PURPOSE: This rule outlines the requirements for obtaining a tattoo, body piercing and branding license.

1. (1) No person shall operate a tattoo establishment, body piercing establishment and/or branding establishment unless he or she has obtained a license for the establishment from the division. An application for an establishment license shall be notarized and accompanied by the appropriate fee. Only one (1) application shall be required for any single establishment.
2. (2) No person shall tattoo, body pierce and/or brand another person, use or assume the title of tattooist, body piercer and/or brander, designate or represent themselves to be a tattooist, body piercer and/or brander unless he or she has obtained a license from the division. An application for a practitioner license shall be notarized and accompanied by the appropriate fee.
3. (3) Within a reasonable period of time after receiving a completed notarized application for a license, the division shall either approve the application and issue a license or deny the application. If the application for license is denied, the division shall give the applicant reasons in writing for the denial and provide information about how the applicant may appeal the decision.
4. (4) The division shall not issue a license to a new or temporary tattoo, body piercing and/or branding establishment or a new operator at an existing establishment without completing an inspection of the establishment to ensure that the establishment complies with the requirements set forth in these rules.
5. (5) Applicants who are approved for licensure shall receive one (1) license. Duplicate licenses may be provided upon payment of the appropriate fee pursuant to the rules promulgated by the division.

AUTHORITY: section 324.522, RSMo Supp. 2001.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 267-2.010. Original rule filed Aug. 15, 2002, effective Feb. 28, 2003. Moved to 20 CSR 2267-2.010, effective Aug. 28, 2006. *Original authority: 324.522, RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2001.