In Montana, all tattoos must take place in licensed body art establishments. The license applies to the shop itself and to the owner of the shop.
If you are a tattoo artist and not the owner/operator, you do not need a tattoo artist license unless you are in Yellowstone county..
If the location or the owner of the shop ever changes, a new license must be applied for.
Gallatin County and Yellowstone County Body Art/Body Piercing Establishments ONLY:
Gallatin County and Yellowstone County have their own licensing program in place of the state program. The Montana Department of Health and Human Services has general guidelines that cover the rest of the state.
Yellowstone County is the only location that licenses individual tattoo artists. The requirements (driver’s license, consent forms, First Aid certificate, etc.) for this may be found here.Tattoo Artist Guidelines
While the shop you work at will be the license holder, as a tattoo artist, you are still required to have current training certificates in: |
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You will also need a photo ID |
While the shop you work at will be the license holder, as a tattoo artist, you are still required to have current training certificates in:
- You will also need a photo ID
If your county has additional regulations, you can find them here.
All Body Artists Need to Have BBP and First Aid Training
Knowledge of general sanitation, bloodborne pathogens, and first aid is required for all permanent makeup and cosmetic tattooing services. You will also need similar training to work in body and ear lobe piercing establishments.
Montana Tattoo License: Body Art Establishments
Body art establishments must submit a plan review application before they can have a license issued. There is a license fee of $135.
Mobile Body Art Establishments
If you have a mobile unit that is licensed, that may be used in any county in Montana, whether the license is from Yellowstone County, Gallatin County, or Montana DPHHS.
Things You Should Know:
A tattooing procedure may not occur if:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/publichealth/FCS/BodyArt/BodyArtARM.pdf
Body art license info https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/ehfs/BodyArt
https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/ehfs/BodyArt
Staci.Evangeline@mt.gov (MT Public Health Sanitarian)
https://www.cascadecountymt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/519/ARM_Tattooing--Piercing-PDF?bidId=
Infection control course by state: https://courseforbbp.com/states
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