Is microblading a tattoo? Permanent makeup laws by state

License. Yes. Each practitioner needs a Body Art Operator Permit, and the facility needs a Body Art Facility License. Both come from the Alabama Department of Public Health and are handled through county health departments. All body art must be done in a licensed facility. Home-based body art is prohibited.

Requirements. Operator permit before practicing. Proof of hepatitis B vaccination, or a signed declination. The ADPH program page also requires an ADPH-approved bloodborne pathogen training program. Work must be done at a licensed body art facility. The rule cites 29 CFR 1910.1030 (OSHA bloodborne pathogens). The rule sets no minimum practitioner age.

Clients under 18. Allowed only with the prior, written, informed consent of a parent or legal guardian. The parent signs in person at the facility, in front of the operator, when the procedure is about to start. A photocopy of government-issued photo ID is kept as a permanent record (Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-23-.03 and -.15). A minor is anyone under 18 who is not emancipated. The rule covers all body art, which expressly includes cosmetic tattooing and microblading, so it applies to PMU. Operators may refuse minors even with consent.

Sources.

• Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-23-.02 (Definitions)
• Ala. Admin. Code r. 420-3-23-.03 (Operator requirements, minors consent)
• Alabama Department of Public Health, Body Art Program

License. Yes. The state Board of Barbers and Hairdressers issues a separate Permanent Cosmetic Coloring (PCC) license, apart from the tattooing and body piercing licenses. The work must be done in a shop licensed by the board. Shop owners and independent contractors need a board shop owner license plus a state business license.

Requirements. PCC needs 250 hours of training in a board-approved program. Tattooing needs 1,000 hours. Training must include at least 12 hours in safety, sanitation, sterilization and infection control, and must be finished within 12 months. The trainee must be at least 18 when training starts. The applicant must pass a written exam and hold current CPR and bloodborne pathogens training cards. A 120-day temporary license lets a trainee work under supervision while waiting.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. A person may not practice tattooing or permanent cosmetic coloring on a minor, and there is no parental-consent exception (AS 08.13.217(a)). A violation with criminal negligence is a class B misdemeanor. The ban names permanent cosmetic coloring, so it plainly covers PMU. Body piercing, by contrast, is allowed with written parental permission and a parent present.

Sources.

• Alaska Stat. 08.13.217 (Tattooing and permanent cosmetic coloring or body piercing on a minor); 08.13.220 (definitions); 08.13.070, 08.13.082
• Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers, Body Piercing, Tattooing, or Permanent Cosmetic Coloring License Application Instructions (08-4464, rev. 10/20/2022)

License. Arizona has no statewide license, permit or registration for tattoo or permanent makeup artists or for establishments. Arizona Revised Statutes section 13-3721 is the only statewide tattoo law. Some counties or cities may have their own rules, so check with your local health department.

Requirements. Statewide rules from ARS 13-3721: needles and any substance that leaves color under the skin may not be used more than once. Needles must be sterilized with equipment used by state-licensed medical facilities. Tattooing may not be done as a business out of a home or a temporary structure such as a tent, trailer or trunk. Only someone licensed under Title 32 may give anesthesia during a procedure. No training, exam or minimum practitioner age is set statewide.

Clients under 18. A person under 18 may be tattooed only with a parent or legal guardian physically present (ARS 13-3721(A)(1)). The statute does not require written consent. A violation is a class 6 felony. It is a defense that the artist asked for age ID and relied on it in good faith. Procedures prescribed by a licensed health care provider are exempt. The statute's 'tattoo' definition covers any indelible mark placed under the skin with color that cannot be removed without surgery. Permanent makeup fits that definition, but the statute does not name PMU, and whether semi-permanent microblading meets the 'cannot be removed without a surgical procedure' wording is untested.

Sources.

• Ariz. Rev. Stat. section 13-3721

License. Yes. The Arkansas Department of Health licenses body artists and body art establishments. Permanent cosmetics is its own licensed field of body art, separate from tattooing. The artist pays a $100 annual license fee and the establishment $150 a year. Body art may only be done in a licensed facility. Licensed physicians are excluded from the definition of 'artist'.

Requirements. At least 400 clock hours of supervised training and classroom instruction, under a registered artist instructor at a licensed institution. Training must take between 6 and 24 months, and no more than 20% may be online. Licensed artists can add another field with at least 250 more hours. The applicant must pass a written exam and a practical exam from the Department, and complete OSHA bloodborne pathogens training approved by the Department, renewed every year (Ark. Code sections 17-26-606 to 17-26-608).

Clients under 18. Under 16: prohibited regardless of parental consent, except earlobe piercing. Ages 16 and 17: allowed only with written parental or guardian consent, the parent present during the procedure, and government photo ID for both the minor and the parent. The parent must also show proof of guardianship, such as a birth certificate, and the artist keeps copies for 2 years. Body art on the areola or genitals of anyone under 18 is prohibited. Section 17-26-602(k) adds that a minor may get a permanent cosmetics procedure for medical necessity with a physician's medical consent in addition to parental consent. These rules apply to all 'body art', which expressly includes permanent cosmetics.

Sources.

• Ark. Code Ann. sections 17-26-601 to 17-26-613 (Body Art), as compiled in the Arkansas Department of Health Cosmetology and Body Art Law Book (through Acts of 2025)
• Arkansas Department of Health, Tattoo and Body Art FAQs

License. Yes, through local government. Under the state Safe Body Art Act, each practitioner must register with the local enforcement agency, which is usually the county environmental health department, and renew every year. The work must be done in a body art facility holding a permanent or temporary permit from the local enforcement agency.

Requirements. Registration requires proof of current hepatitis B vaccination, or proof of immunity or an OSHA-compliant declination. The practitioner must also show OSHA bloodborne pathogens exposure control training completed before registering, with at least a 2-hour update every year. Proof of being at least 18 is required, along with a self-certification of knowledge of the infection-control standards (Health and Safety Code sections 119306 and 119307). Clients must sign an informed consent form before the procedure (section 119303).

Clients under 18. Prohibited. A client must be at least 18 to be offered or receive a tattoo or permanent cosmetics application, regardless of parental consent (Health and Safety Code section 119302(a), referencing Penal Code section 653). Permanent cosmetics on a minor's nipples is allowed only by a registered permanent cosmetic technician, with parental consent and as directed by a physician (section 119302(d)). This rule names permanent cosmetics explicitly.

Sources.

• Cal. Health and Safety Code section 119301 (definitions: body art, permanent cosmetics)
• Cal. Health and Safety Code section 119302 (minors)
• Cal. Health and Safety Code section 119306 (practitioner registration)

License. No state practitioner license. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment sets minimum sanitation rules for body art establishments (6 CCR 1010-22). County or district public health agencies inspect, and may adopt their own stricter rules. Several of them issue body art facility permits or licenses under those local rules.

Requirements. Under the state rule (6 CCR 1010-22, section 2-201), body artists must know and be able to show universal precautions, disinfection and sterilization, infection and exposure control, and the infectious waste plan. They must also get hepatitis B vaccination or give the owner a written declination. The state rule sets no state training-hour, exam or age requirement. County rules may add requirements.

Clients under 18. Allowed only with the express consent of the minor's parent or guardian (C.R.S. 25-4-2103). The statute does not specify written, in-person or notarized consent, although many local regulations require recorded written consent. Failure to get parental permission is a petty offense with a $250 fine. This applies to any 'body art procedure', which under the state rule covers tattooing and so reasonably covers PMU.

Sources.

• C.R.S. 25-4-2101 (department rules; local boards may adopt stricter standards)
• C.R.S. 25-4-2103 (minors)
• 6 CCR 1010-22, Body Art Establishments (CDPHE)

License. Yes. The Connecticut Department of Public Health issues a tattoo technician license, renewed every 2 years. Student tattoo technicians must register with DPH. There is no state establishment license. Local directors of health may inspect tattoo establishments yearly and charge a fee of up to $100.

Requirements. Applicants must be at least 18. They need a course on disease transmission and bloodborne pathogens meeting OSHA standards, with a proficiency exam, completed within the prior 3 years, plus current first aid certification from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. They must also complete at least 2,000 hours of supervised practical training under a licensed tattoo technician. Each renewal requires a new bloodborne pathogens course taken within the 6 months before the license expires (C.G.S. section 20-266o).

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental permission. No one may tattoo an unemancipated minor under 18 without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian (C.G.S. section 20-266p(6)). The statute does not say whether permission must be written, given in person or notarized. It applies to 'tattooing', whose definition reasonably covers PMU.

