Laws regarding permanent makeup, also known as tattooing, vary by state in the United States. Some states regulate the industry through licensing and certification requirements for practitioners, while others leave regulation up to local governments.
- Alabama: The state regulates permanent makeup through the Department of Public Health. Practitioners must have a body art license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/tattoo/index.html
- Alaska: Permanent makeup regulations are handled at the local level. Practitioners must follow specific health and safety standards. Contact your local government for more information.
- Arizona: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/body-art/index.php
- Arkansas: The state regulates permanent makeup through the Department of Health. Practitioners must have a body art license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/body-art
- California: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health and local governments. Practitioners must have a body art license, complete a bloodborne pathogens course, and follow specific health and safety standards. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DRSEM/Pages/EMB/Tattoo.aspx
- Colorado: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health and Environment. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/body-art-tattoos-and-permanent-makeup
- Connecticut: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Public-Health-Systems/Infectious-Diseases/Tattooing-and-Body-Piercing
- Delaware: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Division of Public Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/tattoo.html
- Florida: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/body-art/index.html
- Georgia: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health. Practitioners must have a body art license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://dph.georgia.gov/body-art
- Hawaii: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://health.hawaii.gov/san/environmental-health/tattooing-permanent-makeup/
- Idaho: Permanent makeup regulations are handled at the local level. Practitioners must follow specific health and safety standards. Contact your local government for more information.
- Illinois: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/healthy-communities/tattooing-body-piercing
- Indiana: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.in.gov/isdh/25298.htm
- Iowa: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health. Practitioners must have a body art license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://idph.iowa.gov/tattooing
- Kansas: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Environment. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.kdheks.gov/tattoo
- Kentucky: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dehp/tattoo.htm
- Louisiana: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/437
- Maine: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Human Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/environmental-health/body-art/index.shtml
- Maryland: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/Pages/Tattooing.aspx
- Massachusetts: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/tattooing-and-body-piercing-regulations
- Michigan: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Human Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71550_2955_5012_75752-299968--,00.html
- Minnesota: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/envh/bodyart/index.html
- Mississippi: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a body art license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/6717.pdf
- Missouri: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Senior Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/tattoo/
- Montana: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Public Health and Human Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/environmentalhealth/bodyart/index.shtml
- Nebraska: Permanent makeup regulations are handled at the local level. Practitioners must follow specific health and safety standards. Contact your local government for more information.
- Nevada: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Board of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://nvhealth.nv.gov/Programs/Tattoo_BodyArt/
- New Hampshire: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Division of Public Health Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/bp/index.htm
- New Jersey: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.nj.gov/health/ceohs/programs/bodyart/
- New Mexico: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://nmhealth.org/about/phd/idb/tattoo/
- New York: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/tattooing/
- North Carolina: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Human Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/tattooing-and-body-piercing-program
- North Dakota: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.ndhealth.gov/tattooing
- Ohio: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/programs/environmental-health/tattooing-and-body-piercing
- Oklahoma: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Board of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.ok.gov/health/Protective_Health/Environmental_Health_Services/Tattooing_&_Body_Piercing/
- Oregon: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Health Authority. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/COMMUNICABLEDISEASE/TATTOOPIERCING/Pages/index.aspx
- Pennsylvania: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/tattoo/Pages/default.aspx
- Rhode Island: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://health.ri.gov/programs/environmental/tattoo/
- South Carolina: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Environmental Control. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.scdhec.gov/health/environmental-health/body-art
- South Dakota: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://doh.sd.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/Tattoo/index.aspx
- Tennessee: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/tattooing.html
- Texas: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of State Health Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/tattoo/
- Utah: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://health.utah.gov/tattoo/
- Vermont: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://healthvermont.gov/hav/tattoo-body-art
- Virginia: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/local-health-districts/environmental-health/body-art-tattooing/
- Washington: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/BodyArt/Tattooing
- West Virginia: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health and Human Resources. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/environmental/Pages/Tattooing.aspx
- Wisconsin: Permanent makeup is regulated by the state's Department of Health Services. Practitioners must have a tattoo license and complete a bloodborne pathogens course. You can find more information at the following website: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/tattoo/index.htm
- Wyoming: Permanent makeup regulations are handled at the local level. Practitioners must follow specific health and safety standards. Contact your local government for more information.