Exam states, based on our records, include Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York (NYC), Oregon, Utah, and Virginia. Each of these lists an exam somewhere in its requirements, from state written tests to local sanitation exams.

How did we decide which states are exam states?

We classified a state as an exam state only when its verified requirements explicitly list a written, practical, sanitation, or national exam. We did not infer exams from training hours or facility inspections alone. The criterion here is simple and traceable: the word “exam” (or a named test) must appear in the state’s recorded requirements.

This produced a focused list rather than a padded one, which is exactly right. States like Iowa or Maine require training and certifications but do not list an exam in our data, so they are not included. If a state you care about is missing, check its official authority directly, because rules can be added or updated.

Which exam does Arkansas require?

Arkansas requires a state exam with a passing score, taken after completing a 375-hour tattoo apprenticeship under a state-licensed artist. The Arkansas Department of Health oversees a two-step sequence: you earn an apprentice license first, then the permanent artist license.

The tattoo apprenticeship must take place in an ADH-permitted establishment, and Arkansas strictly prohibits tattooing anyone under 18 regardless of parental consent. Enforcement centers on infectious disease prevention and facility plan reviews, so expect the exam to reflect sanitation and safety knowledge.

What is on Connecticut’s tattoo exam?

Connecticut’s written exam covers health regulations and anatomy, and it follows 2,000 hours of training under a licensed technician in a registered salon. The Department of Public Health issues the Tattoo Technician license through a state online portal.

You will also need an approved bloodborne pathogens course and current Basic First Aid from the American Red Cross or AHA. Tattooing was historically restricted to physicians in Connecticut, and while the Tattoo Technician license opened the door wider, the requirements remain high.

How does Georgia’s Body Art Exam work?

Georgia requires the State Body Art Exam, scheduled through your local County Environmental Health Office. The Department of Public Health recently unified what was once local-only regulation, so these requirements now apply statewide, including to existing artists.

Alongside the exam you must hold BBP, First Aid, and CPR certifications, none expiring within six months of your certification renewal. A Hepatitis B vaccination or a signed declination is also required.

Why does Hawaii pair an exam with medical screening?

Hawaii requires a written exam plus Tuberculosis and Syphilis medical reports, making it one of the only states to mandate medical screening. The Department of Health Sanitation Branch administers this framework.

You will also need BBP certification. Licenses in Hawaii typically expire at the end of even-numbered years, so plan your renewal timing around that cycle.

What does Kansas test for body art?

Kansas requires both a written and a practical exam administered by the Kansas Board of Cosmetology. Tattooing is regulated as “Body Art” under the cosmetology umbrella here.

Before testing, you complete a 1,500-hour apprenticeship or school program, and you must maintain BBP and First Aid certifications continuously. Kansas also applies rigorous facility licensing on top of the individual credential.

How do Massachusetts local exams work?

Massachusetts requires a local sanitation exam administered by the city or town Board of Health where you intend to work. This is a decentralized model, so the practitioner permit comes from your local board rather than the state.

A tattoo apprenticeship of at least two years is typical, and BBP certification is required. Because each Board of Health runs its own process, confirm the exam details with the specific municipality before you apply.

What is Nevada’s Body Art Card exam?

Nevada requires a sanitation exam to earn a Body Art Card, issued through regional health districts rather than a state board. In Clark County, home to Las Vegas, that Body Art Card is the core credential.

You will also need BBP certification. Washoe County, which covers Reno, requires a similar local permit. Since districts run their own programs, verify the rules with the district covering your studio.

What does New Hampshire’s licensure exam cover?

New Hampshire typically requires an initial licensure exam alongside 1,500 to 3,000 hours of apprenticeship depending on your track. The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification oversees this through the Advisory Board of Body Art Practitioners.

The training-hour bar is high relative to most states, with the Tattoo track and Esthetics track carrying different hour requirements. Confirm the exact exam scope and hour total for your track with the OPLC.

Which national exam does New Mexico use?

New Mexico requires the national exam through Professional Credential Services with a passing score of 75 percent or higher. The Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists administers licensing here.

Candidates complete a 1,400-hour apprentice log before testing. The listed fee is a $100 initial licensure fee, and a separate exam fee applies. New Mexico is one of the few states using the PCS national exam.

How does New York City test tattooists?

New York City requires the NYC Health Academy Infection Control Course plus a written exam to earn a Tattoo License. The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection administers the most specific tattoo licensing system in the country.

There is no statewide New York license. Outside NYC, rules are county-specific: Suffolk County is strict, while some counties have no rules at all. Always confirm with the county where you plan to work.

Why is Oregon’s exam the most academic?

Oregon requires a Health Licensing Office written exam after you graduate from a state-approved 360-hour curriculum. This is the most academic regulatory model in the country, run through the HLO Board of Body Art Practitioners.

Beyond the curriculum, Oregon asks for a high school diploma, CPR and First Aid certification, and BBP training. Out-of-state education is accepted only if it is deemed substantially equivalent, so the exam sits on top of a serious educational foundation.

What exam does Utah require locally?

Utah requires a sanitation exam to obtain a Body Art Technician Permit through your local health district. Utah County is one example of a district issuing this permit.

BBP certification is also required. Because Utah is decentralized, the health district decides the specifics, so confirm exam scheduling and requirements with the district covering your studio.

What is Virginia’s board-approved exam?

Virginia requires a board-approved exam after a 1,500-hour apprenticeship or school program. The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation licenses tattooists through the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology.

The listed licensure fee is $120, and Virginia publishes an explicit endorsement path for qualified out-of-state artists. That makes it one of the clearer states for both new candidates and those relocating with existing credentials.