Sources.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. sections 20-266n to 20-266s (Tattoo Technicians)
• Connecticut DPH, Tattoo Technician Licensing After 1/1/2015

License. Establishment permit only. The Division of Public Health (Department of Health and Social Services) issues an annual body art establishment permit. Permit types are permanent, mobile, temporary for up to 14 days, and restricted. All body art must be done in a permitted establishment. No separate individual state license was found. Instead, the permit holder may hire only operators who meet the regulation's requirements.

Requirements. Operators and technicians must be at least 18. They must complete OSHA bloodborne pathogen training, or equivalent, and OSHA first aid training given or approved by the Division, with annual bloodborne pathogens training documented. They must also have completed the hepatitis B vaccine series or been offered it and declined. The establishment keeps the training and ID records on file (16 DE Admin. Code 4451, section 5).

Clients under 18. Allowed only with the prior written consent of the minor's parent (who must be over 18) or legal guardian to the specific act of tattooing. The consent form must be notarized (11 Del. C. section 1114). The statute does not require the parent to be present. A violation is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and can also bring civil liability of $1,000 or actual damages. Showing a photo ID that reasonably appears to show age 18 is an affirmative defense, and a photocopy of the ID must be attached to the customer information card. Section 1114 defines tattoo as 'an indelible mark made upon the body of another person by the insertion of a pigment under the skin', and the body art regulation equates permanent cosmetics with tattoo, so the rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• 11 Del. C. section 1114 (minors; consent; tattoo definition)
• 16 DE Admin. Code 4451, Body Art Establishments (amendments proposed 29 DE Reg. 376, Nov. 1, 2025; final 29 DE Reg. 705, 2026)

License. Yes. Practitioners need a body artist license from the Board of Barber and Cosmetology, which sits within the District's licensing department. The statute calls this being 'licensed by and registered with the Mayor'. The Department of Health regulates and licenses body art establishments, and body art procedures must be done in a licensed body art establishment.

Requirements. A certificate of completion of a course in bloodborne pathogens, CPR and first aid. At least 500 hours as an apprentice under a DC-licensed body artist. People with 4,000 hours of practice in the prior 2 years, or equivalent experience, are exempt from the apprenticeship. Applicants must pass the Board's exams and have no suspended or revoked body art license in another jurisdiction (D.C. Code section 47-2853.76c).

Clients under 18. Generally prohibited under 18. With a parent's or guardian's written consent, tattooing, which by definition includes micro-pigmentation and cosmetic tattooing, is permitted for ages 16 and 17 (D.C. Code section 47-2853.76e(b)). Under 16, PMU is prohibited. The statute does not require parental presence or notarization. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, up to 3 months in jail, or both.

Sources.

• D.C. Code section 47-2853.76 (definitions)
• D.C. Code section 47-2853.76c (eligibility requirements)
• D.C. Code section 47-2853.76e (prohibitions; minors)

License. Yes. Practitioners need a Florida tattoo artist license, renewed every year, or a 14-day guest tattoo artist registration. The establishment needs a tattoo establishment license, or a temporary establishment license for events. Both are issued by the Florida Department of Health. The DOH says PMU businesses also need a biomedical waste generator permit.

Requirements. Applicants must be at least 18. They must complete a Department-approved course on bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases and pass the related exam; DOH requires a score of at least 70%. The course and exam may be taken online. The license must be renewed every year (Florida Statutes section 381.00775). The DOH says a cosmetology license does not replace the tattoo artist license for microblading.

Clients under 18. Under 16: prohibited unless done for medical or dental purposes by a licensed physician or dentist. Ages 16 and 17 require all of the following: the minor is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; both show government-issued photo ID; the parent gives written, notarized consent in the format the DOH prescribes; the parent shows proof of parenthood or guardianship; and a licensed tattoo artist or physician or dentist does the work (Florida Statutes section 381.00787). A violation is a second-degree misdemeanor, with a defense for a fake ID that reasonably appeared genuine. The DOH classifies microblading and permanent cosmetics as tattooing, so this rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• Fla. Stat. section 381.00771 (definitions) and 381.00775 (tattoo artist licensure)
• Fla. Stat. section 381.00787 (tattooing minors)
• Florida Department of Health, Microblading, Permanent Cosmetics, and Micro-needling Using Pigments, Dye, or Ink

License. Yes. Each artist needs a state Body Artist Certification issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health, in one or more categories: Tattooing, Piercing, and/or Microblading. An artist may only perform the form of body art shown on the certification. The studio needs a Body Art Studio permit from the local County Board of Health (Health Authority), and body art may be performed only at a location named in a studio permit. Guest and temporary artist permits (7 days) come from the Health Authority.

Requirements. Applicant must be at least 18; pass a Department-approved exam on the rules (exam fee up to $50 paid to the Health Authority); show proof of OSHA-compliant Bloodborne Pathogen/Universal Precautions training and a Basic First Aid/CPR course approved by the Department; and provide documented Hepatitis B vaccination status (or a signed declination). Certification is valid for one year and renewed annually (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-3-8-.07).

Clients under 18. Prohibited. Georgia Code section 16-5-71 makes it a misdemeanor to tattoo anyone under 18, and parental consent does not change that. The only exception is a licensed physician or osteopath, or a technician under their direct supervision. Rule 511-3-8 repeats the ban, and its tattoo definition expressly includes cosmetic tattooing and microblading, so the ban covers PMU.

Sources.

• Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 511-3-8 (Body Art): definitions .02 ("Cosmetic tattoo", "Tattoo", "Microblading of the eyebrow"), .05, .07
• O.C.G.A. 16-5-71 (tattooing minors) (Justia mirror; Georgia has no free official code site)
• O.C.G.A. 16-12-5 (tattooing within one inch of eye socket) (Justia mirror)

License. Yes. Each individual needs a tattoo artist license from the Hawaii Department of Health (Sanitation Branch), under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 321-374. Shops and temporary locations need a separate DOH permit (section 321-373.5), and licensed artists may tattoo only in a permitted shop or temporary location. Licensed physicians and osteopathic physicians are exempt.

Requirements. Pass the examination the director prescribes. DOH contracts this out as a bloodborne pathogen certification exam via an approved tattoo-industry BBP course (HRS 321-375; DOH licensing instructions). Submit a physical examination report with a chest x-ray or tuberculin skin test and a syphilis blood test (HAR 11-17-4). Licenses expire annually. Temporary licenses (up to 14 days) need a passed industry BBP course or the state written exam within the past 2 years.

Clients under 18. Allowed with written consent. HAR 11-17-7(b): it is unlawful to tattoo anyone under 18 without the written consent of a parent or legal guardian, and the consent must be kept on file in the shop. The rule text does not require the parent to be present or the consent to be notarized. Because PMU falls within the tattoo definitions, the rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• Hawaii Revised Statutes sections 321-372 (definition of tattoo artist), 321-373.5, 321-374, 321-375
• Hawaii Administrative Rules chapter 11-17 (Tattoo Artist), sections 11-17-2, 11-17-4, 11-17-7
• Hawaii DOH Sanitation Branch, procedures to obtain a tattoo artist license (2018)

License. Idaho has no state license, registration or permit for tattoo or permanent makeup artists or studios, and no state board or agency licenses body art. Some cities or counties may have their own business or health rules, so check locally.

Requirements. No state practitioner requirements. The only statewide rule is the minors statute.

Clients under 18. Idaho Code section 18-1523: no tattooing (or branding or body piercing) of anyone under 14, even with parental consent. Ages 14 to 17 need prior written informed consent from a parent or legal guardian, signed in the presence of the person doing the tattoo or their employee or agent. The statute defines tattoo as an indelible mark made by inserting pigment under the skin, which covers PMU. Fines: up to $500 for a first violation, $500 to $1,000 for a repeat within one year.

Sources.

• Idaho Code section 18-1523 (Tattooing, branding and body piercing of minors)

License. The establishment needs an Illinois Department of Public Health certificate of registration under the Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act (410 ILCS 54/15), and the operator must be at least 18. IDPH registers locations, not individual artists: per IDPH, "the location holds the Body Art permit with IDPH, not the individual." Certified local health departments may contract with IDPH to inspect. Some municipalities have their own ordinances.

Requirements. IDPH says body artists must show proof of education including OSHA-standard bloodborne pathogen training (which need not be taken in Illinois). The establishment owner decides whether an artist is proficient. IDPH also says permanent makeup, including microblading, falls under body art establishment rules, not cosmetology licenses. The Body Art Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 797) sets sanitation and operating standards.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. 720 ILCS 5/12C-35 makes it a Class A misdemeanor for anyone other than a physician to tattoo a person under 18, with no parental-consent exception. Minors may not enter or stay where tattooing is performed unless a parent or guardian accompanies them. The section defines tattoo as inserting pigment under the skin to make an indelible mark, which covers PMU.

Sources.

