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Bureau of Community Environmental Health

Conventional and Cosmetic Tattooing

Licensure and permitting, State of Florida, Department of Health

Current Requirements as of January 1, 2012

Effective January 1, 2012, the Department of Health (the department) will implement sections 381.0071-381.00791, Florida Statutes (F.S.), The Practice of Tattooing (opens in a new window). These statutes require licensure of tattoo artists and tattoo establishments, and also set forth educational requirements and standards of practice for conventional and cosmetic tattoo artists, and operational requirements for tattoo establishments. Chapter 64E-28, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), The Practice of Tattooing  (pdf <1mb, opens in a new window), which currently is undergoing the rulemaking process, details the statutory requirements for tattoo establishments and tattoo artists. It is recommended that tattoo establishment owners and operators as well as tattoo artists review the requirements of both the statute sections and the rule chapter to ensure compliance with requirements for both artists and establishments.

Licensure of the tattoo establishment requires submission of a completed Application for Tattoo Establishment License, which currently is not available, with the required $200.00 fee to the local county health department that has jurisdiction for the tattoo program. Tattoo establishments will be inspected by the same county health department staff who administer the biomedical waste and body piercing programs. An inspection with a passing result is required prior to issuance of a tattoo establishment license.

Licensure of the tattoo artist requires submission of a completed Application for Tattoo Artist License, which currently is not available, with the required $60.00 fee; a copy of a government-issued photo identification confirming the applicant is at least 18 years of age; and documentation of completing a department-approved, industry-specific bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases course with a minimum examination score of 70%. Several educational courses have been submitted to the department and currently are under review. The department has not yet issued any course approvals. Approved courses will be posted on this website as approvals are issued. Chapter 64E-28, ,F.A.C.)  (pdf <1mb, opens in a new window) provides tattoo artists six months from the effective date of the rule chapter to come into compliance with the tattoo artist licensure requirement.

A guest tattoo artist registration is required for any tattoo artist who plans to tattoo in Florida and who also holds an active license, registration, or certification issued by a jurisdiction outside Florida. A person wishing to register as a guest tattoo artist shall submit a completed Application for Guest Tattoo Artist Registration, which currently is not available, with the required $35.00 fee; a copy of a government-issued photo identification confirming the applicant is at least 18 years of age; proof of an active license, registration, or certification in a jurisdiction outside Florida; and documentation of having completed a course on bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases with a score of at least 70% on the course examination. Requirements of said course, as determined by the department, must be comparable to or exceed those in section 64E-28.006, F.A.C.  (pdf <1mb, opens in a new window) or completion of a department-approved, industry-specific bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases course will be required with a minimum passing examination score of 70%. A guest artist registration is valid for up to fourteen (14) consecutive days or less in Florida. Tattoo artists who will perform tattooing at conventions or tattoo events in Florida during the months of January and February, 2012, are not required to register with the department during this time period.

As of January 1, 2012, the conditions required by section 877.04, F.S.(pdf <1MB, opens in a new window), that require any person who tattoos or applies permanent make-up in Florida to either be licensed as, or work under the "general supervision" as defined in Chapter 64B8-2.002, F.A.C., (14K PDF) of, a Medical Doctor, a Doctor of Osteopathy, a Doctor of Dental Surgery, or a Doctor of Medical Dentistry will no longer be required due to implementation of sections 381.0071-381.00791, F.S., (opens in a new window).

In addition to the previously stated tattoo licensure requirements, you should contact your city and county to find out if you will need a business tax receipt for your business.

A biomedical waste generator permit is required for conventional and cosmetic tattoo businesses. Information on the biomedical waste permit process may be obtained from the biomedical waste coordinator who has the programmatic responsibility in the county where the business is located. An application for a biomedical waste generator permit (Form DH 4089 (21K PDF) can be downloaded from the biomedical waste website.

Educational Course

Classroom and Internet courses developed by independent providers to meet the educational requirements for tattoo artists, as specified in section 64E-28.006, F.A.C.  (pdf <1mb, opens in a new window), will be reviewed by the department. Checklists developed to summarize course evaluations with respect to basic design  (pdf <1mb, opens in a new window) and content of information related to bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases  (pdf <1mb, opens in a new window) that might be encountered in the tattoo setting are presented here for use by providers to assist in ensuring that their course contains the required components before submitting their course for approval.

Contacts

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. General questions concerning conventional and cosmetic tattooing in Florida can be directed via e-mail to Gina Vallone-Hood or Penny Barwick, in the Bureau of Community Environmental Public Health, HSEC, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710. Ms. Vallone-Hood and Ms. Barwick can be reached by telephone at (850) 245-4277.