For body artists to perform tattoos in the state of Nebraska, you must hold a Body Art License issued by the state of Nebraska's Department of Health. No general education development certificate is required, but there are certain courses in bloodborne pathogens and CPR that you will need to take instead.
A Body Art License costs $95 and requires the completion of the appropriate application with the Nebraska Department of Health. If you receive your tattoo artist license within 6 months of the renewal date (March 31 of an odd-numbered year), it costs $25.
However, the fee may be waived if you are a tattoo artist who is:
All body artist licenses expire on March 31st of odd-numbered years. Renewal of a Body Art License costs $118.
The Application
To get a Body Art License and become a permanent color technician, you must submit copies of the following: |
|---|
Your completed license application |
Birth certificate or US passport to prove US Citizenship |
High school diploma or GED (or equivalent) |
Any OSHA bloodborne pathogen training certificate Training should include at least 2 hours of instruction Training should cover sanitation, infection control, and sterilization |
Any basic First Aid training certificate |
To get a Tattoo Artist Apprentice Card, you must have:
- Your completed license application
- Birth certificate or US passport to prove US Citizenship
- High school diploma or GED (or equivalent)
- Any OSHA bloodborne pathogen training certificate
- Training should include at least 2 hours of instruction
- Training should cover sanitation, infection control, and sterilization
- Any basic First Aid training certificate
If you plan to practice in Lancaster County, you must also be licensed by the Lancaster County Health Department. Find information about that license here.
If your county has additional regulations for body piercing or body art work, you can find the appropriate license application information for your county here.
Licensed Tattoo Artists Moving to Nebraska:
If you hold or have held an individual tattoo artist license in another state, you must still apply as normal for a license in Nebraska.
However, in addition to the steps listed above, you also need to contact the state(s) in which you are/were licensed and request a certification of your license or similar document. Then you will submit this document with your application.
Turn in Your Application
Mail your application to:
DHHS Licensure Unit
Attn: Body Art
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
Or email it to dhhs.licensure2117@nebraska.gov
Make sure to include copies of the following required documents, as well as your fee by check or money order to the above address.
If your body artist application is complete, you will receive your tattoo artist license in the mail within about 10 days.
Things You Should Know:
In addition to individual artists needing to be licensed, each tattoo establishment must also be licensed in order to practice body piercing and tattoo art.
More information about that process for interested body art facilities can be found here.
https://lincoln.ne.gov/city/health/environ/BodyArt.htm
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/local-health-departments.aspx
Tattoo license info: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Body-Art-Profession.aspx
https://www.nebraska.gov/rules-and-regs/regsearch/Rules/Health_and_Human_Services_System/Title-172/Chapter-002.pdf
mailto:dhhs.licensure2117@nebraska.gov
https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Documents/BodyArtInitialApp.pdf
https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/documents/LowIncomeFeeWaiverTable.pdf
Infection control course by state: https://courseforbbp.com/states
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.
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