• 410 ILCS 54/10 and 54/15 (Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act)
• 720 ILCS 5/12C-35 (Tattooing the body of a minor)
• 77 Ill. Adm. Code 797.100 (Body Art Code definitions) and IDPH Body Art Establishments page

License. No state license or registration. The Indiana Department of Health's sanitation rule (410 IAC 1-5) applies statewide, but per the agency it does not require artists or shop owners to register with the state or require routine state inspections. Licensing or registration of facilities and artists is set by county or local health department ordinances, which vary.

Requirements. 410 IAC 1-5-27 requires bloodborne pathogen training meeting OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 for anyone with reasonably anticipated exposure, plus training in the facility's infectious-waste policies. Per the Department of Health FAQ, tattooists must get this training yearly. There is no state requirement for training or certification in tattoo technique. County ordinances may add more.

Clients under 18. Allowed only with a parent present. Under Indiana Code section 35-45-21-4, tattooing anyone under 18 is a Class A misdemeanor unless the parent or legal guardian is present at the time of the tattoo and gives written permission. Licensed health care professionals acting in the course of their practice are exempt. The statute's tattoo definition (any indelible mark placed with needles or other instruments) covers PMU.

Sources.

• Indiana Code section 35-45-21-4 (Tattooing or body piercing a minor) (FindLaw mirror)
• 410 IAC 1-5-19 ("Tattoo" defined) and 410 IAC 1-5-27 (training)
• Indiana Department of Health, Tattoos and Body Piercing in Indiana: FAQs (updated 6/27/18)

License. Yes. A tattoo artist permit is required for each individual, plus a separate tattoo establishment permit for the location. Both come from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) under Iowa Code section 10A.531 and 481 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 492. Local boards of health may inspect under agreement. Physicians, and qualified persons to whom a physician has delegated under 653 IAC 13, do not need a permit when tattooing in the practice of medicine.

Requirements. An artist permit applicant must be at least 18 with government ID, and must hold current American Red Cross (or equivalent nationally recognized) certification in bloodborne pathogens and standard first aid (481 IAC 492.10). The state may not require a high school diploma. Licensed cosmetologists, barbers and estheticians who do permanent makeup must also comply with section 10A.531 (Iowa Code 157.3A).

Clients under 18. Prohibited. Iowa Code section 10A.531(3): "A minor shall not obtain a tattoo and a person shall not provide a tattoo to a minor," where minor means an unmarried person under 18. There is no parental-consent exception. Violation is a serious misdemeanor. Because the rule's tattooing definition includes cosmetic permanent color, this applies to PMU.

Sources.

• Iowa Code section 10A.531 (2026) (formerly section 135.37)
• 481 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 492 (Practice of Tattooing), rules 492.1, 492.3, 492.10
• Iowa Code section 157.3A (cosmetology licensees applying permanent makeup must comply with section 10A.531)

License. Yes. The Kansas State Board of Cosmetology issues a distinct cosmetic tattoo artist license, alongside the tattoo artist and body piercer licenses, under Kansas Statutes Annotated 65-1940 through 65-1954. Establishments must also be licensed by the Board. Apprentice licenses and temporary permits are available. Exempt: physicians and persons under a physician's control and supervision, licensed dentists and persons under their supervision, and people tattooing their own bodies (K.S.A. 65-1941).

Requirements. K.S.A. 65-1943: at least 18; high school diploma or equivalent; training under a Board-approved and licensed trainer in the area of practice; at least 50 completed procedures; 8 hours of Board-approved continuing education in infection control and bloodborne pathogens; pass a Board-approved exam. Renewal is biennial with 5 hours of infection-control and bloodborne-pathogen CE. Apprentices must be 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent.

Clients under 18. Allowed only with notarized consent and a parent present. Under K.S.A. 65-1953, no one may perform cosmetic tattooing or tattooing on anyone under 18 without prior written and notarized consent from a parent or court-appointed guardian, and that person must be present during the procedure. The consent (and letters of guardianship, if applicable) must be kept for 5 years. Violation is a class A misdemeanor. The statute names cosmetic tattooing expressly.

Sources.

• Kansas Statutes Annotated 65-1940 (definitions incl. "cosmetic tattooing")
• Kansas Statutes Annotated 65-1941 and 65-1943 (license required; requirements)
• Kansas Statutes Annotated 65-1953 (minors; written and notarized consent)

License. Yes, through local health departments under a statewide scheme. Under KRS 211.760 and 902 KAR 45:065, each tattoo artist must register with the local or district health department in the county where they will tattoo (annual registration, $100 fee). All tattooing must be done under a Kentucky certified studio, which is certified and inspected by the local or district health department. Registration covers nonmedical personnel working for pay.

Requirements. Applicant must be at least 18 and show proof of OSHA-standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) bloodborne pathogen training, with documentation kept at the studio (902 KAR 45:065 Section 2).

Clients under 18. Allowed from age 16 with notarized consent. Under 902 KAR 45:065 Section 7, no one under 16 may be tattooed. A 16- or 17-year-old needs the consent of a custodial parent or legal guardian, given as a written notarized statement with the notary's seal or ID and listing the parent's name, government photo ID number, address and phone, the minor's name, date of birth and ID, and a statement of consent. KRS 211.760(3)(d) requires written notarized consent. The regulation text does not require the parent to be present. Because the statute defines tattooing to include permanent makeup, the rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• KRS 211.760 (Tattooing and body piercing of humans by nonmedical personnel)
• 902 KAR 45:065 (Tattooing), Sections 1, 2, 7

License. Yes. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2832, the commercial body art facility, each manager, and each operator (the individual practitioner) must register with the Louisiana Department of Health (Office of Public Health, Food and Drug Unit / Sanitarian Services). LDH inspects before approving a facility. Training facilities approved by LDH must also register.

Requirements. Operator registration includes training and experience and proof of attending an approved operator training course (LAC 51:XXVIII). The state rules (per LDH and Cornell LII summaries) require current certificates in CPR, first aid, and bloodborne pathogens/disease transmission prevention. R.S. 40:2833, as amended by Acts 2024 No. 365, requires written consent forms disclosing health risks and permanence and, for tattooing, stating whether the ink is regulated by the state or FDA, plus records of pigment color, manufacturer and lot number.

Clients under 18. Allowed with a parent present. R.S. 14:93.2 makes it unlawful to tattoo anyone under 18 without the consent of an accompanying parent or tutor (fine $100 to $500 and/or 30 days to 1 year imprisonment). LAC 51:XXVIII-107 requires the presence, consent and proper identification of a parent, legal custodian or legal guardian, and lets facilities refuse anyone under 18. The body art statute expressly includes permanent cosmetics, so the rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2831 (definitions, incl. permanent cosmetics)
• Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:2832 (registration of facility, managers, operators)
• Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:93.2 (minors) and LAC 51:XXVIII-107 (practice standards)

License. Yes. Maine requires a micropigmentation practitioner license from the Department of Health and Human Services (Maine CDC Health Inspection Program) under 32 Maine Revised Statutes chapter 63-A, sections 4311 to 4319. This license is separate from the tattoo artist license in chapter 63. DHHS says microblading counts as micropigmentation and requires this license. The license is biennial (fee up to $150) and includes a licensure inspection of the practitioner's facility. Physicians and persons acting under a physician's control or supervision are exempt.

Requirements. 32 MRSA 4315: at least 18, high school diploma or equivalent, and education or training as set by DHHS rule under the direct supervision of a licensed micropigmentation practitioner. Rule 10-144 CMR chapter 211 sets training hours by background (e.g., 37 hours for licensed cosmetologists/estheticians or tattoo licensees; 200 hours with 14 completed procedures for applicants with no related license). The rule also requires Board Certification by the American Academy of Micropigmentation within 2 years. A 2022/2024 DHHS notice says the Department reduced the hours for applicants without a related professional license from 200 to 100 and will accept training from AAM board-certified or SPCP-certified trainers. The rule also sets facility standards (e.g., a 150-square-foot procedure room).

Clients under 18. Prohibited. 10-144 CMR chapter 211, section 4(B): no micropigmentation may be performed on anyone under 18, verified by a driver's license or other adequate ID. There is no parental-consent exception. Separately, 32 MRSA 4203 bans tattooing anyone under 18. Because micropigmentation is legally defined as not tattooing, the PMU ban comes from the micropigmentation rule, not the tattoo statute.

Sources.

• 32 Maine Revised Statutes chapter 63-A (Micropigmentation), sections 4311-4319
• 10-144 CMR chapter 211, Rules Relating to Micropigmentation Practitioners, sections 1, 2, 4, 8
• Maine CDC Health Inspection Program notice: microblading licensed as micropigmentation (orig. 3/4/22, dated Sept 4, 2024)

License. No state license for practitioners or studios. The Maryland Department of Health states it 'does not license tattoo and body piercing businesses', and the Maryland Board of Cosmetologists states it does 'not currently offer a license for microblading or permanent makeup'. Some local jurisdictions license or regulate tattoo/body art under local ordinance; the Department lists Allegany County (Code chapter 487), Baltimore City (Health Code Title 13), Calvert County and Worcester County.

