# How to Become a Tattoo Artist in Washington (2026)

> To become a tattoo artist in Washington, you must be at least 18, hold a current bloodborne pathogens certificate, and apply for an individual license. Washington DOL charges $275 for the initial artist license. Separate practical training from licensing eligibility, and make sure commercial tattooing takes place through a licensed shop or business.

- Published: 2026-10-18 · Updated: 2026-10-18
- Canonical: https://seattle-tattoo.org/blog/become-tattoo-artist-washington

## Key takeaways

- Washington DOL requires artist applicants to be at least 18 and hold a current, active bloodborne pathogens certificate.
- The initial artist license and on-time renewal each cost $275; late renewal costs $385.
- Commercial tattooing requires both an appropriate individual license and a licensed shop or business.
- Artist licenses expire annually, and renewal opens up to 120 days before expiration.
- WA DOL monthly data show licensed tattoo artists increased 37% between October 2023 and August 2026.

To become a tattoo artist in Washington, you must meet DOL’s eligibility requirements, complete the individual-license application, and arrange to work through a licensed shop or business. Applicants must be at least 18 and hold a current, active bloodborne pathogens certificate, according to [Washington DOL’s artist application requirements](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/get-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics).

Learning how to become a tattoo artist in Washington also means separating legal eligibility from professional preparation. Building a portfolio and discussing training with a mentor belong on your career plan, but they are a different track from submitting a license application. Keep both tracks visible as you plan your next steps.

## What does Washington require to become a tattoo artist?

Washington DOL’s application eligibility starts with age and safety-training certification: you must be at least 18 and have a current, active bloodborne pathogens certificate. Treat those requirements separately from the preparation you discuss with prospective mentors.

An individual license is not permission to tattoo commercially at any location. Washington requires both an appropriate individual artist license and a licensed shop or business for commercial tattooing under [RCW 18.300.090](https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.300.090).

Use separate checklists to keep your plans clear:

- **Legal eligibility and application:** Confirm your age eligibility, obtain qualifying safety training, organize your certificate, follow DOL’s application instructions, and verify the licensed workplace.
- **Professional preparation:** Organize original artwork, seek portfolio feedback, and ask prospective mentors about supervised learning and their proposed training terms.

Do not treat a mentorship offer as a license, or a license application as proof that your practical preparation is complete. The questions you ask a mentor serve a different purpose from the documents you submit to DOL.

A useful sequence is to understand eligibility, discuss training with prospective mentors, complete qualifying safety training, apply, verify the work location, and plan renewal. Keep the [Washington tattoo licensing and legal rules](https://seattle-tattoo.org/tattoo-laws-washington) available as you work through the legal side.

## How should you approach an apprenticeship and portfolio?

### Separate apprenticeship discussions from licensing requirements

DOL’s **August 2025 Professional License Review** recommended developing a tattoo-industry apprenticeship program with Labor & Industries. That was a dated policy recommendation—not a statement that applicants must complete a state-mandated apprenticeship curriculum or hour requirement in 2026 ([DOL Professional License Review](https://dol.wa.gov/media/pdf/5033/2025-professional-license-reviewpdf/download?inline=)).

When discussing a tattoo apprenticeship in Washington, ask the prospective mentor to explain the arrangement in concrete terms. Keep those proposed terms separate from DOL’s application eligibility.

### Prepare work for useful feedback

Use this as a suggested preparation checklist, not a universal portfolio acceptance standard:

- Organize original drawings so someone can review them easily.
- Identify the pieces you most want feedback on.
- Write down the styles or subjects you want to develop.
- Ask each prospective mentor which formats, styles, and examples they want to see.
- Keep notes on feedback and what you plan to revise.

The [tattoo style guides](https://seattle-tattoo.org/styles) can help you organize portfolio interests and describe the work you want to discuss. Use [Washington tattoo studio listings](https://seattle-tattoo.org/washington) to identify places to research and contact.

### Ask about the arrangement before agreeing

Before accepting proposed training terms, ask:

- Who supervises the learning?
- What activities are included?
- How is progress assessed?
- What schedule and duration are proposed?
- What costs and written terms apply?
- What are the completion criteria?

For a Seattle apprenticeship, ask the prospective mentor for their expected schedule rather than planning around an assumed standard duration. Request written terms so you can review the expectations before making a commitment.

## How do you complete safety training and apply?

### Choose qualifying bloodborne pathogens training

Bloodborne pathogens training used for Washington artist licensing must comply with **OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030**, under [WAC 308-22-040](https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=308-22-040). Before enrolling, ask the provider to confirm that its course complies with that standard. Direct questions about whether a particular course satisfies Washington licensing eligibility to DOL.

