How to Get a Tattoo License – Alaska

Licensing and Permit Provisions for Tattooing and Permanent Cosmetic Work in Alaska

To be a tattoo artist in Alaska, you need a license issued by the state. There is a standard license, a temporary license, a temporary permit, and a courtesy license. Understanding which one you need will help you know which fees and documents to submit. 

If it is your first time getting a tattoo license and you are living in Alaska, you will want to apply for a Standard License.

Standard License Requirements

For a standard license as a tattoo artist, there is a $150 nonrefundable application fee, a $180 initial license fee, and a $60 examination fee. 

All checks and money orders should be made payable to State of Alaska as follows:

Temporary License Requirements - For New Artists Waiting on Their Standard License to Arrive - 120 Days

For a temporary license as a tattoo artist, there is a $150 nonrefundable application fee, a $100 temporary license fee, and a $60 written examination fee. (Full info see bottom of page 1 here.)

A temporary tattoo artist license (or body piercing) solely for 120 days can also be obtained. 

This temporary permit is for individuals who have completed their training and are qualified to take the examination (and have submitted an application to do so) but have not yet had a valid license issued or taken the exam yet. You must have paid the application and exam fees.

You will also need to complete a Statement of Responsibility form. This is a nonrenewable application. Each student permit is only valid for one area.

Temporary Permit - For Artists From Another State - 6 Months

Temporary permits are available for tattoo artists who are working in a shop approved by the state. A temporary permit may be granted to a tattoo artist for a period of six months, at which time the state will issue a permanent license or reject the application.

To apply for a temporary permit, you must issue a notarized copy of your license from another state (or copies from a licensed school in your initial licensing jurisdiction).

You will also need to pay appropriate fees (the temporary permit fee is $100 plus the application fee and permanent license fees).

Courtesy License Requirements - For Short Trips Like Tattoo Conventions, Guest Spots, Etc.

If you are a guest artist from another state, you can get a 30-day courtesy license and practice in a licensed shop. For a courtesy license, there is an $80 nonrefundable application fee and an $80 courtesy license fee.

Current Valid License Expiration Dates

You must renew your standard license by August 31 of odd-numbered years, unless they were issued within 90 days of that date (in which case, they will be good until the next August in an odd-numbered year). Renewal of an individual license costs $90. Renew your license here. 

Temporary licenses last for 120 days and are non-renewable. 

The Application Process for Tattooing and Permanent Cosmetic Licenses

To get a tattoo license, you must submit the following:

Fill out a student license application as well as the monthly training reports, completion, and termination forms here.

CPR and Bloodborne Training/Sanitary Practices Courses are important for anyone considering becoming a tattoo artist or working in body piercing.

These courses provide vital information on how to protect both the person being tattooed and the same person artist themselves from infection and disease. And, because they're offered by schools licensed by the state, they ensure that all tattoo artists have the same high standard of training. By taking these courses, tattoo artists can help to protect their clients and themselves while ensuring that their work is of the highest quality.

Because of this, you will need to submit a certified true copy of your current CPR and blood borne pathogens card from a course taught by a licensed healthcare professional. CPR courses must be offered by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or an equivalent organization, and must be taken in person, not online. 

If training was completed outside of Alaska, an “Affidavit Confirming Study of the Statute and Regulation Booklet” form must be submitted. The form and enrollment confirmation can be found on page 14 here. If your Affidavit is approved, you might not have to take the state exam.

You will need to be prepared to pay the $150.00 application fee and $60.00 exam fee when you turn in your application. The $180 initial license fee can be paid alongside the application, or after you pass the exam.

In some counties, tattoo artists must be licensed by the county as well as the state in order to operate. If your county has additional regulations, you can find them here.

The Exam

If your application is successfully completed and approved, you must take the state exam. You will be assigned a time and place for your exam. 

All the documents above must be received by the department of health 30 days before the date of your exam. Exams are given every four weeks in Anchorage and every eight weeks in Fairbanks and Juneau.

Applications For Persons Licensed in Other States 

For those who worked in tattooing or permanent cosmetic coloring in a shop licensed in another state, it is possible to get initial licenses without having to jump through all the normal hoops.

You will still need to pay an application fee of $150 for each type of license (body piercing, tattooing, etc.) along with the student permit fee for each initial license ($180 for each area such as body piercing, tattooing, or permanent cosmetic coloring).

You must have passed a written examination in the state in which you are currently licensed. If not, you will need to take the exam to ensure that the methods you already learned are methods approved in the state of Alaska as well.

You will need to provide verification of the training you receive outside of Alaska and submit appropriate documentation. You'll also need a verification of licensure and the Affidavit Confirming Study of the Statute and Regulation Booklet as well.

Finally, you will need to submit a certified true copy of current blood borne pathogen training and CPR training cards.

How to Get a Tattoo Shop Licensed in Alaska

If you plan on opening a permanent cosmetic coloring or tattoo shop in Alaska, you will need to start by getting a business license. You'll need to pay about $40 per year and go through regular inspections.

Tattoo shop owners must adopt regulations passed by the Alaska State Legislature. Any establishment operated for the purpose of tattooing and body piercing must follow various infection control practices and use appropriate sterilizing equipment. Only chemicals approved by the state may be used.

Each tattoo artist working in the shop must have a license to practice tattooing and have completed training in the minimum requirements for blood borne pathogens, sanitation, CPR, and so on. Tattoo shops may employ a student training to practice tattooing (they must have an apprentice license).

Tattoo studios must display this written complaint Sign. The written complaint sign is necessary to avoid various public health nuisances that may otherwise be missed.

Final Thoughts on Getting a Permanent License for Tattooing in Alaska

If you're looking to become a tattoo artist in Alaska, there are some steps you need to take. In addition to meeting the requirements set by the state, it's important that you learn these important safety tips for both you and your clients. By following these guidelines and taking the necessary steps to become licensed, you'll be able to start your career as a tattoo artist in no time.

Have any other questions about getting a tattoo artist license in Alaska? Check out the links below for more information on how to get a practitioner license in this state.

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

Learning the steps you need to take to get licensed is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist. 

However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.

This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.