
The ultimate guide to microblading licensing
For many people, time is constantly running out. Hence the need for any innovation and technology that could make our lives more efficient. And when it comes to working moms, career women, and beauty enthusiasts of all kind, permanent makeup is the answer.
In this series, we talk about how you can become a top microblading artist.
Check out our articles on Microblading 101:
- What is microblading?
- Why microblading is an ideal career choice
- Detailing the step-by-step microblading process
- What to look for in a microblading school
- What to expect in a microblading course
- How much money is in microblading?
- Marketing your microblading business
- The ultimate guide to microblading licensing
Now that you’ve set your sights on microblading, here’s the next question: do you need a license to become a microblading artist?
The short answer is: it depends.
Microblading is governed by state regulations. In some cases, counties also add to statutes made by a state. We’ve compiled a list of links and resources on microblading licensing for each state in the country. Click on the name of your state to be redirected.
Disclaimer: This article is meant as a location guide to information about microblading licensing. Information provided on this page does not constitute legal advice. Microblading Training Academy does not guarantee the accuracy of information regarding laws and regulations, which are always subject to change.
Preparing for your license
When it comes to getting ready to get your license, here are important guidelines to remember:
- This is your first test. Being a microblading artist means being a stickler for rules and regulations. After all, we can’t afford to mess up a client’s face. The same goes for licenses. In fact, if you can’t bother to fix something as crucial as a license, then how is that an assurance that you can be responsible for your clients’ safety?
- Do your own research. Certainly, there are plenty guides online for microblading licensing. However, laws vary from one state to another. You’ll need to confirm licensing information on your own, and (of course) file the paperwork to get your license in order.
- Get your license ready early on. Trust us, it’ll make things easier. Depending where you’re from, microblading training schools might ask you for a license before you can enroll. And, obviously, you’ll need a license before you can operate. So, get a head start now, and get your license ready.
Microblading licensing by state
Alabama
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.adph.org/foodsafety/index.asp?ID=1138
Other Resources:
http://www.adph.org/foodsafety/assets/BodyArtRules2007.pdf
Alaska
Oversight Body:
https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/public-facilities/body-art/
Arizona
*Only a business license is required by the state.
Licensing:
https://boc.az.gov/licensing
Other Resources:
http://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/03721.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/body_art/stateregs/az.html
Arkansas
Oversight Body:
http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Licensing:
http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programsServices/environmentalHealth/tattoBodyArt/Pages/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx
http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/Pages/certsLicensesPermits.aspx
Other Resources:
http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/aboutADH/RulesRegs/Tattoos.pdf
California
Oversight Body:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
Licensing:
*Must be licensed with your county
Other Resources:
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/AreasofInterest/bodyart.htm
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_0251-0300/ab_300_bill_20110310_amended_asm_v98.html
Colorado
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/tattoo-and-piercing-body-art
Other Resources:
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Rules%20and%20Regulations%20for%20Body%20Art%20Establishments.pdf
Connecticut
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=389612
Other Resources:
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=557534
Delaware
Oversight Body:
http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/bodyart.html
Licensing:
http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/files/baplanrev.pdf
Other Resources:
http://regulations.delaware.gov/register/february2015/final/18%20DE%20Reg%20645%2002-01-15.htm
Florida
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/tattooing/tattoo-artist.html
Other Resources:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/tattooing/tattoo-establishment.html
http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/tattooing/index.html
Georgia
*Cannot tattoo within an inch of the eye socket.
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-31/chapter-40
Hawaii
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://health.hawaii.gov/san/tattoo-lists/
Other Resources:
https://health.hawaii.gov/opppd/files/2015/06/11-17.pdf
https://health.hawaii.gov/san/files/2016/06/tatprofinal2017.pdf
Idaho
*Limited regulations for tattoo/permanent cosmetics. Please reach out to the Idaho Department of Health.
Other Resources:
http://legislature.search.idaho.gov/search?IW_FIELD_TEXT=tattoo&IW_DATABASE=*
https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch15/sect18-1523/
Illinois
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/077/07700797sections.html
Other Resources:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2818&ChapAct=410%C2%A0ILCS%C2%A054/&ChapterID=35&ChapterName=PUBLIC%20HEALTH&ActName=Tattoo%20and%20Body%20Piercing%20Establishment%20Registration%20Act.