Check the course information before paying, rather than assuming that any course labeled “bloodborne pathogens training” meets the licensing rule. Keep the provider’s course details with your application records.

### Prepare your application materials

Before starting the application:

- Confirm that you meet the age requirement.
- Check that your bloodborne pathogens certificate is current and active.
- Gather the certificate and make a copy for your records.
- Review DOL’s current application instructions.
- Decide whether to apply online or by mail.

You can **apply and pay online through SecureAccess Washington**, or apply by mail. A mailed submission must include the completed application, a copy of the bloodborne pathogens certificate, and payment, according to [DOL’s application instructions](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/get-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics).

### Check the mailing details before sending payment

If applying by mail, confirm the current payment mailing address directly with DOL before sending your documents. Use the address DOL confirms for your application and payment rather than relying on an address saved from an earlier search.

Retain a copy of the submitted application, your certificate, and payment confirmation. If you need to ask DOL about the application, those records give you a clear reference for what you sent.

Confirm your license status with DOL before beginning commercial tattoo work, and verify the shop or business licensing as a separate step. Avoid committing to a start date based only on when you submitted the application.

## How much do initial licensing and renewals cost?

The initial individual artist license costs **$275**, on-time artist renewal costs **$275**, and late artist renewal costs **$385**. A first shop, mobile-unit, or event-location license costs **$330 per location**, according to [DOL’s fee schedule](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/fees-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics).

For license copies, online self-printing costs **$0**, while DOL printing and mailing costs **$5 per copy**, according to the [artist application form](https://dol.wa.gov/forms/view/667001/download?inline=).

| Item | Official fee | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Initial individual artist license | $275 | Applying for your first artist license |
| On-time individual renewal | $275 | Renewing the artist license on time |
| Late individual renewal | $385 | Renewing the artist license late |
| First shop, mobile-unit, or event-location license | $330 per location | Licensing a location separately from the artist |
| Online self-printing | $0 | Printing your license yourself |
| DOL printed-and-mailed copy | $5 per copy | Requesting DOL printing and mailing |

The location charge is **not an automatic additional fee every artist applicant personally owes**. It applies when licensing the location; clarify who is handling that credential if you are joining an existing business.

Keep professional preparation expenses outside your government-fee budget. Ask the safety-training provider for its actual course price, and request a written explanation of any proposed mentorship costs before agreeing. List application, renewal, preparation, and any applicable location expenses separately.

## When do you need a separate location license?

An individual credential and a lawful commercial workplace are separate requirements. If you plan to join a studio, confirm its shop or business licensing rather than assuming your own license covers the premises.

If you are setting up a shop, mobile unit, or event location, address the separate location credential with DOL. The first location license carries the separate **$330-per-location** fee shown above. Your individual credential does not authorize commercial tattooing at any address or event you choose.

Washington also specifies where licenses must be displayed:

- **Individual practitioner license:** At the licensed person’s workstation.
- **Shop or business location license:** In the reception area.

Those display requirements appear in [RCW 18.300.070](https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.300.070). When discussing a workplace, ask who maintains the location credential and where you will post your individual license.

If you are licensed elsewhere or considering guest work, ask DOL to confirm the Washington credentials you need **before accepting bookings**. Explain the proposed location and work arrangement when asking. Do not assume another state’s credential, a studio invitation, or a description such as “guest artist” resolves the Washington licensing requirements.

## How do you renew your license and handle expiration?

Washington artist licenses **expire annually**, and you may renew **up to 120 days before expiration**, according to [DOL’s renewal instructions](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/renew-or-update-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics). Record the actual expiration date on your credential and set a reminder to review renewal before that date.

### Check the certificate information DOL requests

DOL’s current instructions tell renewing artists to gather the **expiration date of their bloodborne pathogens certificate** ([DOL renewal checklist](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/renew-or-update-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics)). That instruction should not be treated as a blanket requirement to upload a new certificate every year. Follow the current renewal steps and direct certificate questions about your circumstances to DOL.

Keep your certificate accessible so you can check its details without searching for it when renewal is due.

### Do not work on an expired credential

DOL considers an artist **unlicensed once the license expires or is canceled**. A license expired for **more than one year** is canceled and requires reapplication, under [DOL’s expiration rules](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/renew-or-update-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics).

The on-time renewal fee is $275; the late renewal fee is $385. A late fee is not permission to work while the credential is expired. Resolve the license status before resuming commercial work.

Also distinguish a missing paper copy from an expired credential. The self-print and DOL printed-and-mailed options concern the license copy; obtaining another copy is not the same task as renewing the underlying license.

