Every state in the United States has different requirements when it comes to getting a tattoo license. Some states do not require a license to become a professional tattoo artist, but you must be registered with a tattoo shop in your area. (In every state, tattoo shops must be licensed, even if the individual artists do not have to be.)
Additionally, each county, district, parish, etc. will have its own rules (or lack of rules) as well.
Click your state below to find a clear to-do list of how to apply for or renew a tattoo artist license in each U.S. state. We’ll also point out where you can look for your county or town’s additional application requirements.
Select Your State
How to Get a Tattoo License to Transfer to Another State
If you have a license and are moving to another state, your license does not automatically transfer. In general, for states that do not require training (and only require OSHA bloodborne pathogens certification and photo ID) you will need to apply for a new license in that state.
If you have a license and are moving to another state whose laws do require training hours, then you can show proof of your training hours in a tattoo apprenticeship or similar training to get those hours to transfer.
For tattoo artists who will be in a different state temporarily, you may need to apply for a temporary license. Remember to call each state’s department of health before you visit or do a guest spot.
How to Apply for a Tattoo Artist License (General Guidelines)
While each state has its own guidelines for applying for a tattoo artist license, most areas will require the following steps:
Note:
While most people use the term “tattoo artist,” your local government might use terms like:
1
Fill Out a Tattoo Artist License Application
Any state that requires you to get a license will have an application. The application is for artists that need to get a license for the first time or for artists that need to renew their license.
Some states will require apprentices to get a separate “apprentice license.”
Professional tattoo artists who are already licensed in another state will need to prove that they received proper tattoo training in their old state. In this case, they’ll be required to fill out an affidavit alongside their application.
If you are moving from a state that does not require any training to become a tattoo artist, you will most likely be given a “grace period.” This means you can keep tattooing, but you’ll need to update your training according to the laws of your new state during that time.
If you’re traveling for work, you will need to get a temporary license in the state you’re visiting. That application will either be on the same webpage as the normal tattoo artist application, or there will be a separate section for guest tattoo artists on the regular application itself.
If you are going to a tattoo convention, the convention may have an agreement with the county allowing for guest artists to not have to go through the process of getting a temporary license. Make sure to check with the convention beforehand.
If you want to start taking apprentices, you may need a tattoo artist mentor license. In states that have mentor licensing requirements, you will need to have completed a certain amount of years in the industry before being able to train other artists.
In most states, artists that want to specialize in cosmetic tattooing will need to get a tattoo license.
If you want to also be licensed in body piercing (or want to hire a body piercer for your tattoo business), you might need a separate license. Some states will let you apply for both on the same application. Other states will have you fill out a separate application.
Both body piercing and permanent makeup artists (PMU) have to go through communicable diseases training.
2
Pay Required Fees
Most states will require you to renew your license every 1-2 years. Each time, you will have to pay an application fee. The renewal fee is usually cheaper than the first-time application fee.
3
Have 2 Forms of ID
Most likely, you’ll need to provide two forms of identification. At least one of them will need to have a government issued photo, like a driver’s license or passport.
Note:
One of these forms of ID will need to show that you’re older than 18. Additionally, a few states will require you to have a high school diploma or GED (this is pretty rare).
4
Get Your Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
Your local department of health will have a list of approved bloodborne pathogen/communicable diseases training. You must successfully complete and submit proof of your attendance in the course.
To maintain an active license, you must keep your BBP certification up to date.
Note:
Even in states that don’t have laws, it is a widely accepted fact that you need to have a bloodborne pathogens certificate to tattoo safely. We highly recommend going through training about infectious diseases (sometimes called “universal precautions”) whether it’s technically “required” or not.
Some states will require you to be CPR certified.
Some states require tattoo artists to be vaccinated against hepatitis. You’ll need to turn in proof of vaccination, or a Hepatitis B vaccination declination form, along with your application.
5
Have Proof of Tattoo Education
If your state requires formal training, it will have a list of training options on the health department’s website. Oregon, for example, has a list of approved tattoo schools. Other states just have a list of how many hours of training you need in each area of tattooing like sanitation, tattoo practice, etc.
Some states won’t have tattoo education requirements beyond bloodborne pathogen training. Others will just ask you to send images showing your tattooing ability, no matter how you learned.Note:
To learn more about what state tattoo schools do and don’t cover, check out this interview we did with an Oregon tattoo school student.
Pro Tip:
Your state might also require you to keep a body art training log. This will detail how much time you’ve spent learning the different aspects of the job (bloodborne pathogens course, using tattoo machines, hands on session time, etc.)
6
Pass the Tattooing Exam
If your state requires you to take an exam to get your license, you will either sign up for a specific test date and time when you apply online, or you’ll need to call your local county health department to secure your spot.
For some areas, you might have to tattoo in front of a local representative for a “practical exam” so they can assess your technical skills. Their main goal during a practical exam is to ensure you are tattooing safely.
Pro Tip:
While government bodies won’t test for art and design skills, you will need them to get hired by a tattoo studio. We recommend having a portfolio of tattoo specific designs in a physical portfolio and on your own site or other digital showcase.
7
Turn in Your Application
You will either submit your application online or turn it in to your county’s health department.
Make sure you have all your documents:
8
Place Your License in a Visible Area
Once your application is approved, you’ll get it right away in person or it will be mailed to you.
Make sure to hang your license and your BBP certification at your station in the shop or studio you are working in. (In most areas, you are required to display these documents for clients to see.)
What to do if Your State Doesn’t Require a License
Some states only require tattoo establishments to be licensed. In this case, individual artists do not need to be licensed, but they must register with the state as part of that tattoo establishment (you have to register with each tattoo shop you work at if you work with more than one.)
However, you should still get your bloodborne pathogens certification, as well as tattoo training to increase your earning potential and skills.
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