Tattoo Artist license count, how many states?

51 states require a license for Tattoo Artist practitioners. Same-lane licenses to open next: Barber; Body Piercer; Cosmetologist.

Tattoo Artist education hours, what is typical?

Education requirements vary by state. Check individual state requirements in the table below. Also compare Body Piercer in this category.

Tattoo Artist initial fee range across boards

Licensing fees vary by state. See the requirements table below.

Tattoo Artist reciprocity / compact reality

License reciprocity varies by state. Many states participate in interstate compacts that allow license portability. Check the reciprocity information in the state-by-state details for your specific situation. Compact coverage can differ for Barber even when the boards look similar.

Tattoo Artist exam gate, how common?

51 out of 51 states require passing an examination to obtain a tattoo artist license. Exam requirements, names, and formats vary by state, check the state-by-state table above for specifics.

Tattoo Artist criminal-history screen, how often?

51 out of 51 states require a criminal background check as part of the tattoo artist licensing process. Background check requirements and disqualifying offenses vary by jurisdiction.

Professions / Cosmetology

Occupational licensing · Cosmetology · 51 state boards

Tattoo Artist Licensing Requirements by State

Tattoo Artist 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.

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

By PlainCredential ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated: 51
Require an exam: 100%

View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

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

Performs tattooing and permanent makeup. Licensed in most states.

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

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

Tattoo Artist states

Bottom 10% lowest

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

Tattoo Artist: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Tattoo Artist boards vs Barber / Body Piercer - state table

51 states

State	Edu. Hours	Exam	Init. Fee	Renewal	Cycle	Same-board peer
Alabama	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Alaska	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
Arizona	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Arkansas	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Security Alarm Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
California	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Athletic Trainer · Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Colorado	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Connecticut	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Delaware	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
District of Columbia	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Florida	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Georgia	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Hawaii	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Idaho	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Illinois	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Electrician · Fire Sprinkler Installer
Indiana	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Iowa	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
Kansas	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Kentucky	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Louisiana	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Maine	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Secondary School Teacher · Tax Preparer
Maryland	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also School Librarian / Media Specialist · Surgical Technologist
Massachusetts	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
Michigan	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Speech-Language Pathologist · Veterinary Technician
Minnesota	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
Mississippi	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Missouri	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
Montana	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
Nebraska	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Nevada	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Dietetic Technician · Farrier / Horseshoer
New Hampshire	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Barber · Childcare Center Director
New Jersey	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
New Mexico	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
New York	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
North Carolina	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
North Dakota	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Ohio	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Oklahoma	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Esthetician · Hair Braider
Oregon	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Pennsylvania	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Rhode Island	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Secondary School Teacher
South Carolina	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Speech-Language Pathologist · Veterinary Technician
South Dakota	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Substitute Teacher · Water Well Driller
Tennessee	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Texas	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Utah	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
Vermont	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Virginia	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Interior Designer · Marriage and Family Therapist
Washington	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Optometrist · Phlebotomist
West Virginia	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Wisconsin	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also Physical Therapist · Psychologist
Wyoming	1,500	Yes	$75	-	2 yrs	Also School Counselor · Substitute Teacher

What to do with this

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

Compare Tattoo Artist's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
#91 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 sources

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Tattoo Artist 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.