## What does Washington’s artist-license trend tell applicants?

Washington’s licensed tattoo artists increased from **2,298 in October 2023 to 3,143 in August 2026**, a **37% increase**, according to the Seattle Tattoo editorial team’s analysis of [WA DOL monthly license data](https://data.wa.gov/d/a2n7-rij5).

Over the same period, Washington’s licensed tattoo shops increased from **786 in October 2023 to 939 in August 2026**, a **19% increase**, according to our analysis of [WA DOL monthly license data](https://data.wa.gov/d/a2n7-rij5). These are dated comparisons, not live October totals.

The figures show growth in licensed artists and shops across that period. They are **not counts of job openings, apprenticeship places, earnings, or client demand**, and they do not promise employment after licensing.

Use the trend as a reason to ask specific career questions, not as a substitute for contacting studios. Ask whether a studio is considering mentorship arrangements, whether it has hiring needs, and what work it wants to review before discussing either possibility.

For more context, see the [Washington tattoo-license statistics](https://seattle-tattoo.org/washington-tattoo-statistics) and [how our directory data is collected and verified](https://seattle-tattoo.org/methodology). Keep licensing research and your own conversations with prospective mentors alongside the statewide figures.

## What should you do before submitting your application?

Work through this final checklist before sending the application:

- **Verify eligibility:** Confirm your age eligibility and current, active bloodborne pathogens certificate.
- **Check training compliance:** Confirm that the licensing course meets the required OSHA standard.
- **Organize documents:** Keep the certificate, application details, and copies together.
- **Budget:** Set aside the applicable government fees and obtain actual preparation-cost quotes.
- **Choose the route:** Apply online, or confirm the payment mailing address with DOL before mailing.
- **Continue career preparation:** Prepare artwork for portfolio feedback and ask prospective mentors about supervision, schedule, costs, and written terms.

Before accepting commercial work, confirm both your individual credential and the shop or business license. Resolve any guest-work licensing questions directly with DOL rather than treating a mentorship offer or studio invitation as authorization.

Once licensed, record the expiration date, review DOL’s current renewal instructions, and keep access to the license-copy options.

## FAQ

**How old must I be to get a Washington tattoo-artist license?**
Washington DOL requires applicants to be at least 18 years old and have a current, active bloodborne pathogens certificate.

**Is an apprenticeship a Washington tattoo-license requirement?**
DOL’s application requirements list age eligibility and a current, active bloodborne pathogens certificate. Its August 2025 recommendation to develop an apprenticeship program should not be treated as a mandatory 2026 apprenticeship curriculum.

**How long does a tattoo apprenticeship in Seattle take?**
Ask each prospective mentor for the proposed schedule, duration, and completion criteria. Keep that training agreement separate from Washington’s artist-license application requirements.

**What does a Washington tattoo-artist license cost?**
Washington DOL charges $275 for the initial individual artist license and $275 for on-time renewal. Late renewal costs $385, and a first shop, mobile-unit, or event-location license costs a separate $330 per location.

**Can I tattoo in Washington with a license from another state?**
Do not assume an out-of-state license authorizes Washington work. Confirm the appropriate Washington individual credential and licensed business arrangement with DOL before accepting bookings, including guest appointments.

**Do I have to upload a new bloodborne pathogens certificate every renewal?**
DOL’s current renewal instructions ask artists to gather their certificate’s expiration date. That instruction is not the same as requiring a new certificate upload each year; ask DOL what applies to your renewal.

## Sources

- [Get your license: Tattoos, body piercing, body art, and permanent cosmetics](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/get-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics) — Washington State Department of Licensing
- [RCW 18.300.090: Violation—Shop or business license and individual license required](https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.300.090) — Washington State Legislature
- [2025 Professional License Review](https://dol.wa.gov/media/pdf/5033/2025-professional-license-reviewpdf/download?inline=) — Washington State Department of Licensing
- [WAC 308-22-040: Issuance of licenses—Requirements](https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=308-22-040) — Washington State Legislature
- [Fees: Tattoos, body piercing, body art, and permanent cosmetics](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/fees-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics) — Washington State Department of Licensing
- [Body Art, Body Piercing, Tattoo Artist, Permanent Cosmetics License, Renewal, or Reinstatement Application](https://dol.wa.gov/forms/view/667001/download?inline=) — Washington State Department of Licensing
- [RCW 18.300.070: Shop or business requirements—Director authority—Inspections](https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.300.070) — Washington State Legislature
- [Renew or update your license: Tattoos, body piercing, body art, and permanent cosmetics](https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics/renew-or-update-your-license-tattoos-body-piercing-body-art-and-permanent-cosmetics) — Washington State Department of Licensing
- [Washington State Department of Licensing - Professional License Counts (data.wa.gov)](https://data.wa.gov/d/a2n7-rij5) — Washington State Department of Licensing