Tattoo artist license requirements are set by state and local health departments, not the federal government, so the exact checklist depends on where you plan to work. That said, the pieces are consistent enough across the country to plan around: you need to be at least 18, complete OSHA-compliant bloodborne pathogens training, finish a supervised apprenticeship, pass a written exam in states that require one, and submit an application with fees and documentation to the health department in your county or city.
Before you start, call the health department for the specific city or county where you intend to tattoo. Some states issue individual practitioner permits; others register artists through the shop’s establishment permit; a few don’t license individuals at all. The state agency alone won’t always tell you what the local office requires.
Age and Education
You must be at least 18 years old to be licensed as a tattoo artist in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Proof comes from a government-issued ID such as a driver’s license or passport, submitted with the initial application. Most jurisdictions also require a high school diploma or GED, though a few waive it if your apprenticeship records show equivalent competency.
Bloodborne Pathogens Training
This is the one requirement every tattoo artist in the country has to satisfy. OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard at 29 CFR 1910.1030 applies to any workplace with occupational exposure to blood, and OSHA has specifically confirmed it covers tattoo and body piercing establishments.1Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Obligations of Establishments That Provide Tattoos and Body Piercing
The training has to cover how diseases like hepatitis B and HIV are transmitted, how to prevent exposure, proper use and disposal of personal protective equipment, and what to do if an exposure incident happens.2eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.1030 – Bloodborne Pathogens A qualified trainer must be directly accessible during the session, so a prerecorded online video on its own doesn’t satisfy the requirement unless a live trainer is available to answer questions in real time.1Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Obligations of Establishments That Provide Tattoos and Body Piercing
Renewal is required at least annually, not every two years as some apprentices are told.3Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Requirement for Annual BBP Training for Tattooing and Body Piercing Artists Many states add further training on top: infection identification, sterilization technique, sharps disposal, First Aid, CPR. Those are state-level additions, not OSHA requirements.
Related to the training, your shop owner has to offer you the hepatitis B vaccine free of charge within 10 working days of starting work that involves potential blood exposure.2eCFR. 29 CFR 1910.1030 – Bloodborne Pathogens You can decline, but the employer has to document the offer. Several licensing applications ask about your vaccination status, so keep whatever record you receive.
Supervised Apprenticeship
Most states require a formal apprenticeship under a licensed artist. The typical range is 1,000 to 2,000 clock hours of direct supervision, with somewhere between 50 and 100 supervised tattoo procedures logged along the way, usually progressing from line work to shading and color.
Your mentor generally has to be in good standing with the health department, meaning no active violations or suspended permits, and many jurisdictions require a minimum number of years of experience. You log your hours and completed procedures daily in a record book that your mentor signs, and those logs are a central piece of your license application. Incomplete or sloppy records are one of the most common reasons applications get delayed or denied. Treat the logbook like a legal document from the first day.
Some states accept training from accredited tattoo schools as a substitute for or supplement to a traditional apprenticeship, but shop-based apprenticeship remains the standard path in most of the country.
Written Examination
A growing number of states require a written exam before issuing a license. The scientific portion covers skin anatomy, infection control, sterilization, disease transmission, and OSHA-related waste disposal. The practical portion covers client consultation, needle grouping and assembly, machine setup, skin preparation, and tattoo application.
Some states administer a nationally developed exam; others use their own version focused on local health codes. Passing scores typically fall in the 70 to 75 percent range. A failed exam isn’t a permanent bar — most states allow retakes after a waiting period.
What to Submit With Your Application
Once the training, apprenticeship, and exam are behind you, the application itself is largely paperwork. Expect to submit:
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport) proving your identity and age.
- Training certificates documenting bloodborne pathogen training and any additional state-required courses.
- Signed apprenticeship logs showing your supervised hours and completed procedures, sometimes notarized.
- Proof of passing the written exam where applicable.
- Application fee, typically $50 to $300 depending on the jurisdiction.
Many health departments now take applications online with digital uploads and electronic payment, though some still require a mailed physical packet. Processing commonly runs 30 to 60 days. Some jurisdictions issue a temporary permit so you can work while the full application is reviewed; others don’t, which means you cannot legally tattoo anyone during the wait. Confirm this before you assume one way or the other.
Renewal
Licenses aren’t permanent. Most states require renewal every one to three years, with fees similar to the initial application. Renewal typically requires proof that your annual bloodborne pathogen training is current, plus any state-mandated continuing education hours.3Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Requirement for Annual BBP Training for Tattooing and Body Piercing Artists Some states require 10 or more continuing education hours a year on topics like sterilization technology, updated health codes, and OSHA changes.
If a renewal deadline passes, stop tattooing until the license is restored. Working on an expired license puts you in the same legal position as someone who never had one.
Penalties for Working Without a License
Tattooing without a valid license is a criminal offense in most states, typically a misdemeanor. Fines generally run from $500 to $2,000 per violation, and some jurisdictions count each unauthorized tattoo as a separate offense. Unlicensed operations can be shut down immediately on discovery, and the record makes it harder to get a legitimate license later.
Health departments can also suspend or revoke an existing license for serious violations, including unsanitary conditions, failing to maintain waste disposal records, or tattooing minors without proper consent. Revocation usually triggers a waiting period before reapplying, and some boards require a formal hearing before reinstatement.
Tattooing Clients Under 18
Age rules for clients are strict everywhere, and getting them wrong is one of the fastest ways to lose a license you worked hard to get. Roughly half the states ban tattooing minors entirely, even with parental consent. The rest allow it only with written, often notarized, consent from a parent or legal guardian who is physically present during the procedure, and you have to retain the signed form for several years. Verify every client’s age with a government-issued ID, every time.
One Note on Ink
The FDA does not license tattoo artists, but it does regulate tattoo inks as cosmetics with pigments treated as color additives.4U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tattoos and Permanent Makeup Fact Sheet Contaminated ink has triggered FDA advisories and voluntary recalls, including incidents involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa.5U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Avoid Using or Selling Certain Sacred Tattoo Ink Products Watch for recall notices and buy from reputable manufacturers. An infection outbreak traced to your ink supply can cost you the license you spent years earning.