Requirements. Statewide, COMAR 10.06.01.06 (General Control Measures, section H 'Skin-Penetrating Body Adornment Procedures-Infection Control') applies to anyone who performs a skin-penetrating body adornment procedure: written client consent kept 3 years, sterile instruments, hand hygiene, gloves and protective equipment, a posted notice about procedure risks, and bans on working on broken/infected skin or reusing single-use instruments. Any training, permit or age rules for the artist come from the county or city ordinance, where one exists.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parent or guardian consent under state regulation: COMAR 10.06.01.06 requires 'in the case of a minor, the consent of the parent or guardian', retained on file for 3 years. The regulation does not say whether the parent must be present or whether consent must be notarized. It covers any 'skin-penetrating body adornment procedure' (inserting pigmented patterns), so it reaches permanent makeup. Some counties and Baltimore City have their own, stricter rules, so check locally.

Sources.

• Code of Maryland Regulations 10.06.01.06 (General Control Measures; section H, skin-penetrating body adornment procedures)
• Code of Maryland Regulations 10.06.01.02 (definition of skin-penetrating body adornment procedure)
• Maryland Department of Health, Tattooing page; Maryland Board of Cosmetologists Licensing FAQ

License. No state license. Body art (including cosmetic tattooing) is permitted and regulated by each city or town's board of health under its own regulations, adopted under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 111, section 31. Under the state's model regulations, both the establishment and the individual practitioner need a board of health permit. Requirements and even whether PMU is allowed vary by municipality.

Requirements. Set locally. The Department of Public Health model 'Regulations for Body Art Establishments' (which many towns adopt, sometimes with changes) require a practitioner to be at least 18, and require training in bloodborne pathogens (OSHA), first aid and CPR. A local adaptation reviewed here (Haverhill) also requires a college Anatomy & Physiology course and two years of experience for a practitioner permit. Check the specific town's regulation.

Clients under 18. No state statute addresses minors. Under the state model regulation (and the local regulations based on it), tattooing a person under 18 is prohibited, and parental consent does not create an exception. The model regulation defines tattooing to include 'all forms of cosmetic tattooing', so the ban covers PMU wherever a town has adopted that text.

Sources.

• Massachusetts General Laws chapter 111, section 31 (local board of health regulatory authority)
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Model Regulations for Body Art Establishments
• Massachusetts General Laws chapter 265, section 34 (pre-2001 tattooing ban, held unconstitutional)

License. No state license for individual artists. The body art facility must hold a body art facility license from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (annual, or up to 14 days for a temporary facility). Michigan Compiled Laws 333.13104 bars tattooing anywhere except a licensed body art facility. The facility also needs a plan review and an onsite inspection by the local health department. Some local health departments separately require licenses for individual body artists.

Requirements. The facility owner or operator must ensure everyone who tattoos, or who cleans instruments, complies with the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030, enforced in Michigan through MIOSHA), per the Department's guidance under Public Act 375 of 2010. No state practitioner exam, hours or apprenticeship requirement was found.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent. Michigan Compiled Laws 333.13102 requires the prior written informed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian, signed in the presence of the licensee or its employee or agent. The parent must also show the minor's birth certificate or legal proof of guardianship. The statute does not require the parent to stay for the whole procedure or a notarized form. The Department treats microblading and permanent makeup as body art (tattooing), so the minor rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• Michigan Compiled Laws 333.13102 (tattoo, brand or body piercing on minor; consent)
• Michigan Compiled Laws 333.13104 (body art facility license required)
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Body Art Licensing

License. Yes. Each artist needs a tattoo technician license (body art technician license) from the Commissioner of Health (Minnesota Department of Health) under Minnesota Statutes chapter 146B. A temporary license is available while completing supervised hours, and guest artist licenses exist under 146B.04. The establishment must also hold a body art establishment license from the Commissioner (146B.02). A county or city with its own licensing ordinance that meets or exceeds the state standards may license establishments instead, but technicians still need the state license.

Requirements. Minnesota Statutes 146B.03: applicant must be over 18; completed coursework in bloodborne pathogens and infection control within one year of applying; and at least 200 hours of supervised tattoo experience under a licensed technician, documented by a log and supervisor affidavits. A temporary license (one year, renewable twice) lets an applicant complete the supervised hours.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. Minnesota Statutes 146B.07, subdivision 2: tattooing an individual under 18 is a gross misdemeanor 'regardless of parental or guardian consent'. Because 146B.01 defines tattooing to include micropigmentation and cosmetic tattooing, the ban covers PMU. Body piercing of minors is allowed with a parent or guardian present.

Sources.

• Minnesota Statutes 146B.01 (definitions: tattooing includes micropigmentation and cosmetic tattooing)
• Minnesota Statutes 146B.03 (tattoo technician license) and 146B.02 (establishment license)
• Minnesota Statutes 146B.07 (standards; minors)

License. Yes. A practitioner must hold a Certificate of Registration (Regular or Provisional) from the Mississippi State Department of Health to tattoo for compensation, under Mississippi Code 73-61-1. The certificate names the specific establishment, which must pass a Department inspection, and registration is renewed every year with an inspection. There is a specific Provisional Certificate of Registration for permanent makeup artists.

Requirements. Department rules, Title 15, Part 19, Subpart 60, chapter 11. All applicants must be over 18 and have completed the American Red Cross 'Preventing Disease Transmission' course or an equivalent the Department accepts. A Provisional Certificate for permanent makeup requires working under direct on-site supervision of a Regular registrant in tattooing or permanent makeup for at least six months; tattoo and piercing provisionals need nine months. A Regular Certificate requires completing the provisional period (with supervisor attestation), OR registration or licensure within 18 months in Mississippi or another state, OR employment in a physician's office acting under a physician's direct orders. A PMU artist who leaves a physician's practice to open their own establishment must obtain a provisional registration.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. Rule 11.1.3: 'It shall be unlawful for any person to perform tattooing and/or body piercing upon any person under the age of eighteen (18) years.' Parental consent is not an exception. Because the rules define permanent makeup as a tattoo, the ban covers PMU.

Sources.

• 15 Mississippi Administrative Code Part 19, Subpart 60, Rule 11.1.2 (definitions, including Permanent Makeup)
• 15 Mississippi Administrative Code Part 19, Subpart 60, Rule 11.1.3 (age of consent)
• Mississippi State Department of Health, Regulations Governing Registration of Individuals Performing Tattooing and Body Piercing (implementing Mississippi Code 73-61-1 and 73-61-3)

License. Yes. Each practitioner needs a tattoo practitioner license from the Office of Tattooing, Body Piercing and Branding (Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance), and the establishment needs an establishment license from the same office, issued only after an inspection (20 CSR 2267-2.010). Apprentices may practice under supervision. Some Missouri cities and counties also have their own ordinances.

Requirements. 20 CSR 2267-2.010(2): a notarized application, plus proof of bloodborne pathogen training (for example the Red Cross 'Preventing Disease Transmission' course or OSHA bloodborne pathogen training), and first aid and CPR. The applicant must also show one of three: (1) an apprenticeship of at least 300 documented hours including at least 50 completed procedures, supervised by a licensed practitioner; (2) a 300-hour course at a licensed or accredited school plus 25 procedures; or (3) at least 3 years of practice within the last 7 years. Licensure by reciprocity is available from states with substantially equivalent requirements.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent. Revised Statutes of Missouri 324.520 bars tattooing a minor without the prior written informed consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian, signed in the presence of the person performing the tattoo or that person's employee or agent. Falsely posing as a parent is a class B misdemeanor. No notarization requirement was found. Because the tattoo definition expressly covers cosmetic marks on the face or body, the minor rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• Revised Statutes of Missouri 324.520 (definitions; minors)
• 20 CSR 2267-2.010 (licenses: establishment and practitioner)

License. No individual state license. The establishment needs a license from the Department of Public Health and Human Services (Montana Code Annotated Title 50, chapter 48; Administrative Rules of Montana 37.112.150). The license is issued after plan review and inspection, typically carried out by the local (county) health authority as the department's designee. Every body artist working there must be at least 18 and have documented training.

