Microblading & Permanent Makeup
Licensing Requirements by State
Rules for microblading and PMU vary by state and by county. Find your state's requirement below, plus the licensing office to verify it with.
Please read first — this is general information, not legal advice. Rules for microblading and permanent makeup (PMU) vary by state and by county, and they change. Some states require a cosmetology or esthetician license, most regulate it as tattooing/body art through the health department, and a few have little state regulation at all. Always confirm the current requirement with your state's licensing board or health department before you train or practice.
Last verified: June 24, 2026
Quick answer: there are three ways states regulate microblading
Because microblading and PMU break the skin, states regulate them in one of three ways:
- Body art / tattoo registration (most states). Microblading is treated as tattooing. You register as a body-art or tattoo artist with the state or county health department, complete bloodborne pathogens training, and work in a registered facility. A cosmetology license is usually not required.
- Cosmetology or esthetician license (or a dedicated PMU license with required hours). A number of states require a professional license first, sometimes plus dedicated PMU training or apprenticeship hours. Colorado is the strictest: an esthetician/cosmetology license plus a 132-hour state-approved PMU program.
- Minimal or unregulated at the state level. A few states have little or no state requirement beyond bloodborne pathogens, but local county or city rules usually still apply.
What this means for you: your AMA Certificate of Completion proves you finished professional, hands-on training. It is not a state license. Each state decides what credential lets you practice on paying clients, so always confirm yours before you start working. Our lifetime instructor support is here to help you keep building toward whatever your state requires.
Requirements by state
Researched by AMA from public sources, current to 2026. Rules change and many are set at the county level, so always confirm the current requirement with the office listed for your state before training or practicing.
| State | What's typically required | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Body-art/tattoo artist license plus a body-art facility license. No cosmetology license required. | AL Dept. of Public Health (Body Art) |
| Alaska | Must hold a tattooist / permanent cosmetic colorist license; the permanent-cosmetic standard requires about 250 hours of board-approved training. | AK Board of Barbers & Hairdressers |
| Arizona | No state PMU license; bloodborne pathogens training; rules set locally. | Your county health department |
| Arkansas | State license plus a licensed establishment; about a 375-hour apprenticeship over 6 months and a practical exam. | AR Dept. of Health (Body Art) |
| California | No cosmetology/esthetician license. Register as a body-art practitioner with your county and pass a bloodborne pathogens exam (Safe Body Art Act). | Your county health department |
| Colorado | Strictest. Esthetician or cosmetology license plus a 132-hour state-approved PMU program. | CO DORA — Office of Barber & Cosmetology Licensure (303-894-7800) |
| Connecticut | Tattoo technician license. No esthetician/cosmetology license required. | CT Dept. of Public Health |
| Delaware | The state licenses body-art establishments (not individual artists); you must work out of a licensed establishment. | DE Division of Public Health |
| Florida | Tattoo artist license plus work in a licensed tattoo establishment; bloodborne pathogens course. | FL Dept. of Health |
| Georgia | State and county tattoo/body-art license. No cosmetology/esthetician license required. | GA Dept. of Public Health + your county |
| Hawaii | Tattoo license. | HI Dept. of Health (Sanitation Branch) |
| Idaho | Largely unregulated at the state level; bloodborne pathogens recommended; confirm county rules. | Your county health department |
| Illinois | State tattoo/PMU plus a body-art establishment license; work in a licensed facility. | IL Dept. of Public Health (Body Art) |
| Indiana | Local/county body-art permit via your local health department (under state guidance). | Your county health department |
| Iowa | Tattoo artist license plus work in a licensed tattoo establishment. | IA Dept. of Public Health |
| Kansas | Cosmetic tattooing is regulated by the Board of Cosmetology (training + licensure). | KS Board of Cosmetology |
| Kentucky | Register with your local health department (902 KAR 45:065). | KY Dept. for Public Health + local |
| Louisiana | State regulates body art (Food & Drug Program); facility permit + register practitioners. | LA Dept. of Health |
| Maine | Practitioner license (treated as micropigmentation) with training and supervision requirements. | ME Dept. of Health & Human Services |
| Maryland | Cosmetic tattooing is prohibited in salons; rules are set locally — confirm with your county/city. | MD Dept. of Health + local |
| Massachusetts | Body-art practitioner registration through your local board of health. | MA DPH — Community Sanitation (Body Art) |
| Michigan | Must work in a licensed body-art facility (MDHHS licenses facilities). | MI Dept. of Health & Human Services |
| Minnesota | Body-art technician license (covers micropigmentation). | MN Dept. of Health (Body Art) |
| Mississippi | No cosmetology/esthetician license; tattoo license via the Health Dept. + about 9 months under a licensed tattoo artist. | MS State Dept. of Health |
