Being a successful tattoo artist requires both knowledge and skill. One of the most important aspects of any tattoo artist's knowledge base is an in-depth understanding of the laws and rules that apply to your trade. In Portland, Oregon, the laws and rules that regulate tattooing come primarily from two bodies: the Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners and the Health Licensing Office.
The Health Licensing Office is a central regulatory and licensing organization overseeing multiple health-related professions. The Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners is a body that exists within the Health Licensing Office and consists of seven members who have been appointed by the governor. Its purpose is to advise the office on matters related to the fields of body art and electrology.
The Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners and the Health Licensing Office are subject to regulations and protocols included in the Oregon Revised Statutes and the Oregon Administrative Rules. The Oregon Revised Statutes are statutory laws that have been enacted by the Oregon Legislative Assembly to govern the state, while the Oregon Administrative Rules are rules created by boards, agencies and commissions to interpret statutory authority.
Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners
The Oregon Revised Statutes serve several purposes with regard to governing the fields of body art and electrology, including:
- Defining key terms, such as "facility," "body piercing," "tattooing," and "temporary license."
- Prohibiting specific acts related to licensing.
- Outlining the requirements that must be met in order to obtain a license.
- Establishing minimum standards of education and training.
- Establishing the basis for standards for practitioners to be finalized by the Health Licensing Office.
- Creating and empowering the Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners within the Health Licensing Office.
The Oregon Administrative Rules that apply to the Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners go into much greater depth, establishing clear standards for training, licensing, the examination process, specific practices, and client records.
Health Licensing Office
The Oregon Revised Statutes that apply to the Health Licensing Office establish the existence of the office itself and define its purpose. These statutes also explain the governing of the Health Licensing Office, its investigative authority, disciplinary authority, and rule-making authority.
Under the Oregon Administrative Rules, the Health Licensing Office is given specific administrative responsibilities and procedures that must be followed with regard to protecting the welfare of clients in the field of electrology and body art. Some of the most important regulations included in the Oregon Administrative Rules relate to continuing education requirements. In order to maintain licensure, practitioners are required to complete a minimum number of continuing education hours each year. These hours must meet specific standards in order to be counted for the purposes of renewing a license. The Health Licensing Office is required to audit a certain percentage of licenses to ensure standards are being met.
Staying in Compliance
Fulfilling continuing education requirements is essential in order to maintain an active licence. For tattoo artists, a minimum of 10 hours of continuing education will be required each year. To learn more about tattoo law while completing your continuing education requirements, check out PCC’s Continuing Education Course on Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners, which has been approved by the Board.