Requirements. Administrative Rules of Montana 37.112.147: operators and body artists must complete formal training in general sanitation, first aid, and universal precautions for preventing bloodborne pathogen transmission before licensure. They must keep first aid and bloodborne pathogen certifications current, and guest or new artists must show training documentation before working. Rule 37.112.151: the applicant and all body artists in the establishment must be at least 18.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent. Montana Code Annotated 45-5-623(1)(g) makes it unlawful to tattoo a child without the 'explicit in-person consent' of a parent or guardian; failing to adequately verify the parent's identity is no excuse. Rule 37.112.144 requires the parent or guardian to sign the consent form in person before the procedure. Rule 37.112.158(2), amended effective April 26, 2025, requires the parent or guardian to 'accompany the client throughout the procedure'. No notarization requirement. The statutory tattooing definition includes permanent makeup, so these rules apply to PMU.

Sources.

• Montana Code Annotated 50-48-102 (definitions; tattooing includes permanent makeup)
• Administrative Rules of Montana 37.112.103, .144, .147, .151, .158 (Body Art rules, revised 2025)
• Montana Code Annotated 45-5-623 (unlawful transactions with children; tattooing a minor)

License. Yes. Each practitioner needs a state body artist license in the specific category of 'permanent color technician'. That is a distinct license category from 'tattoo artist' under the Cosmetology, Electrology, Esthetics, Nail Technology, and Body Art Practice Act (Nebraska Revised Statutes 38-1060 and 38-1061). The license is issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Licensure Unit. Practitioners must work in a body art facility that holds a separate DHHS body art facility license. Cities, counties and villages may add stricter ordinances (38-10,167).

Requirements. Nebraska Revised Statutes 38-1060 and 172 Nebraska Administrative Code 44-003: at least 18 years old; a high school diploma or equivalent; documented basic first aid and bloodborne pathogens training completed within the year before applying, from an approved sponsor; and a passed jurisprudence exam (score of 75% or more). Renewal requires 2 hours of bloodborne pathogens training every 2 years, and licenses expire March 31 of odd-numbered years.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent, and the parent must stay. Nebraska Revised Statutes 38-10,165: no body art on anyone under 18 without the prior written consent of a parent or court-appointed guardian, who 'must be present during the procedure'; the consent must be kept for 5 years; violation is a Class III misdemeanor. 172 Nebraska Administrative Code 44-012.03(B) also requires a copy of the parent's photo ID and a document proving parentage or guardianship. 'Body art' expressly includes permanent color technology (38-1008), so the rule covers PMU. No notarization requirement.

Sources.

• Nebraska Revised Statutes 38-1044 (permanent color technology, defined) and 38-1008 (body art, defined)
• Nebraska Revised Statutes 38-1060 (body art license required; conditions)
• Nebraska Revised Statutes 38-10,165 (body art on minors; consent)

License. No state license for individual artists. The establishment needs a permit to operate an 'invasive body decoration establishment' from the health authority (the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health or the local board of health) under State Board of Health regulations, Nevada Administrative Code 444.00701 to 444.00939, adopted December 19, 2017. Local health districts add their own requirements. For example, the Southern Nevada Health District (Clark County) has its own body art regulations and issues individual body art cards, including a microblading apprentice card.

Requirements. Nevada Administrative Code 444.00821: every invasive body decoration operator (including apprentices and visiting artists) must be at least 18. Within 10 days of starting work, and annually after that, the operator must complete bloodborne pathogen control training that complies with 29 CFR 1910.1030 and is approved by the health authority. Local districts may require more, such as body art cards or Preventing Disease Transmission, CPR and first aid courses in Southern Nevada.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent given in person. Nevada Administrative Code 444.00807 bars any invasive body decoration procedure on a client under 18 without the 'express in-person consent of a custodial parent or legal guardian'. The parent must show proof of custody or guardianship (a certified birth certificate, a court order or similar), and the establishment keeps a copy. Emancipated minors with a certified decree are exempt. 'Invasive body decoration procedure' expressly includes permanent makeup, so the rule covers PMU. Southern Nevada Health District rules are stricter: no tattoo procedure on anyone under 14 unless supervised by a medical professional, and ages 14 to 17 need written parental consent and ID.

Sources.

• Nevada Administrative Code 444.00725, 444.00731, 444.00807, 444.00821 (invasive body decoration establishments)
• Southern Nevada Health District Regulations Governing the Sanitation and Safety of Tattoo Establishments, section 7 (patrons)

License. Yes. A practitioner needs a body art practitioner license in the tattooing specialty from the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, under New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated 314-A:2. An apprentice license is available (314-A:3). Microblading of eyebrows only can alternatively be done by a New Hampshire-licensed cosmetologist or esthetician who holds an OPLC microblading certificate (314-A:2, IV; administrative rules Plc 610). Certificate holders must work in an approved body art establishment or a facility licensed by the Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Esthetics.

Requirements. Body art license (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated 314-A:2, III): at least 3 years practicing under supervision in an establishment, plus an approved course in sterilization methods and techniques; otherwise the applicant gets an apprentice license for at least one year until the supervisor attests to competence. Renewal requires 3 hours of continuing education (314-A:5). Microblading certificate (Plc 610.02 to 610.03): an active New Hampshire esthetician or cosmetologist license, at least 100 hours of microblading training from an instructor accredited by the American Academy of Micropigmentation or the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals, and a disease-transmission/bloodborne pathogens course.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated 314-A:8, I: 'Branding and tattooing a person under the age of 18 is prohibited.' There is no parental consent exception. Body piercing of minors is allowed with a parent present. The administrative rules (Plc 606.03(d)) require licensees to tattoo only clients 18 or older, with a $2,000 fine per minor. Because the statute defines a tattoo as any indelible mark made by inserting pigment under the skin, PMU is covered. The statute does not separately say whether the ban reaches cosmetologists working under a microblading certificate; the prudent reading is that it does.

Sources.

• New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated chapter 314-A (314-A:1 definitions, 314-A:2 license and microblading, 314-A:4 exemptions, 314-A:8 minors)
• New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules Plc 600 (body art; Plc 606.03 minors; Plc 610 microblading certificates)

License. No state-issued individual license. New Jersey Department of Health body art rules (N.J.A.C. 8:27) are enforced by local health departments, which license/inspect the body art establishment; the operator may allow only practitioners who meet the permanent-cosmetics qualifications in N.J.A.C. 8:27-8.1 and must keep documentation on file (N.J.A.C. 8:27-4.8). Facility license from the local health authority is required.

Requirements. Permanent cosmetics practitioners (N.J.A.C. 8:27-8.1): completion of a basic training program in permanent cosmetics (certificate/diploma) and, under direct supervision, five eyebrow, five lip lining/shading and five eyeliner/lash-enhancement procedures documented with client application and photo; areola restoration requires an additional 16-hour training program; camouflage requires six months' full-time permanent cosmetics experience plus a 16-hour program. Operators must keep bloodborne pathogens training records and follow the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard (N.J.A.C. 8:27-4.7, 4.8).

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent. N.J.A.C. 8:27-4.2(c): body art procedures on a person under 18 require written consent of the parent or legal guardian, the parent/guardian's ID must be photocopied and kept with the client application, and the parent/guardian must accompany the client at the time of the procedure. Applies to permanent cosmetics because 'body art' expressly includes permanent cosmetics.

Sources.

• N.J.A.C. 8:27-1.3 (definitions of body art, permanent cosmetics, tattooing)
• N.J.A.C. 8:27-8.1 (permanent cosmetics practitioner qualifications)
• N.J.A.C. 8:27-4.2(c) (minors), 8:27-4.7 and 4.8 (bloodborne pathogens, practitioner documentation)

License. Yes. Individual Permanent Cosmetics Practitioner license (16.36.9 NMAC) issued by the New Mexico Board of Body Art Practitioners (Regulation and Licensing Department) under the Body Art Safe Practices Act; the establishment also needs a body art operator/establishment license from the same board (16.36.1 NMAC lists apprentice, practitioner, operator, guest and special-event licenses).

Requirements. 16.36.9 NMAC: applicant at least 18; 100-hour theory training program plus supervised practical training (e.g., 20 hours each for eyebrow, eyeliner, lip); board-approved bloodborne pathogens course meeting OSHA/CDC standards within 12 months before application and annually after; current CPR, first aid and bloodborne pathogen certificates; pass a board-approved written exam with at least 75 percent.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental presence and written consent: 16.36.5.11(C)(7) NMAC requires client records to include, if the client is a minor, written proof of parental or legal guardian presence and consent. Applies to permanent cosmetics because body art includes permanent cosmetics.

Sources.

