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.
How to Get a Wisconsin Tattoo License
All tattooists in Wisconsin must hold a Practitioner's license. It costs $60 ...
How to Get a New York Tattoo License
The New York State Department is currently working on a statewide permit/license ...
How to Get a State of California Tattoo License
In California, body art practitioners must register with the county in which ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – NC
North Carolina state rules that you must obtain a tattoo permit. Permits ...
How to Get an Oregon Tattoo License
Oregon requires a license for tattoo artists. You can obtain a license ...
How to Get a Georgia Tattoo License – How much is the state tattoo license in GA, Body Art Rules, and More
To become a tattoo artist in Georgia, you must get a body ...
How to Get a Hawaii Tattoo License
Tattoo artists must get a license issued by the state of Hawaii. ...
Massachusetts Tattoo License Requirements
To be a tattoo artist in Massachusetts, you must have a Body ...
Maryland Tattoo License Requirements
In the state of Maryland, tattoo license regulations vary on where you ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Louisiana
Louisiana does not require a state tattoo artist license; however, you must ...
How to Get a Utah Tattoo License
A Tattoo Technician Permit is required to perform tattoos in Utah. Permits ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – South Carolina
The state of South Carolina does not require a tattoo artist license ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Arizona
Arizona has very few restrictions when it comes to tattooing. However, this ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Mississippi
The Mississippi State Department is currently working on a statewide permit/license program, ...
How to Get a Connecticut Tattoo License
To be a tattoo artist and work at a tattoo business in ...
How to Apply for a Tattoo License – Nevada
If you are interested in becoming a body artist in Nevada, there ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Nebraska
For body artists to perform tattoos in the state of Nebraska, you ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Missouri
To perform tattoos in the state of Missouri, you must hold a ...
NH Tattoo License Laws
New Hampshire has very specific requirements for those who want to apply ...
How to Apply for a Tattoo License – WA
You must have a Tattoo Artist License to perform tattoos in the ...
How to Get a Pennsylvania Tattoo License
Pennsylvania is one of the states in the US that does not ...
How to Get an Individual Tattoo Artist License – Illinois
If you're thinking of becoming a tattoo artist in Illinois, you'll need ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Alabama
There are a few things to consider before getting a tattoo license ...
Tattoo License VA Requirements
What Requirements Does the Virginia Health Regulatory Board Have for Tattoo Artists? ...
Michigan Tattoo License Requirements | How to Get a Tattoo License in Michigan
If you're interested in becoming a tattoo artist in Michigan, this article ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Kansas
In Kansas, tattooing is considered a form of body art. As such, ...
Colorado Tattoo License Requirements
In order to become a tattoo artist in Colorado, there are certain ...
How to Get a Vermont Tattoo License
If you're thinking about becoming a tattoo artist, you'll need to obtain ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Indiana
Individual artists do not need an Indiana tattoo license, only the shop. ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Arkansas
If you're looking to get a tattoo license in Arkansas, you'll need ...
How to Get an Idaho Tattoo License
While you don’t need a state tattoo artist license to tattoo Idaho, ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – New Mexico
To perform tattoos in the state of New Mexico, you need to ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Ohio
You do not need a state license to become a tattoo artist ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Alaska Tattoo License Laws
To become a tattoo artist in the state of Alaska, you must ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Maine
In order to become a tattoo artist in the state of Maine, ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Delaware Tattoo Artist Licensing
You do not need individual tattoo licenses in Delaware. You will be ...
How to Apply for an Iowa Tattoo License
To work as a tattoo artist in the state of Iowa, you ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Kentucky
Kentucky does not require a state license to be a tattoo artist. ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Minnesota
To be a tattoo artist in Minnesota, individuals must have a “Body ...
How to Get a Tattoo License in Montana
In Montana, all tattoos must take place in licensed body art establishments. ...
How to Get a North Dakota Tattoo License
Individual artists (called “body artists”) do not need a license to perform ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Oklahoma
All persons performing tattooing in Oklahoma must be licensed. A standard license ...
How to Get a Rhode Island Tattoo License | Tattoo License RI Checklist
Rhode Island requires you to have a Tattoo Artist License issued by ...
How to Get a South Dakota Tattoo License
There is no state license required to be a tattoo artist. However, ...
West Virginia Tattoo Artist License Laws
West Virginia does not require tattoo artists to be licensed. Tattoo shops ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Wyoming
The state of Wyoming does not require a state license or permit ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Texas
Texas tattoo artists are not required to be licensed; only facilities need ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – NJ
The New Jersey Department of Health doesn't issue individual tattoo licenses. Instead, ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Tennessee
Are you interested in getting a tattoo artist license in Tennessee? The ...
How to Get a Tattoo License – Florida
To be a tattoo artist or permanent makeup artist in Florida, you ...
