A license is needed to tattoo people in Chicago.
Until 2009, the state of Illinois had no regulations for tattoo shops. There was no official licensing for tattoo artists, and tattooing facilities weren't subject to any sort of inspections. These days, tattoo shops are inspected yearly, and all artists are required to be licensed.
Tattoo Artist's Licenses
Every artist in a tattoo shop must have a license, and copies of these licenses must be displayed in a prominent and conspicuous area of the shop. This means that the licenses need to be on the wall at the front of the shop where the public can easily view them. The licenses on display need to be current. The owner of the establishment can be fined for displaying expired licenses. In order to get licensed, artists must pass an exam covering anatomy, infectious disease control, waste disposal, hand-washing techniques, equipment sterilization, skin diseases, bloodborne pathogens and disorders and conditions. This test is administered by the Department of Professional Regulation every January and July, and the license is good until Dec. 31. The initial fee for the license is $200.
Tattoo Shop Registration
A tattoo shop must obtain a Certificate of Registration with the Department of Public Health. This application requires information of the owner's name, address, telephone number and age. Also required is the name, address and phone number of the shop; the type and year of manufacture of the equipment used; a floor plan of the shop showing the location of work stations; the sterilization and operational procedures used by the shop; and the number of work stations. This certificate must be registered annually and carries a fee of $500 for one work station and $50 for each additional work station. The certificate must be displayed prominently in the front of the shop for the public to see. This registration makes the owner subject to regular and unannounced inspections by the health department, and if the information in the registration does not match the conditions in the shop, the owner could be fined, or the shop could be closed.
Tattooing Minors
Illinois has strict laws regarding the tattooing of persons under 18 years of age. It's illegal to tattoo minors without the consent of their parents or legal guardians, and parents must be on the premises when the tattooing occurs. If a minor is tattooed, the parents also have to sign a form giving permission to tattoo their child. This information must be kept on file for at least 10 years. If anyone under 18 years of age is tattooed without a parent or legal guardian on the premises, the artists are committing misdemeanors. There will be a fine, and if it happens repeatedly, then the artist can lose his or her license and the shop can be closed.
Tags: certificate must, front shop, must displayed, name address, shop must, tattoo shop must, tattoo shops