• NMSA 1978 Section 61-17B-3 (definition of tattooing, as amended by Laws 2007, House Bill 972)
• 16.36.9 NMAC (Permanent Cosmetics Practitioner licensure)
• 16.36.5.11(C)(7) NMAC (client records; minors)

License. No operative statewide license. Public Health Law 461 requires a Department of Health permit for tattooists and studios, but the state has never adopted the implementing regulations, so permits are issued by county/city health departments under local sanitary codes (e.g., Cattaraugus County 'Certificate to Practice Body Art' and establishment 'Permit to Operate'). New York City: Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Tattoo Artist License (NYC Administrative Code 17-357) is required for all tattoo and permanent makeup artists, including microblading and scalp micropigmentation.

Requirements. NYC: applicant at least 18 (Admin Code 17-358); must complete the Health Department's four-hour Infection Control Course for Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Artists and pass its written exam before the license is issued. Rest of state: varies by county (e.g., Cattaraugus County requires practitioner age 18 and OSHA-standard bloodborne pathogen training).

Clients under 18. Prohibited, no parental-consent exception. Penal Law 260.21 (unlawfully dealing with a child, class B misdemeanor) covers anyone who marks the body of a child under 18 with indelible ink or pigments by means of tattooing; NYC Admin Code 17-360 separately bars tattooing anyone under 18. PMU is indelible pigment so the ban applies; physicians licensed under Education Law article 131 are exempt from Public Health Law article 4-A and the NYC tattoo subchapter.

Sources.

• New York Penal Law 260.21 (tattooing a child under 18)
• New York Public Health Law 460-462 (Article 4-A, permit requirement)
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Infection Control Training for Tattoo and Permanent Makeup Artists (Tattoo Artist License)

License. Yes. Individual tattooing permit issued by the state Department (DHHS Environmental Health) through the local health department (G.S. 130A-283; 15A NCAC 18A .3202). The permit is issued in the artist's name for a specific establishment address, is non-transferable, and requires a pre-permit inspection; there is no separate establishment license, but the permit is location-specific. Counties may charge a local application fee.

Requirements. Application to the local health department at least 30 days before starting (name, addresses, establishment), inspection verifying compliance with 15A NCAC 18A .3200 (sterilization, records, facility), patron records kept two years. The rules do not state training hours, an exam, or a minimum practitioner age.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. G.S. 14-400(a) makes it unlawful to tattoo any part of the body of a person under 18 (Class 2 misdemeanor); unlike body piercing in 14-400(b), there is no parental-consent exception. Applies to PMU because PMU is tattooing under the statutory definition.

Sources.

• N.C. General Statutes 130A-283 (tattooing permit; definition)
• N.C. General Statutes 14-400 (tattooing and body piercing of minors)
• 15A NCAC 18A .3200 (Rules Governing Tattooing)

License. No individual practitioner license. The facility must hold a body art establishment license from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (North Dakota Century Code 23-01-35; North Dakota Administrative Code 33-41-01.1-15); temporary and mobile establishment licenses also exist. The department waives fees for facilities subject to local jurisdiction, and some cities (e.g., Fargo) have local body art requirements.

Requirements. License application must include records of current CPR and first aid certification and bloodborne pathogen training for body artists from recognized providers (33-41-01.1-15). All personnel in a body art establishment must be at least 18. The new code also sets cosmetic-tattooing-specific practice standards in 33-41-01.1-04.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent and presence. North Dakota Administrative Code 33-41-01.1-07: a minor must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who gives written consent, signs, and is physically present during the procedure; the parent's ID and the minor's ID (or birth certificate) must be kept. Applies to cosmetic tattooing because 'body art' includes cosmetic tattooing.

Sources.

• North Dakota Century Code 23-01-35 (tattooing license; 'tattoo' includes all forms of cosmetic tattooing)
• North Dakota Administrative Code chapter 33-41-01.1, Body Art Code (effective October 1, 2026)

License. No state individual license. The business must be approved (licensed) by the local board of health of the health district where it operates (Ohio Revised Code 3730.02-3730.03; Ohio Administrative Code 3701-9-02). The operator keeps a list of body artists who have received adequate training.

Requirements. Operators must keep records of each body artist's completed courses in first aid and in standard precautions for preventing transmission of bloodborne and other infectious diseases (Ohio Administrative Code 3701-9-04(M)(3)). No state training-hour, exam or practitioner-age requirement was found in the rules.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent in person. Ohio Revised Code 3730.06: no tattooing of anyone under 18 unless the parent, guardian or custodian appears in person at the business at the time of the procedure and signs a business-provided document explaining the procedure and aftercare. Ohio Administrative Code 3701-9-04(P) repeats the consent rule and bans procedures on the nipple, areola or genitals of anyone under 18. Applies to PMU because permanent cosmetics has the same meaning as 'tattoo' under the rules.

Sources.

• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-9-01 (definitions of tattoo and permanent cosmetics)
• Ohio Revised Code 3730.06 (minors)
• Ohio Administrative Code 3701-9-04 (safety and sanitation; training records; minors)

License. Two state credentials, both from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. (1) Medical micropigmentation (permanent pigment above the jawline, such as eyeliner, eyebrows, lips, cheeks and scars, or repigmentation after surgery or trauma) requires a Medical Micropigmentation certificate unless performed by a physician, and may only be performed in a physician's office under physician supervision (Oklahoma Statutes Title 63, Sections 1-1452 and 1-1454; Oklahoma Administrative Code 310:234). (2) Tattooing requires a state tattoo artist license, and the shop needs a tattoo establishment license (Oklahoma Statutes Title 21, Section 842.3). Nobody may buy or possess tattoo equipment without being licensed as a medical micropigmentologist or a tattoo artist.

Requirements. Medical micropigmentologist: at least 21, high school diploma or GED, background check, Department-approved training of at least 300 hours, written exam (70 percent) and skills exam (100 percent), supervising physician named on the application (Oklahoma Administrative Code 310:234). Tattoo artist license: at least 18, current bloodborne pathogen, CPR and first aid certificates (Oklahoma Administrative Code 310:233).

Clients under 18. Tattooing anyone under 18 is prohibited, even with parental consent (Oklahoma Statutes Title 21, Section 842.1(A)), except acts of a licensed practitioner of the healing arts in the course of practice (842.1(E)). Medical micropigmentation under the Act is by definition not 'tattooing', and no minors rule was found in the Medical Micropigmentation Act or chapter 310:234.

Sources.

• Oklahoma Medical Micropigmentation Regulation Act, Oklahoma Statutes Title 63, Sections 1-1450 to 1-1458
• Oklahoma Statutes Title 21, Sections 842.1-842.3 (tattooing; minors; licensing)
• Oklahoma Administrative Code 310:234 (Medical Micropigmentation)

License. Yes. Individual tattoo license from the Oregon Health Licensing Office (Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners) under Oregon Revised Statutes 690.365 and Oregon Administrative Rules 331-915-0010; the place of business also needs a facility license. The former 'permanent color technician and tattoo artist' license title was replaced by the tattoo field-of-practice license in 2011 (Oregon Laws 2011, chapter 346), and there is no separate permanent-makeup license class in the current rules.

Requirements. At least 18, high school diploma or equivalent, completion of approved education and training (Oregon Revised Statutes 690.365); an approved tattoo course of study of at least 360 hours (210 theory, 150 practical) (Oregon Administrative Rules 331-915-0005); plus examinations required by the Office (Oregon Revised Statutes 690.370).

Clients under 18. Prohibited regardless of parental or legal guardian consent, unless tattooing is authorized or prescribed by a physician's statement (Oregon Administrative Rules 331-915-0065(5)-(6)). Applies to PMU because microblading/PMU is tattooing in Oregon.

Sources.

• Oregon Revised Statutes 690.350 (definition of tattooing) and 690.365 (licenses)
• Oregon Administrative Rules chapter 331, divisions 900-950 (Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners), including 331-915-0005, -0010, -0065; permanent rules effective June 17, 2025
• Health Licensing Office Practice Clarification on Microblading (January 2017)

License. No state license for tattoo or permanent makeup artists or shops. Licensing is local where it exists: Philadelphia's Department of Public Health requires a body art establishment certificate and an individual body artist certification, and its definition of body art covers tattooing, permanent make-up and microblading. Erie County and some municipalities (e.g., Harrisburg, Easton, Lower Merion) have local tattoo/body art ordinances. Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) had no tattoo regulation as of May 2026; its health department was considering one.

Requirements. No state requirements. Philadelphia: bloodborne pathogen certification for artists, plus documentation of three years of full-time experience for new body artists (or apprenticeship under a certified artist); certificate fee $40.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent and presence. 18 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes 6311: it is an offense to tattoo anyone under 18 unless the parent or guardian gives consent and is present at the time of the tattooing. The statute does not define tattooing or mention permanent makeup; PMU is very likely covered as tattooing, but this is not explicit.

Sources.

