Body Art Technician Licensing

If you are an out-of-state artist and wish to perform body art in Minnesota, you will need to apply for a guest artist license. With this license, you will be able to practice body art in Minnesota for no more than 30 days in a calendar year. The fee for a guest artist license is $140. To obtain a guest artist license, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Have completed a course in bloodborne pathogens, within the preceding year, on bloodborne pathogens, prevention of disease transmission, infection control, and aseptic technique. Bloodborne Pathogen Training Information.
• Be sponsored by a currently licensed Minnesota body art technician; work at a currently licensed Minnesota body art establishment that is in good standing or a licensed Minnesota temporary body art event.
• Supply a copy of your current license or credential from another state.
• Supply a copy of legal ID showing proof of age.
• Complete the Guest Artist License Application and pay the fee at Body Art Technician Licensing System.

There is no additional fee to add dates to a valid guest license. Guest licenses may be renewed and approved to work up to 30 days per calendar year. All individuals who intend to practice as a guest artist must be approved by the Minnesota Department of Health as a guest artist before practicing in Minnesota. Applications for guest artists should be received at least two weeks prior to desired start date.

To obtain a license, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Submit a letter from a currently licensed Minnesota body art technician stating that they agree to supervise you for your temporary license period.
• Work at a currently licensed Minnesota body art establishment that is in good standing.
• Complete the Temporary Technician License Application and pay the fee at Body Art Technician Licensing System.

Renewals

To renew a temporary license, complete a renewal through the Body Art Technician Licensing System. Currently Minnesota Statute allows two renewals per license type (piercing, tattoo and dual). Each license is valid for one year. The cost of renewal is $240.

Technician licenses are valid for up to two years. All technician licenses expire on March 31. To obtain a license, you must:

• Submit a copy of a current, legal ID showing you are at least 18 years old.
• Body piercing technicians: Complete 250 piercings under direct supervision and 250 piercings under indirect supervision.
  Tattoo technicians: Complete 200 hours of supervised tattooing.
• Complete the application and pay the fee at Body Art Technician Licensing System.
• Submit a log of supervised body art procedures.
• Submit a notarized affidavit (PDF) from your supervisor that they supervised you during your temporary license period.
• Submit a copy of current course certification in bloodborne pathogens (taken in the last year). See Bloodborne Pathogen Training Information.

See also:

• Full Technician Licensing Information, by Reciprocity
• Address/Employer Change Form (PDF)

MDH can issue a technician’s license to a person who holds a current license, certification, or registration from another state if the commissioner determines that the requirements for other jurisdiction meet or exceed the requirements for licensure in Minnesota Statutes, section 146B.03, subdivision 8.

Requirements for licensure in Minnesota include, but are not limited to, completing bloodborne pathogen training of five hours and completing 200 hours of tattooing under the supervision of a licensed tattoo technician (Minnesota Statutes, section 146B.03, subdivisions 4(a) 7, 7a, and 12). 

If an application by reciprocity is denied, the applicant may apply for temporary licensure as a body art technician and, once all requirements are met, apply for a full technician license.  

Application fees are non-refundable (Minnesota Statutes, section 146B.10, subdivision 3).