Conventional and Cosmetic Tattooing Conventional and Cosmetic Tattooing
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Conventional and Cosmetic Tattooing

Licensure and Permitting, State of Florida, Department of Health

Effective January 1, 2012, the Department of Health (the department) implemented sections 381.00771-381.00791, Florida Statutes (F.S.), The Practice of Tattooing. 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.), which became effective September 5, 2012 , 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.

As of January 1, 2012, the conditions required by section 877.04, F.S., that required any person who tattooed in Florida to either be licensed as, or work under the "general supervision" of, a Medical Doctor, a Doctor of Osteopathy, a Doctor of Dental Surgery, or a Doctor of Medical Dentistry is no longer required due to implementation of sections 381.00771-381.00791, F.S.

Tattoo Establishment Licensure Requirements

All tattoo establishments require licensure.  A person may not operate a tattoo establishment in this state without a license.

Effective January 1, 2013, any person operating an unlicensed tattoo establishment will be subject to administrative penalties.  

Licensure of the tattoo establishment requires submission of a completed Application for Tattoo Establishment License (738KB PDF), with the required $200.00 fee to the local county health department that has jurisdiction for the tattoo program. Tattoo establishments shall be inspected by county health department staff who administer the biomedical waste and body piercing programs, to determine compliance with sections 381.00771-381.00791, Florida Statutes (F.S.), The Practice of Tattooing and Chapter 64E-28, ,F.A.C.) . An inspection with a passing result is required prior to issuance of a tattoo establishment license.

Persons opening new tattoo establishments not only need to be in compliance with the previously stated tattoo licensure requirements, but should also contact their city and county to find out if they will need a business tax receipt for their 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.

Temporary Establishment Licensure Requirements

All temporary tattoo establishments require licensure.  A person may not operate a temporary tattoo establishment in this state without a license. 

Effective January 1, 2013, any person operating an unlicensed temporary tattoo establishment will be subject to administrative penalties.

Licensure of temporary establishments requires submission of a completed Application for Tattoo Establishment License, with the required $200.00 fee to the local county health department that has jurisdiction for the tattoo program. Tattoo establishments shall be inspected by county health department staff who administer the biomedical waste and body piercing programs, to determine compliance with sections 381.00771-381.00791, F.S.. An inspection with a passing result is required prior to issuance of a temporary establishment license.

Temporary establishments must meet all the operational requirements of a tattoo establishment, including handsinks, as well as the requirements of section
64E-28.008, F.A.C. Temporary establishment licenses are issued in conjunction with a convention or other similar event and cannot exceed fourteen (14) consecutive days.

A biomedical waste generator permit is required for a temporary event. 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.

Tattoo Artist Licensure

All persons who tattoo the body of a human being must be licensed in Florida as a tattoo artist. This includes persons who practice cosmetic tattooing, which is also known as permanent makeup or micropigmentation, and students or apprentices who tattoo human beings as part of their tattoo training.

Effective January 1, 2013, any unlicensed person engaged in tattooing will be subject to administrative penalties.

Licensure of the tattoo artist requires submission of a completed Application for Tattoo Artist License, 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. Courses, which have received approval can be found on our Education Courses for Tattoo Artists webpage. Artists must apply for a license in the county where they live regardless of where they work.

Guest Tattoo Artist Registration

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.

Effective January 1, 2013, any unregistered person engaged in tattooing will be subject to administrative penalties.

A person wishing to register as a guest tattoo artist shall submit a completed Application for Guest Tattoo Artist Registration, 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.

Tattoo artists who are applying for a guest tattoo artist registration, who hold an active license, registration, or certification issued by a jurisdiction outside of Florida and who have completed an educational course and achieved a score of at least 70% on the examination required for licensure, registration, or certification in that jurisdiction, may submit the curriculum for such course and examination to the department for determination as to whether the course substantially meets or exceeds those requirements specified in section 64E-28.006, F.A.C.  Should the department determine that the curriculum does not substantially meet or exceed these requirements, the tattoo artist will be required to complete a department-approved, industry-specific bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases course with a minimum passing examination score of 70%. A guest artist registration is valid for up to fourteen (14) consecutive days in Florida.

Educational Course Approval

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., shall be reviewed by the department. Checklists developed to summarize course evaluations with respect to basic design and content of information related to blood borne pathogens and communicable diseases  are presented here for use by providers to assist in ensuring that their course contains the required components before submitting their course for approval.

Providers wishing to submit their course for review by the department for determination of compliance with the requirements of section 64E-28.006, F.A.C., should submit their materials to the Department of Health, Bureau of Community Environmental Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A08, Tallahassee, FL 32399. All requests for course approval shall be handled in accordance with section 120.60, F.S.

It has been determined by the Department that the course offered by The Alliance of Professional Tattooists meets the requirements of section 64E-28.006, F.A.C.  Due to the lack of change in this course material over a number of years, certificates issued on or after January 1, 2009, will be accepted as meeting the educational requirements for the tattoo artist license.

Download Forms

The forms for this program are available from the links listed below. All the files are in pdf format. If your computer cannot read pdf files, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader, at no charge, from the Adobe Internet site at http://www.adobe.com. All the links below open in a new window.
 

(NOTE: Before applying for any tattoo license, please contact your local County Health Department for current information concerning the correct mailing address and any local fee.)

(All pdfs open in new window)

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 Facility Programs Section, 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.  

This page was last modified on: 07/9/2013 10:12:33