How to Get a Tattoo License in Kentucky

Kentucky tattoo artist registration is valid for one year. Registration costs vary by county. (Find your local department of health and applications here.)

The Louisville Metro Local Health Department has a $100 registration fee. The rest of this article will refer to this area only.

Registration for Tattoo, Body Piercing, and Ear Piercing 

To register as a tattoo artist in Kentucky, you will need a photo ID and a completed application (you will get the application from your local health department or on their website). 

Click here for the Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness form. (This form applies to body piercing, tattoo artists, and temporary workstations.)

You’ll also be required to pay a fee, probably around $100. However, if you’re planning to tattoo and provide body piercing, you will have to pay the fees for both ($200).

Applications vary by county health department, but Kentucky state law requires that all tattoo artists complete an OSHA-compliant bloodborne pathogens course.

If your county has additional regulations, you can find them here.

Tattoo and Body Piercing Studios

You can find the regulations for tattoo studios and tattoo artists working in them here. Annual inspection fee is $400+ and the certification must be renewed yearly before December 31. Your shop will be inspected by a public health professional from the county health department.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Get My Tattoo License in Kentucky?

To become a licensed (registered) tattoo artist in Kentucky, you must complete all of the following steps:

You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for individual registration chfs.ky.gov.

Enroll in an OSHA-compliant bloodborne pathogen training course (online or in-person) and obtain a certificate of completion chfs.ky.gov, chfs.ky.gov. This training is required to ensure you understand infection control and disease prevention.

Kentucky law requires all tattooing to be done under the authority of a certified tattoo studio chfs.ky.gov. In practice, this means you must have a job offer or arrangement with a tattoo studio that has been inspected and certified by the local health department. (You cannot operate as an independent artist outside of a certified studio.)

Reach out to the local health department in the county/district where you intend to work. They will provide the Tattoo Artist Registration application form and guide you through the process chfs.ky.gov. When applying, you will need to show proof of your bloodborne pathogens training and identify the certified studio where you will be working.

Submit your completed registration application to the local health department and pay the required fee. Kentucky sets an annual registration fee for tattoo artists (as of recent updates, approximately $100 per artist per year) chfs.ky.gov. The local health department will process your registration and issue your Body Art/Tattoo Artist Certificate.

Once registered, you must follow all health and safety regulations during your practice (e.g. use of sterilized equipment, proper records). The artist registration in Kentucky is valid for one calendar year and must be renewed annually (with renewal fees) to remain active apps.legislature.ky.gov. Be sure to renew before expiration each year to avoid late fees chfs.ky.gov.

Can I Do Tattoos From My House in KY? 

Tattooing clients in an uncertified home setting is illegal in KY. Only if your home is inspected and certified as a tattoo studio (with all the required facilities and separation from living areas) would it be lawful to tattoo there. Otherwise, tattoos must be done in a licensed commercial studio – doing them out of a private residence without certification can result in penalties for violating public health regulations apps.legislature.ky.gov.

If you are tattooing in your home with a studio certificate from the Kentucky department of health, you still need to follow all the same procedures and supplies you would in a normal shop (proper liquid soap for cleaning the skin pre-tattoo, single use paper towels, single use needles, cleaning your station with Madacide, etc.).

Remember you will be subject to additional inspections after your initial inspection, just like any other tattoo studio.

How Long is a Body Piercing Apprenticeship in Kentucky?

Kentucky does not mandate a specific apprenticeship length for body piercers by law. The state’s regulations for body and ear piercers mirror those for tattoo artists in that any individual performing body piercing must be registered and operate under a certified piercing studio, be at least 18, and have bloodborne pathogens training – but no set “hours” of apprenticeship are defined in the law apps.legislature.ky.gov

How to Get a Tattoo License in Tennessee vs. How to Get a Tattoo License in Kentucky 

It can be helpful to compare the requirements in nearby states. For example, Tennessee has more structured requirements for becoming a licensed tattoo artist. The process generally involves first apprenticing and then obtaining the full artist license. Here are the step-by-step requirements in Tennessee:

Secure a position as a tattoo apprentice under a Tennessee-licensed tattoo artist who has at least 3 years of licensed experience in the state.

You and your mentor must apply with the local health department for your Tattoo Apprentice registration. The mentor will fill out a form affirming they will supervise/train you for at least one year tn.gov.

Once approved, you’ll be issued a Tattoo Apprentice license, allowing you to legally practice tattooing under supervision.

Tennessee law requires a minimum of one (1) year of practical training as an apprentice tn.gov. 

During this period, you will learn tattooing techniques, proper sterilization methods, record-keeping, and all safety protocols. You must log at least 12 months working under your mentor in the licensed studio (and of course, maintain a clean record of compliance with health standards).

After you have finished the one-year apprenticeship (or when you and your mentor feel you have met the training requirements), you can apply to upgrade to a full Tattoo Artist license tn.gov.

The local Environmental Health office will review your application and, if everything is in order, issue your Tattoo Artist license (sometimes called a tattoo operator permit).

Do You Need a License to Do Permanent Makeup in Kentucky?

Yes – since you are using a version of a tattoo machine, to do permanent makeup in Kentucky, you need essentially the same license/registration as a tattoo artist chfs.ky.gov.

Can a 17-Year-Old Get a Tattoo in Kentucky With Parental Consent?

A 17-year-old can get a tattoo in Kentucky with parental consent, but the consent must be written, notarized, and the minor must be at least 16 years of age apps.legislature.ky.gov, apps.legislature.ky.gov.

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 7500 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.