Tattoo Artist / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Tattoo Artist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Performs tattooing and permanent makeup. Licensed in most states.

What the Tennessee data shows for Tattoo Artists

Tennessee's path to tattoo artist licensure runs through 1,500 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. Tennessee folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Cosmetology School".

Budget $75 to get started on a 2-year cycle. Tennessee doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Tennessee reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

C-
Licensing Ease Score
53/100
Tattoo Artist · Tennessee

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,500 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee B+
$75
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Cosmetology School
1,500 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$75
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Tattoo Artist All Tennessee licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Tattoo Artist in Tennessee? ▼
Tennessee requires 1500 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $75. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Tattoo Artist in Tennessee? ▼
Certification as a tattoo artist in Tennessee means clearing the state's checklist: 1500 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Tennessee licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Tattoo Artist license to Tennessee from another state? ▼
Tennessee doesn't publish a standing reciprocity policy for tattoo artists; each out-of-state application is reviewed on its own merits. Some professions fall under interstate compacts that ease portability regardless. The Tennessee licensing board can confirm what applies to your case.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Tattoo Artist licensing? ▼
Tennessee does require a background check before issuing a tattoo artist license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this tattoo artist license

Tattoo Artist in Tennessee is one requirement row in a tattoo artist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Tennessee licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.