or experience as a substitution of all or part of the apprenticeship, complete and submit the Education, Training or Experience Registration form. This is reviewed on a case by case basis.

Examples of this include formal body art or body piercing classroom instruction or experience in related fields such as electrology, nursing, or other medical or medical-related professions.

How to Get a Body Art License in Vermont

To become a tattoo artist in Vermont (or to renew a tattooing license in good standing), there are a few basic requirements you will need to meet.

Once they have met these requirements, the state board will grant them a license (or renew an existing one). There is also an annual fee for license renewal.

Applying for a state health services license is a simple process that can be completed entirely online. To get started, simply visit the state health services website and click on the link for the tattoo license application.

From there, you will be able to fill out the necessary information, including your contact information and identification forms. Once you have completed the application, you will be able to pay the $75 application fee online.

Once your payment has been processed, your application will be complete and you will be able to print out your license. In most cases, your license will be valid for a period of two years. After that, you will need to renew your license by completing another application and paying another fee.

However, as long as you keep your license up-to-date, you will be able to continue providing tattooing services in the state of Vermont without any issues.

Submit the Verification of Apprentice Experience form. You will need to provide proof of an apprenticeship at a registered tattoo shop that is licensed. You need 1000 hours and must be licensed as an apprentice before you start your apprenticeship.

In some cases, Vermont may allow you to present hours of work performed in real-life work as a substitution for this training. You will need to submit the Education, Training, or Experience Registration Form if you wish to substitute this practice in place of your 1000 hours of licensing requirements.

In order to become a tattoo artist in Vermont, you must submit forms with proof of completion of a three-hour course in universal precautions and infectious diseases. The course must be approved by OSHA or the American Red Cross.

This requirement is in place to protect both the tattoo artist and the client from potentially dangerous infections. The course will teach you how to properly sterilize equipment and how to avoid contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Once you have completed the course, you will be able to apply for a tattoo license in Vermont.

Fast Track Endorsement

Vermont also has a fast track endorsement option for applicants who are certified in good standing in another jurisdiction and actively licensed. You must have at least three years of practice prior to applying for licensure through the fast track in Vermont.

Vermont applicants should submit a Verification of Licensure form. Give verification of your current state and if applicable, upload the specific VT State Jurisprudence exam answer sheet.

Transferring a Body Piercing or Tattoo License From Another State

Tattoo artists or body piercers practicing in another state may transfer their license by completing the following steps:

Complete License Application on Vermont Government Website

Complete license application online on the Vermont licensing website and pay the application fee ($75).

Provide a Verification of License to Office of Professional Regulation

Provide Verification of License on the Vermont licensing website that shows you were licensed or certified in good standing for three or more years. This form must be sent directly from the licensing authority (instructions are on the form).

Additional Office of Professional Regulation Requirements by County

If your county has additional regulations, you can find them here on the Vermont Department of Health and licensing website.         

Vermont Tattoo Shop Licensing Requirements

According to the Office of Professional Regulation and the Department of Public Health, each tattoo shop and body piercers’ establishment must provide proof of professional licensing as well.

The body piercer and tattoo artist registration requirements are as follows:

Complete Online Application

Each person interested in opening tattoo shops to perform tattoo work or any services of that nature in Vermont will need to fill out an online application.

There is also a required fee for applicants to renew or complete a new application in Vermont.

Submit a Floor Plan

Using forms provided by the state of Vermont, all tattooing location applicants must also complete a floor plan. The applicant seeking licensing for the location should draw the floor plan, including dimensions of all the areas and rooms of the shop. It should be given to scale and labeled clearly. This floor plan must be displayed on the premises.

Each shop will also be subjected to an inspection before they begin offering tattoo services as well as on a regular basis, with the timeline determined by the state of Vermont.

Trade Name Registration

The person seeking licensing for the tattooing and piercing location should also submit a copy of the trade name registration.

Also, note that a tattoo practice cannot open and cannot perform any body art without having an inspection first.

Other Requirements to Practice Tattoo Art in Vermont

There are other tattooing and body piercing rules that apply to shops that perform these services in Vermont as well. For example, all tattoo shops must list a complete list of tattooing and other services that are carried out in the shop, along with contact and licensing information for each tattoo artist that works there.

The Vermont shop seeking licensing should also have a list of sanitation and inspection control practices specific to tattooing services. 

These forms should include information such as what each tattoo artist and body piercer should do to sterilize equipment, how to prepare the skin prior to tattooing, which chemicals and tools are permitted, and how various sanitation and health and safety procedures are regulated (as determined by the Vermont Department of Health).

All clients should be provided with a copy of aftercare instructions and forms before they begin any tattoo work. A complete list of rules and regulations can be found on the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation website.

At a bare minimum, these client forms should include basic information, for example:

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Learning the steps you need to take to get licensed is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.