• 18 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes 6311 (tattooing and body piercing of minors)
• City of Philadelphia, Apply for a body artist certification (Department of Public Health)
• Pennsylvania House Bill 1180 of 2025 (proposed Tattoo Practice Act, in committee)

License. Yes. Individual tattoo artist license/registration from the Rhode Island Department of Health, which covers permanent makeup (216-RICR-40-10-15.4; Rhode Island General Laws 23-1-39). The tattoo parlor/shop must also be registered with the Department (216-RICR-40-10-15.5).

Requirements. Over 18, good moral character, demonstrate aseptic tattooing technique via a Department exam, and complete an 18-month, 320-hour apprenticeship or show equivalent education/experience (216-RICR-40-10-15.4). The Department's application (revised 2026) also requires active CPR/first aid and bloodborne pathogen certificates and a criminal background check, and lets applicants providing permanent cosmetics only submit a certificate of completion from an approved in-person course with hands-on training on live models instead of an apprenticeship.

Clients under 18. Prohibited except for medical purposes. Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-15: tattooing a minor under 18 is a misdemeanor except under subsection (b) for medical purposes, which requires notarized parental/guardian consent, photo IDs, proof of guardianship and a licensed physician's notarized authorization. Applies to PMU because tattooing is defined to include cosmetic eye lining, lip lining and microblading, and the rules require all tattoo patrons to meet 11-9-15.

Sources.

• 216-RICR-40-10-15 (Tattoo Artists and Tattoo Parlors), sections 15.3 and 15.4
• Rhode Island General Laws 11-9-15 (tattooing of minors)
• Rhode Island Department of Health, Tattoo Artist/Body Piercing license application (revised 2026)

License. No permanent makeup license exists for non-medical practitioners. South Carolina Regulation 61-111 defines micropigmentation or permanent cosmetics as a medical procedure above the jaw line (section 100.V) and, as the Department of Public Health's tattoo FAQ quotes it, bars tattoo artists from performing it, providing that these procedures 'shall be provided only by physicians or other legally authorized healthcare providers' (section 900.L). The Board of Medical Examiners' micropigmentation policy (2005) treats it as the practice of medicine and allows it only under the direction of a physician who directly supervises and is on site. Separately, South Carolina Code section 44-34-100(E) makes it unlawful for a tattoo artist to tattoo any part of the head, face or neck. Tattoo facilities need a tattoo facility license from the Department of Public Health.

Requirements. Permanent makeup itself falls under medical practice rules rather than tattoo licensing. For tattoo artists generally (South Carolina Code section 44-34-50): at least 21 years old; an annual department-approved certificate in bloodborne pathology and tattoo infection control; and current first aid and adult CPR certification. Tattoo facilities must be licensed and inspected, sit at least 1,000 feet from a church, school or playground, and be in a jurisdiction whose local governing body has authorized tattooing (sections 44-34-20 and 44-34-110). None of these authorize permanent makeup.

Clients under 18. Prohibited. It is unlawful to perform or offer to perform tattooing on a person under 18 (South Carolina Code section 44-34-100(A)), and the artist must verify age by picture ID (44-34-60(C)). There is no parental-consent exception. Because permanent makeup on the face is treated as a medical procedure, check with the Board of Medical Examiners before offering it to a minor in a medical setting.

Sources.

• S.C. Code Ann. Title 44, Chapter 34 (sections 44-34-10 to 44-34-110), Tattooing
• S.C. Code Regs. 61-111.100(V) (definition of Micropigmentation/Permanent Cosmetics as a medical procedure)
• SC Department of Public Health, Tattoo Facility and Artist FAQs, Q1 (citing 44-34-100(E) and Reg. 61-111 sections 100.V and 900.L)
• South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, Micropigmentation policy (2005)

License. No state practitioner or establishment license. South Dakota Codified Laws 9-34-17 lets each municipality license tattoo practitioners and inspect establishments; the Department of Health sets minimum sanitation standards (ARSD chapter 44:12:01) that local rules must at least match. Check the city (for example Sioux Falls Chapter 122, Pierre Article 21) for artist and shop licenses.

Requirements. No statewide practitioner training or exam requirement found. Department of Health minimum sanitation standards for tattooing apply (ARSD 44:12:01). Any training, bloodborne pathogens certificate or licensing comes from municipal ordinance.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent: no minor may be tattooed unless the minor's parents have signed a consent form authorizing the tattoo; violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor (SDCL 26-10-19). The statute does not require the parent to be present or the form to be notarized. Its definition of tattoo ('make permanent marks or designs on the skin by puncturing it and inserting indelible colors') covers PMU on a plain reading. Local ordinances may add requirements.

Sources.

• S.D. Codified Laws 9-34-17 (municipal regulation of tattooing; tattooing includes microblading)
• S.D. Codified Laws 26-10-19 (tattooing minor without parental consent)
• S.D. Codified Laws 34-1-17(8) and ARSD 44:12:01 (Department of Health minimum sanitation standards for tattooing)

License. Yes. Individual tattoo artist license (types: tattoo artist, apprentice artist, temporary artist) from the Tennessee Department of Health under Tennessee Code 62-38-204, plus a tattoo studio permit/certificate; all tattooing must occur under the auspices of a permitted studio. Some county health departments (for example Hamilton County) administer permits on the state's behalf. Per a 2017 Attorney General opinion, microblading requires a tattoo artist license (or the physician exemption), and licensed estheticians may not microblade in a cosmetology shop.

Requirements. Artist must be at least 18 (62-38-204(b)); complete a sterilization training program (Alliance of Professional Tattooists course, a health department program, or an approved course) and pass a written examination (62-38-204(e)-(f)); annual registration. Ink of Hope Act (Public Chapter 19 of 2025, effective January 1, 2026): tattoo operators and artists must complete up to one hour of human-trafficking recognition training; artists licensed as of December 31, 2025 have until December 31, 2028.

Clients under 18. Prohibited, with one narrow exception: tattooing anyone under 18 is a Class A misdemeanor (62-38-211(a)). A minor 16 or older may be tattooed only to cover up an existing tattoo, with written parental/guardian consent, proof of guardianship or custody, an acknowledgement of a report to the Department of Health, and the parent present during the procedure (62-38-211(c)). Applies to PMU because the statutory tattoo definition includes 'cosmetics'.

Sources.

• Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62, Chapter 38, Part 2 (62-38-201(13), 62-38-204, 62-38-210, 62-38-211), as compiled by the Tennessee Department of Health
• Tennessee Attorney General Opinion No. 17-31 (April 20, 2017), Licensing of Microneedling and Microblading
• SB 0171 (114th General Assembly), Ink of Hope Act, Public Chapter 19 of 2025

License. Facility license only: a person may not operate a tattoo studio without a tattoo studio license from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); a separate temporary location license is required for events (Texas Health and Safety Code section 146.002). There is no separate individual tattooist license in chapter 146. DSHS treats intradermal cosmetic (permanent makeup) studios as tattoo studios.

Requirements. Statute sets studio-level duties (aseptic technique, sanitation, sterile equipment, records, infection reporting). Since September 1, 2025 (HB 1778, 89th Legislature), each employee of a tattoo studio must complete a DSHS-approved human trafficking training course (section 146.0075), with compliance not required before January 1, 2026; studios must also post human-trafficking signs. No statutory practitioner training-hours or exam requirement found.

Clients under 18. Prohibited except cover-ups: a tattooist may not tattoo anyone under 18 (146.012(a)) unless the tattoo covers an existing obscene, gang-related, drug-related or other tattoo the parent considers in the minor's best interest to cover, with parental/guardian consent. Consent requires the parent or guardian to be physically present at the studio during the tattooing, sign an affidavit of parenthood/guardianship, and present evidence of identity and of parent/guardian status (146.012(a-1), (b)). Applies to PMU because 'tattoo' includes permanent cosmetics.

Sources.

• Texas Health and Safety Code chapter 146, sections 146.001, 146.002, 146.0025, 146.012
• DSHS, Licensing Requirements - Tattoo and Body Piercing Studios
• HB 1778, 89th Legislature (2025), section 1.08 adding Texas Health and Safety Code section 146.0075; effective September 1, 2025

License. No individual state license. A body art facility (which by statute includes facilities practicing permanent cosmetics) must hold a permit to operate from the local health department under the statewide Department of Health and Human Services rule R392-701 (effective 2025). A body artist may not perform body art in an unpermitted facility.

Requirements. Before performing any procedure a body artist must hold a current bloodborne pathogen certificate covering OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 and a current first aid certificate (for example AHA Heartsaver First Aid), and must be at least 18 (R392-701-11). Client consent and disclosure form and records required (R392-701-14). Local health departments may add requirements.

