Professions / Cosmetology

Occupational licensing · Cosmetology · 51 state boards

Body Piercer Licensing Requirements by State

Body Piercer licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Body Piercer across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Barber, Cosmetologist, Electrologist.

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Body Piercer: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Barber, Cosmetologist, Electrologist.

Performs body piercing. Licensed in most states for health/safety.

Body Piercer: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for cosmetology. Barber is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Body Piercer drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Barber and Cosmetologist in cosmetology. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Body Piercer states

51

Top quartile, highest

Board gates for Body Piercer: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Barber / Cosmetologist before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Body Piercer's board count

Coverage band

Body Piercer boards vs Barber / Cosmetologist - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Alaska 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Arizona 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Arkansas 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
California 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Geologist · Respiratory Therapist
Colorado 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Connecticut 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Delaware 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
District of Columbia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Florida 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Georgia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Hawaii 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Idaho 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Bus Driver · Speech-Language Pathologist
Illinois 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Indiana 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Iowa 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
Kansas 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Kentucky 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
Louisiana 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Maine 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Maryland 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Massachusetts 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Assistant · Optician (Dispensing)
Michigan 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
Minnesota 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Mississippi 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Missouri 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Montana 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Nebraska 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Nevada 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Speech-Language Pathologist · Veterinarian
New Hampshire 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
New Jersey 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist
New Mexico 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
New York 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
North Carolina 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
North Dakota 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Ohio 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Oklahoma 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Oregon 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Pennsylvania 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Rhode Island 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
South Carolina 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
South Dakota 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Tennessee 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Texas 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Utah 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Vermont 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Virginia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Casino/Gaming Dealer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
Washington 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
West Virginia 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Wisconsin 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Wyoming 1,500 Yes $75 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)

What to do with this

Body Piercer is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Body Piercer's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #10 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Body Piercer requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.