To become a tattoo artist, you build a portfolio of your own artwork, train under an experienced licensed artist, then meet the licensing rules where you'll work. In Oregon that means 360 hours of training, 50 finished tattoos and a written exam. In the UK you train in a registered studio and register yourself and the premises with your local council.
There's no single national tattoo licence in the US. Rules sit with states, and sometimes counties or cities, so the first job is finding out what applies where you want to work. Below I've used Oregon as the worked example because its Health Licensing Office publishes a detailed, step-by-step route, and the UK route from the National Careers Service. Both were read on 26 October 2026.
The short version, step by step
- Draw, a lot. Studios want to see a portfolio of your own artwork and design ideas before they'll take you on.
- Find a licensed artist willing to train you. In the UK this is the standard route: start as an assistant in a studio and learn alongside a registered tattooist.
- Get your health and safety certificates. Oregon asks for current CPR, basic first aid and blood borne pathogen training. The UK route needs a hepatitis B vaccination.
- Complete the training your state requires. In Oregon that's an approved program at a licensed tattoo career school.
- Pass the licensing exam and apply. Oregon's written exam is taken at the Health Licensing Office.
- Keep learning. Licensed Oregon artists must log continuing education every year to keep the licence.
Oregon's tattoo licence, in detail
Oregon offers two pathways. The first is for people who train in the state, the second for artists already licensed somewhere else.
| Requirement | Pathway 1: Oregon tattoo school |
|---|---|
| Training hours | 360 hours: 210 theory and 150 practical |
| Hands-on proof | At least 50 completed tattoos, including touch-ups after healing |
| Who teaches | An Oregon licensed tattoo artist registered as a teacher |
| Supervision | One-to-one when a student works on the public |
| Minimum age | 18, with proof of date of birth |
| Education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Certificates | Current CPR, basic first aid and blood borne pathogen training |
| Exam | Written, 100 multiple-choice questions, 100 minutes, 75% to pass |
The detail most people miss is the definition of a completed procedure. Oregon counts a tattoo only once it's finished, including any touch-ups after initial healing, and the client has been released. So 50 procedures means 50 tattoos you've seen through healing, not 50 sessions. Plan for that, because it takes far longer than the classroom hours.
The exam runs on a walk-in basis at the Health Licensing Office in Salem, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You'll need two forms of government ID, one with a photo. The office says that after you pass and pay the fees, you'll get your Oregon licence the same day. You must pass within two years of applying.
Already licensed in another state?
Pathway 2 is for artists holding a current licence elsewhere with no disciplinary action. If that state's rules aren't substantially equivalent to Oregon's, the office can still accept you if you show you've worked as a tattoo artist for the equivalent of three years within the last five, or five years out of the last ten.
Keeping the licence
Oregon tattoo artists must complete ten continuing education hours every year. Up to five of those hours can be self-study, and you need to keep your records for five years in case the office asks to see them.
The UK route to tattooing
The National Careers Service describes a route built around studio apprenticeships rather than formal schooling. You could start as an assistant in a tattoo or body piercing studio, which means finding a registered tattooist who's willing to take you on and train you. Some people start on the front desk, answering enquiries and booking appointments, then look for trainee openings from there.
Private courses exist, but the service is blunt about them: a course doesn't mean you're fully qualified. For that, you need hands-on, supervised experience in a registered studio. Before you start work, you must register both yourself and your premises with your local council for a tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence, and you'll need to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Many tattooists have a background or qualifications in art and design. The service also suggests learning the styles and history of tattooing across cultures, so you understand what images mean and how they're traditionally used.
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What the job looks like day to day
- Talking clients through their design and how it can be done
- Checking the client understands the tattoo will be permanent
- Transferring the design to the skin, freehand or with a transfer
- Following the outline with an electrically operated needle
- Sterilising and cleaning equipment after every job
- Giving aftercare advice while the tattoo heals
With experience, the National Careers Service says many artists go self-employed, often by renting a chair in someone else's studio. With a business plan and enough funds, you could open your own studio and employ other artists or rent out space. If you're heading that way, read up on choosing between an LLC and a sole proprietorship before you sign a chair rental agreement.
My verdict
Tattooing rewards patience more than talent alone. The artists who get trained are the ones who turn up with a strong portfolio, accept criticism and treat hygiene as seriously as the art. Check your state or council rules first, because they decide how long your route will be. If you love design but want a less regulated creative path, compare it with becoming a fashion designer.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a licence to be a tattoo artist?
In most places, yes. In the US, licensing is set by states and local authorities. Oregon requires a licence from its Health Licensing Office. In the UK, you must register yourself and your premises with your local council.
How long does it take to become a tattoo artist?
It depends on your rules. Oregon requires 360 hours of training plus 50 completed tattoos, and the completed tattoos usually take longer than the classroom hours because each one has to heal before it counts.
Can you learn tattooing from an online course?
Courses can teach theory, but the National Careers Service says a course doesn't make you fully qualified. You need supervised, hands-on experience in a registered studio.
How old do you have to be to become a tattoo artist?
Oregon requires applicants to be at least 18 and to provide proof of date of birth.
What is on the Oregon tattoo exam?
It's a written exam of 100 multiple-choice questions with a 100-minute time limit. The minimum passing score is 75%.
Do tattoo artists need continuing education?
In Oregon, yes. Licence holders must complete ten continuing education hours every year, and up to five can be self-study.
