Oregon requires a license for tattoo artists. You can obtain a license by graduating from an Oregon licensed tattooing career school, or by reciprocity to show that you currently hold a license as a tattoo artist.
A standard Oregon tattoo artist license costs $50.
A license obtained by reciprocity (i.e. obtained from an existing license) costs $150.
Note:
The Oregon health authority requires that tattoo school training be given by an Oregon licensed tattoo artist who is registered as a teacher by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
Oregon Licensing Requirements: Tattoo Artist Application
To get a tattoo license in Oregon, you’ll need to submit the following completed application form prescribed by the Health Licensing Office: |
|---|
Photocopies of 2 Forms of ID Must have your current legal name Must have your current legal name |
Proof that you are 18 or older. (Find acceptable forms of ID here.) |
Proof of having a high school diploma or GED |
Proof you’ve completed blood-borne pathogens training from a Health Licensing Office-approved provider* (approved training here); this certification must be kept up to date for working with blood and other potentially infectious materials. |
Proof you’ve completed CPR and basic first aid training from a Health Licensing office-approved provider (approved training here); this certification must be kept up to date for current first aid training. |
Provide documentation of completing a qualifying pathway (either an Oregon-licensed tattoo school or reciprocity). |
If you go through tattoo school, you’ll need to: Submit an official transcript from the Oregon licensed career school. Pay the $50 examination fees. Submit a passing score of a Health Licensing Office-approved written examination within two years of applying. Pay the $50 required license fee. |
If you use reciprocity: Submit the Affidavit of Licensure Request form. If the training required for your previous license is not close enough to Oregon’s tattoo school requirement, you will have to submit documentation showing proof that you’ve been working as a tattoo artist for the last 3 out of 5 years or 5 years out of the last 10 years. (Proof can be tax documents, employer letters, and business licensing.) Pay the $50 exam fee. Submit a passing score of a Health Licensing Office-approved written exam within two years of applying. Pay the $150 license application fee. |
If your county has additional regulations for body art practitioners, you can find them here.
To get a tattoo license in Oregon, you’ll need to submit the following completed application form prescribed by the Health Licensing Office:
- Photocopies of 2 Forms of ID
- Must have your current legal name
- One must have your picture on it
- Proof that you are 18 or older. (Find acceptable forms of ID here.)
- Proof of having a high school diploma or GED
- Proof you’ve completed blood-borne pathogens training from a Health Licensing Office-approved provider* (approved training here); this certification must be kept up to date for working with blood and other potentially infectious materials.
- Proof you’ve completed CPR and basic first aid training from a Health Licensing office-approved provider (approved training here); this certification must be kept up to date for current first aid training.
- Provide documentation of completing a qualifying pathway (either an Oregon-licensed tattoo school or reciprocity).
- If you go through tattoo school, you’ll need to:
- Submit an official transcript from the Oregon licensed career school.
- Pay the $50 examination fees.
- Submit a passing score of a Health Licensing Office-approved written examination within two years of applying.
- Pay the $50 required license fee.
- If you use reciprocity:
- Submit the Affidavit of Licensure Request form.
- If the training required for your previous license is not close enough to Oregon’s tattoo school requirement, you will have to submit documentation showing proof that you’ve been working as a tattoo artist for the last 3 out of 5 years or 5 years out of the last 10 years. (Proof can be tax documents, employer letters, and business licensing.)
- Pay the $50 exam fee.
- Submit a passing score of a Health Licensing Office-approved written exam within two years of applying.
- Pay the $150 license application fee.
If your county has additional regulations for body art practitioners, you can find them here.
Note:
Visit our article “What Does Tattoo School Teach? Can You Get Licensed?” to see what training is covered by Oregon Tattoo School, and what additional training you might need beyond the requirements of your local government agency.
Transferring a Tattoo License from Another State:
If you are moving from Oregon to another state, you can fill out an Affidavit of Licensure Request to have the Oregon Health Licensing Office send verification of your license to another state.
If you need a temporary license, you can apply here. A temporary license cannot be used for longer than 30 days.Turn in Your Application
Applications must be submitted by mail. You can mail them to:
1430 Tandem Ave. NE
Suite 180
Salem, OR 97301-2192
After you have passed your test, the license will be mailed to you.
Renewing Your License
Licenses are valid for one year from the month they were issued. Renewing a tattoo license online costs $45. Renewing it in person or by mail costs $50. Please note that you’ll receive a courtesy renewal notice in the mail about 45 days prior to the license entering inactive status.
Continuing education is required for every Oregon licensed tattoo artist hen you renew, you need to confirm that you have:
If you don’t renew in time, it will no longer be legal for you to tattoo people until you reactivate your license.
You can fill out your renewal form online.
If You Are Opening Your Own Body Art Facility:
As a licensed facility owner, your shop will be inspected regularly for safety, infection control, and sterilization requirements. You will also need to pay the required license fee ($250, including application fee).
You have to show the license clearly somewhere on the facility premises, and you can only hire tattoo artists who have been licensed by the state.
You can find the application here.
If you need an event facility license (temporary facility), you can find the application here.
Learning From Oregon Tattoo Schools:
The state of Oregon requires that all body art practitioners submit documentation that they’ve attended a tattoo school (or have had similar training or experience in another state).
Tattoo schools have a required tattooing curriculum that covers the following topics:
Safety:
You will also be directed to go through blood-borne pathogens training.
Practical Training:
Note:
Tattoo schools do not teach advanced tattooing techniques or tattoo artistry. You can find additional tattoo training here.
Things You Should Know:
It is illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18 in Oregon. Local health departments may set higher age requirements than that.
Find Body Art Practitioner Laws and Rules here.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Board-Body-Art-Practitioners-Tattoo-Artists-License.aspx
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Board-Body-Art-Practitioners-Tattoo-Artists-Fees.aspx
Health licensing office approved oregon licensed career school: https://www.oregon.gov/highered/institutions-programs/private/Pages/PCS-licensed.aspx
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Identification-Requirements.aspx
Health Licensing Office email: HLO.Info@dhsoha.state.or.us
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/ProviderPartnerResources/LocalHealthDepartmentResources/Pages/lhd.aspx
Oregon health licensing office laws for body art practitioners: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Pages/Board-Electrologists-Body-Art-Practitioners-Laws-Rules.aspx
Basic first aid training: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Forms/HLO_CPR_FirstAid_BBP_Approved_Providers.pdf
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Forms/HLO_Affidavit_of_Licensure.pdf
Oregon licensing requirements: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HLO/Forms/TA_Tattoo_Artist_License_Application.pdf
Infectious diseases education by state: https://courseforbbp.com/states
Laws for facility owners: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_690.365
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.
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