| Missouri | Tattoo license: bloodborne pathogens + a 300-hour apprenticeship; varies by county. | MO Office of Tattooing, Body Piercing & Branding |
| Montana | Body-art license; varies by county. | MT DPHHS + local |
| Nebraska | "Permanent color technician" license (DHHS licenses artists + facilities); certification + bloodborne pathogens. | NE Dept. of Health & Human Services |
| Nevada | Body-art card via the county health district; some counties require apprentice hours. | Southern Nevada Health District / your county |
| New Hampshire | Microblading Certificate via DHHS: accredited course (AAM or SPCP) + sanitation/safety + bloodborne pathogens. | NH Dept. of Health & Human Services |
| New Jersey | About 40+ hours of PMU training (AAM/SPCP certified) plus a body-art establishment license; varies by county. | Your local health department |
| New Mexico | Body-art practitioner license: apprenticeship + 100 hours of theory + a jurisprudence exam + CPR/first aid/bloodborne pathogens. | NM Regulation & Licensing (Barbers & Cosmetologists) |
| New York | County-determined. NYC requires a tattoo license plus the DOHMH infection-control course; other counties vary. | NYC DOHMH / your county health dept. |
| North Carolina | Tattoo license (state), with common county-level requirements. | NC Dept. of Health & Human Services + your county |
| North Dakota | Not regulated at the state level; some cities/counties have their own rules. | Your local health department |
| Ohio | Tattoo license + training/certification; body art under OAC 3701-9; local health departments license. | Your local health department |
| Oklahoma | PMU license via the State Dept. of Health; work as a licensed Specialist. | OK State Dept. of Health |
| Oregon | License with required approved training/apprenticeship hours; varies by county. | OR Health Licensing Office (Body Art) |
| Pennsylvania | Unregulated at the state level; check your county/city. | Your local county/city offices |
| Rhode Island | Artist license plus an establishment license; sanitation + bloodborne pathogens. | RI Dept. of Health |
| South Carolina | Unusually strict: treated as a structural alteration of facial tissue, so it may only be performed under the direction of a physician. Confirm carefully. | SC DHEC + state medical board |
| South Dakota | Minimal state regulation; mainly local health-department rules. | Your local health department |
| Tennessee | License for artists and establishments (microblading is treated as tattooing). | TN Dept. of Health — Environmental Health |
| Texas | Performed in a registered tattoo studio; bloodborne pathogens; varies by county. | TX Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS) |
| Utah | Largely unregulated at the state level; some counties have body-art rules. | Your local health department |
| Vermont | License (tattooist / permanent cosmetics) via the Office of Professional Regulation; must work in a licensed or registered shop. | VT Office of Professional Regulation |
| Virginia | Permanent-cosmetic tattooing license/exam via the Board for Barbers & Cosmetology. | VA Dept. of Professional & Occupational Regulation |
| Washington | "Permanent cosmetics" artist license plus a shop license; bloodborne pathogens certificate required. | WA Dept. of Licensing |
| West Virginia | Regulated at the state level (licensing + facility inspection). Confirm the current practitioner requirement. | WV Dept. of Health & Human Resources |
| Wisconsin | Separate artist and establishment licenses; PMU falls under tattooing (DHS 173 / SPS 221). No set training-hour requirement. | WI Dept. of Safety & Professional Services |
| Wyoming | Not regulated at the state level; some counties/cities have their own rules. | Your local health department |
| Washington, D.C. | Not regulated at the district level; confirm any local requirements. | DC Dept. of Health |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to do microblading?
In almost every state, yes, but the type varies. Most states require a body-art or tattoo registration through the health department; some require a cosmetology or esthetician license; a few have minimal state rules but local requirements. Find your state in our guide and confirm with the listed office.
Does my AMA certificate let me practice in my state?
Your AMA Certificate of Completion shows you finished professional, hands-on training. It is not a government license. Each state decides which credential allows you to work on paying clients, so confirm your state's requirement before practicing.
Is microblading considered tattooing?
Legally, in most states, yes, because it implants pigment into the skin. That is why so many states regulate it through their tattoo and body-art programs rather than cosmetology.
What is a bloodborne pathogens certification?
A short safety course on preventing the spread of infection. Most states require it, and we recommend it everywhere, regardless of your other licensing.
How do I find my state's exact microblading requirements?
Contact the office listed for your state in our guide, plus your local county or city health department, since many rules are set locally. When in doubt, call both your state cosmetology board and your state health department's body-art program.
Not sure where you stand?
We help students nationwide figure out exactly what their state requires before and after training. Reach out at info@ama.academy or (832) 664-7950 and we'll walk you through your state's path.
This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Microblading and PMU requirements change and vary by locality. Always verify the current rules with your state and local authorities before training or practicing.