Indiana
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/20182.htm
Other Resources:
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/2016QuickFact_Tattoo.pdf
http://www.in.gov/isdh/files/Tattoos_and_Body_Piercing_in_Indiana_FAQs(2)_June26_2015.pdf
Iowa
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://idph.iowa.gov/tattoo/iowa-code
Other Resources:
https://idph.iowa.gov/tattoo
https://idph.iowa.gov/tattoo/artists
https://idph.iowa.gov/tattoo/establishments
https://idph.iowa.gov/tattoo/resources
Kansas
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.kansas.gov/kboc/BodyArt.htm
Other Resources:
http://www.kansas.gov/kboc/BAStatsandRegs.htm
Kentucky
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://chfs.ky.gov/News/Documents/nrtattoo.pdf
Other Resources:
https://legislature.ky.gov/Law/Statutes/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/902/045/065.htm
Louisana
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/622
Maine
Additional Certification Required:
http://www.micropigmentation.org/
Other Resources:
http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/el/business/business-answers-tattoos.htm
Maryland
*Permanent cosmetics is prohibited from being performed in salons
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.everytattoo.com/marylandlaw.shtml
Other Resources:
http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/comarhtml/09/09.22.02.03.htm
Massachusetts
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/environmental-health/comm-sanitation/body-art-body-piercing-tattooing-and.html
Other Resources:
http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/hd/regulations/board-policies/body-piercing-and-tatooing-advisory.html
Michigan
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71551_27716_73975—,00.html
Other Resources:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71551_27716_73975_73976_74165-219486–,00.html
Minnesota
Oversight Body:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/providers/bodyart/docs/babrochure.pdf
Licensing:
http://health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hop/tattoo/brochure.html
Other Resources:
https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/providers/bodyart/bodyartlinks.html
Mississippi
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/30,880,82,60,pdf/880.pdf
Missouri
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/4csr/4csr.asp#4-267
Other Resources:
http://pr.mo.gov/tattooing.asp
http://pr.mo.gov/boards/tattooing/faq.pdf
Montana
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/FCSS/BodyArt
Other Resources:
https://dphhs.mt.gov/Portals/85/publichealth/documents/FCS/ARMforprinting-mainbody.pdf
Nebraska
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Documents/Cosmetology.pdf
Nevada
*Regulated by each county
New Hampshire
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/licertocc/documents/bodyart.pdf
Other Resources:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/XXX/314-A/314-A-1.htm
New Jersey
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/ceohs/documents/phss/bodyart.pdf
Additional Certification Required:
http://www.micropigmentation.org/
Other Resources:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/ceohs/sanitation-safety/general-sanitation/#1
New Mexico
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/uploads/files/BA%20Rules.pdf
Other Resources:
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/body-art-practitioners-faqs.aspx
New York
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://www.health.ny.gov/community/body_art/
North Carolina
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://ehs.ncpublichealth.com/faf/pti/tattoos.htm
North Dakota
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.ndhealth.gov/foodlodging/pdf/tattoo_regs.pdf
Other Resources:
https://deq.nd.gov/Publications/WM/AGuideToUnderstandingNorthDakotasInfectiousWasteRegulations.pdf
Ohio
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/body-art-program/welcome-to-body-art
Other Resources:
http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3701-9
Oklahoma
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://www.ok.gov/health/Protective_Health/Consumer_Health_Service/Medical_Micropigmentation/
Other Resources:
https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/234act%2010-2003Entire%20lawdoc.pdf
Oregon
Oversight Body:
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/PH/HLO/Pages/Board-Body-Art-Practitioners-Tattoo-Artists-Information.aspx
Licensing:
http://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/hlo/pages/index.aspx
Other Resources:
http://www.oregon.gov/OHA/PH/HLO/Pages/Board-Body-Art-Practitioners.aspx
Pennsylvania
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billnbr=0645&pn=0707
Rhode Island
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://sos.ri.gov/documents/archives/regdocs/released/pdf/DOH/7034.pdf
South Carolina
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://scdhec.gov/health-regulation/tattoo-and-piercing-regulations/tattoo-facilities/tattoo-facility-licensing-info
Other Resources:
South Dakota
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://sdlegislature.gov/rules/DisplayRule.aspx?Rule=44%3A12
Tennessee
Oversight Body:
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/eh/eh-programs/eh-tattoo.html
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/Tattoo_law.pdf
Texas
Oversight Body:
http://www.dshs.texas.gov/tattoo-piercing/
Licensing:
http://www.dshs.texas.gov/tattoo-piercing/licensing.aspx
Utah
*Regulated by each county
Vermont
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation/list-of-professions/tattooists-body-piercers.aspx
Other Resources:
https://www.sec.state.vt.us/professional-regulation/frequently-asked-questions.aspx
https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/188908/updated-infection-control-practices-3.pdf
Virginia
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/uploadedFiles/MainSite/Content/Boards/BarberCosmo/A425REGS_Tattooing.pdf
Washington
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/tattoo/tattoolicense.html
West Virginia
Oversight Body & Licensing:
http://www.wvdhhr.org/phs/other/Tattoo.asp
Wisconsin
Oversight Body & Licensing:
https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/RulesStatutes/TattooBodyPiercing.aspx
Other Resources:
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/statutes/statutes/463
Wyoming
Limited regulations. Please reach out to the Wyoming Department of Health.
Microblading 101
When all’s said and done, you’ll be the most prepared in class for your new future. Microblading will bring you the fulfilment and financial independence you deserve. So, don’t hesitate and join us in the permanent beauty industry today.