Minnesota Tattoo License

If you have decided to start a career as a body artist in this state, we will be your guide. All the essential details on getting a Minnesota tattoo license, you will learn from this article. So, if it interested you, continue diving into it!

How to get a license to tattoo?

Before you get fully authorized you should get a temporary Minnesota body artist license. Correspondingly, below you can see the list of needs for both types.

Temporary technician licensing

First of all, you should be at least 18 years old (or older) to legally apply for a permit. After, meet the following points:

• Have a letter from an art technician who is currently licensed in Minnesota (The letter must claim that they are not against supervising you while you are temporarily authorized.)
• Pass your work practice at a presently licensed MN body art institution ( that is in good standing)
• Submit the application for temporary technician licensure and make the payments

*Sometimes licensees decide to change their supervisors. In that case, you will need to complete a Supervisor Change Application with your new supervisor’s signature. However, if your original permit hasn’t expired yet, you mustn’t pay additional money for this change.

Full technician licensing

In short, to get full licensure in MN you have to:

• provide a copy of a current legal ID (that will show you are not younger than 18);
• accomplish 500 piercings (250 under direct supervision and 250 under indirect one) if you want to become a body piercing technician;
• pass 200 supervised tattooing hours (if you are becoming a tattoo technician);
• have documentation of hours;
• provide a notarized affidavit from your supervisor (mention the name) proving that they controlled you during your temporary license period;
• bring with you licenses from other US states (if there are any);
• present a duplicate of a current bloodborne pathogens course’s certification;
• submit the application and make the payments;
• complete a list of supervised body art procedures.

Guest body artist licensing

In Minnesota, you can apply for a guest artist licensure, if you are an out-of-state tattooist and want to work here. However, this permit will let you perform your job for no more than 30 days.

So, to obtain one, you must:

• be 18 years old (older);
• have finished a bloodborne pathogens course within the previous year;
• have a currently certified MN body art technician sponsor you;
• perform your job at a certified MN tattoo establishment;
• present a legal ID and present permit copies;
• complete the application for a guest artist permit and pay the fee ($140).

If you would like to add dates to valid guest licensure, you will not need to make additional payments. Moreover, you can renew it and be allowed to work for up to 30 days.

The Minnesota Department of Health must approve artists as guest tattooists before they can practice. It is better to submit the applications at least 2 weeks before the wished start date.

Minnesota Tattoo License Renewals

Currently, there are 2 renewals per license type that the Minnesota statute allows (piercing, tattoo, and dual). Each of these authorizations is valid for a year.

You should have on hand:

• A documented completion of bloodborne pathogens training
• A payment form

All the permits expire on March 31. The renewal cost is $240.

Licensure reciprocity

Those applicants who are registered or certified in other states can qualify for licensure by reciprocity. Yet, you need to ensure that MN has a reciprocity agreement with those states.

The Minnesota Commissioner of Health decides whether your authorization meets the state’s requirements. To apply for the reciprocity licensure you must be at least 18 years old (or older). After, you should meet other requirements as well:

• Provide a copy of your current license’s needs/statutes
• Present a copy of a legal, current ID (that shows proof of age)
• Have a duplicate of a present course certification in bloodborne pathogens, infection control, and disease transfer prevention
• Submit an online application
• Make a $420 payment payable to “Treasurer, Minnesota State”

*In addition, if your authorization is from Oklahoma, Oregon, or Virginia, you may not bring a copy of the state’s licensure requirements.