Clients under 18. Allowed with parental consent given in person: tattooing a minor (under 18, unmarried, not emancipated) for pay is a class B misdemeanor unless a parent or legal guardian is present during the procedure after providing proof of identity and relationship and signed written permission (Utah Code 76-9-2001, 76-9-2002; renumbered from 76-10-2201 in 2025). The statutory tattoo definition ('fix an indelible mark or figure upon the body by inserting a pigment under the skin') covers PMU on a plain reading. R392-701-14 requires the parent/guardian's ID and signature on the consent form for a minor.

Sources.

• Utah Code 26B-7-401 and 26B-7-402(19), as amended by H.B. 403 (2024 General Session), Body Art Facility Amendments
• Utah Admin. Code R392-701, Body Art Facility Sanitation (sections 2, 11, 14, 17)
• Utah Code 76-9-2001 and 76-9-2002, Unlawful tattooing of a minor

License. Yes. Vermont has a distinct permanent cosmetics license (the statute calls holders 'permanent cosmetologists') issued by the Office of Professional Regulation (Secretary of State), separate from the tattooist license (26 V.S.A. 4102, 4105(c)). Shops must register with the Office ($100); permanent cosmetics may be practiced in a licensed permanent cosmetic shop, a licensed cosmetology shop, anywhere tattooing is permitted, on a licensed health care professional's premises, or other premises meeting sanitation rules (4105(d)).

Requirements. Applicant must show at least 60 hours of approved study plus at least 40 hours of practical experience within the prior two years under direct supervision of a licensed tattooist or permanent cosmetologist with 3+ years of practice; training must include a three-hour course in universal precautions and infectious diseases; must register with the Office before training (4105(c)). Practitioner must be 18 or older (4102(b)). Renewal every two years with 3 hours of continuing education in universal precautions and infectious diseases (4106).

Clients under 18. Allowed with written parental consent: 'A tattooist shall not tattoo a minor without the written consent of the parent or guardian of the minor' (26 V.S.A. 4102(c)). The statute does not require presence or notarization. The text names tattooists, not permanent cosmetologists, but the statute defines permanent cosmetics as 'a specific type of tattoo', so the safe reading is that the written-consent rule applies to PMU.

Sources.

• 26 V.S.A. chapter 79, sections 4101-4109 (Tattooists, Body Piercers, and Permanent Cosmetics)
• Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, Tattooists and Body Piercers FAQs

License. Yes. The Board for Barbers and Cosmetology (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) issues a 'permanent cosmetic tattooer' license (eyebrows, microblading, scalp micropigmentation, eyeliner, lips) and a 'master permanent cosmetic tattooer' license (eye shadow, breast and scar repigmentation or camouflage), separate from the general tattooer license, under Virginia Code 54.1-703 and 18VAC41-50. Establishments need a 'permanent cosmetic tattoo salon' license (or tattoo parlor license) from the Board (18VAC41-50-80).

Requirements. Complete an approved tattooing training program in a Virginia-licensed tattoo school (or substantially equivalent out-of-state program with board-approved health education covering bloodborne pathogens, sterilization and aseptic technique, and first aid) and pass the board-approved examination (18VAC41-50-20, -40). Must comply with CDC Universal Blood and Body Fluid Precautions and give the statutory risk disclosure (Virginia Code 18.2-371.3).

Clients under 18. Allowed only with a parent or guardian present: no person may tattoo someone under 18 for hire except in the presence of the person's parent or guardian, or when done by or under supervision of a licensed medical doctor, registered nurse or other licensed medical personnel (Virginia Code 18.2-371.3, Class 1 misdemeanor). The statute's tattoo definition expressly includes 'permanent make-up'. Board rule 18VAC41-50-410 requires clients to be 18 with government ID except as permitted by 18.2-371.3, and the parent or guardian must sign the disclosure form.

Sources.

• Virginia Code 54.1-700 (definition of tattooing includes permanent make-up), 54.1-701, 54.1-703
• 18VAC41-50-10 (definitions of permanent cosmetic tattooer and master permanent cosmetic tattooer)
• Virginia Code 18.2-371.3, Tattooing or body piercing of minors

License. Yes. An individual tattoo practitioner license from the Washington State Department of Licensing (RCW 18.300.030), plus a location license for the shop or business (RCW 18.300.040, 18.300.070). Department of Licensing rules say permanent cosmetics 'is a form of tattooing' (WAC 308-22-010). Licenses expire yearly.

Requirements. Practitioner must be at least 18 and provide proof of bloodborne pathogen certification meeting OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030 (WAC 308-22-040). Shop must carry at least $100,000 public liability insurance, meet zoning and fire codes, and is inspected at least every two years (RCW 18.300.070).

Clients under 18. Prohibited, parental consent does not help: anyone who applies a tattoo to a minor under 18 is guilty of a misdemeanor (RCW 26.28.085). 'Tattoo' there includes any permanent marking or coloring of the skin with any pigment, ink or dye, so it covers PMU. Medical procedures by a licensed physician are exempt.

Sources.

• RCW chapter 18.300 (Body art, body piercing, and tattooing), especially 18.300.010 and 18.300.030
• WAC 308-22-010 (definition of permanent cosmetics) and 308-22-040 (license requirements)
• RCW 26.28.085, Applying tattoo to a minor

License. No individual state license found. Tattoo studios must obtain a West Virginia business registration certificate and register with, be inspected by, and get an operating permit ($200) from their local or regional board of health (W. Va. Code 16-38-6). The state statute's tattoo definition is broad enough to cover PMU, but it does not mention cosmetic tattooing by name.

Requirements. Statute sets studio operation and sanitation standards (records kept 5 years, written risk information prepared by the state health department, MRI-interference warning, aftercare instructions, gloves, sterilized single-use needles, autoclave) (16-38-2 to 16-38-5). No statewide practitioner training or exam found in the statute; local boards of health may impose more.

Clients under 18. Allowed with written parental consent: 'Prior written consent for tattooing of minors shall be obtained from one parent or guardian', kept on file 5 years (W. Va. Code 16-38-3(b)). 'Minor' means under 18 (16-38-1). Statute does not require parent presence or notarization. Applies to PMU on the plain reading of the tattoo definition. Local board of health rules may be stricter.

Sources.

• W. Va. Code 16-38-1 (definitions)
• W. Va. Code 16-38-3 (operation standards, consent of minors), as amended by HB 4274 (2024)
• W. Va. Code 16-38-6 (registration with local or regional board of health; permit fees)

License. Yes. Individual tattooist (practitioner) license from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), plus a tattoo establishment license from DSPS or a local health department acting as its agent (Wisconsin Statutes chapter 463; Wis. Admin. Code SPS 221.04). Public Health Madison and Dane County, a DSPS agent, states tattoo facility licensing includes permanent make-up facilities.

Requirements. SPS 221 requires licensure of establishments and practitioners, signed informed consent on a department-approved form, patron records, and sanitation/sterilization standards. The statute and rule text reviewed do not set a minimum training-hours or exam requirement for tattooists; annual renewal by June 30.

Clients under 18. Prohibited, parental consent does not help: anyone who tattoos or offers to tattoo a child (under 18) is subject to a Class D forfeiture; only a physician in professional practice may (Wisconsin Statutes 948.70). SPS 221.10(1)(b)3 repeats that no person under 18 may be tattooed except by a physician, and tattoo establishments must post a sign saying so. The tattoo definition ('insert pigment under the surface of the skin ... so as to produce an indelible mark or figure') covers PMU.

Sources.

• Wisconsin Statutes chapter 463 (tattooists and body piercers)
• Wisconsin Statutes 948.70 (tattooing of children)
• Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 221 (Tattooing and Body Piercing), sections 221.03, 221.04, 221.10

License. No state license for practitioners or establishments found. Wyoming has no statewide tattoo/body-art licensing scheme; some local health departments regulate (for example Cheyenne-Laramie County Public Health issues body art establishment and body artist permits). Whether a given local program covers PMU should be checked locally.

Requirements. No statewide practitioner requirements found. Local programs may require bloodborne pathogens certification, hepatitis B documentation and permits (Cheyenne-Laramie County lists these for body artist permits).

Clients under 18. Allowed only with a parent or guardian present: no person may knowingly perform body art (which includes tattooing) on a person under the age of majority except with the consent of the parent or legal guardian who is present at the time of the procedure; the artist must demand proof of age (Wyoming Statutes 14-3-107). Misdemeanor, up to 6 months and/or $750. 'Tattoo' means any indelible design, letter, figure, symbol or other mark placed upon or under the skin with ink or colors by needles or other instruments, which covers PMU on a plain reading. Practices under a licensed physician's supervision are excluded.

Sources.

• Wyoming Statutes 14-3-107 (performing body-art on persons under the age of majority), in Title 14 compilation
• Cheyenne-Laramie County Public Health, Body Art program