How to Get an Idaho Tattoo License

Idaho Tattoo Artist Licensing Requirements

Under state law, tattoo artists in Idaho do not need to have a body art license.

However, individual tattoo business shops have to get permits and comply with standards from the Health Department. Artists will be expected to tattoo in a way that aligns with those standards.

How to Open a Licensed Tattoo Shop in Idaho

Tattoo Industry Standards

While the state may not regulate it, tattoo artists in Idaho are highly encouraged to go through a bloodborne pathogens training course, get vaccinated against Hepatitis B, and get some form of tattoo education (through a tattoo course or tattoo apprenticeship) before they begin working with clients.

County Regulations to Perform Body Piercing and Body Art

If your county health department has additional regulations, you can find them here. 

It can be difficult to find information on how to get an individual license for your business to perform tattooing and body piercing, since there are no formal state regulations in regards to tattooing.

However, the below items are general standards that you might expect to find as they relate to tattoo licenses. Check with your local public health department to find out exactly what you might need.

In most cases, business licenses are necessary to operate tattoo parlors in Idaho, as they are in other states. If you already practice medicine as a medical doctor and want to perform tattooing for a medical purpose, you may be exempt from this requirement, but it's important for shop owners to consult the public health department first.

To get an individual license for business, you will usually need to register as a business (LLC, DBA, etc) and have a formal business name on file with the state. There may be fees required for you to open your tattoo parlor and you will want to check in about zoning regulations for this specific license in your city, too.

To own a body piercing or tattoo shop, it is necessary that each person obtains a business permit for tattooing.

Any such person who wishes to open a business in tattooing should also make sure the shop meets sanitation and health and wellness standards.

Regulations again vary by county but usually require that the shop owners have a complete list of all services provided on site as well as a permit for occupancy from the zoning board.

There usually needs to be copies of written consent forms for registration of new clients, documentation of waste and sharps disposal procedures, and regulations in place for dealing with blood borne pathogens.

Other common requirements for business licensing of tattoo shops include working hand sinks with hot and cold water, a complete list of all persons doing tattoos at the site, and a process for providing aftercare instructions.

Many counties require that, for this specific tattooing license, a tattoo artist or body piercer must have completed an apprenticeship under the direct supervision of a person with experience in tattooing and that specific license.

The laws again vary by county, but most persons will benefit from an apprenticeship regardless of whether it is required by the local or county laws.

Finally, for someone who plans on adding other services to your tattoo shop (like a tanning device, doing ear piercing, or any other work besides just the option to get a tattoo), it is important that the person obtains the proper license.

Registration and licensing for these procedures may not follow the same rules for tattooing in your county, so it is important to do your research to be sure.

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.