TATTOO LICENSE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is the ideal width of the springs used on the machine? - ANSWER-The springs
should be just as wide as the part that they are attached to
What types of screws should you use to hold the coils to the frame? - ANSWER-Always
use a magnetic screw that sits flush to the frame
What is the function of the tube vise? - ANSWER-Firmly hold the tube in place and
properly align the tube while the machine is in use
How should a tube vise hold a tube in comparison to the machine? - ANSWER-
Squarely front to back and side to side
What is the most important part of a tattoo machine? - ANSWER-Coils
What is the purpose of the coils of a tattoo machine? - ANSWER-To run consistently
and not lose power
What is a possible reason for the machine to not work at all? - ANSWER-There is debris
between the contact screw and the front spring
What can cause the coils to be in a constant "on" position? - ANSWER-A coil wire,
soldering lug, or any of the electrical circuit is touching the frame
What does your frame act as for the coil circuit? - ANSWER-The ground
What is not a purpose of the binding posts? - ANSWER-Electrical contact from the
soldering lugs to the contact screw
What is a safety feature of the cartridge needles? - ANSWER-If the cartridge is not
installed in the machine or tube, then the needles are not exposed; this limits the
possibility of a needlestick
What does EPA stand for? - ANSWER-Environmental Protection Agency
What does FDA stand for? - ANSWER-Food and Drug Administration
What does "high level disinfectant" mean? - ANSWER-A chemical agent, registered
with the EPA, which has demonstrated tuberculocidal activity
"Office" in the tattoo laws refers to what? - ANSWER-Health licensing Office
,What attributes does a container have to have to be considered a "Sharps" container? -
ANSWER-Puncture-resistant, leak proof, labeled with a biohazard symbol
How many hours are part of the tattoo licensing program? - ANSWER-360 hours
consisting of 210 theory hours and 150 practical hours
What does a completed procedure mean? - ANSWER-A tattoo which has been finished
on a live human being, including any touchups or additional work following initial
healing, and the client is released from service
How long is a tattoo license active for? - ANSWER-1 year
What documents does one have to have to apply for a tattoo license? - ANSWER-
Completed application, bloodborne pathogen training certificate, CPR/first aid training
certificate, government issued id, second form of id, high school diploma or GED
equivalent, and training from a tattoo program approved by the Higher Education
Coordinating Commission
How long is a temporary tattoo license good for? - ANSWER-Not to exceed 30
consecutive calendar days
How many times in a 12-month period can one person apply for a temporary tattoo
license? - ANSWER-2
How often does a license tattoo artist need to renew their license? - ANSWER-Once a
year
A license can be inactive for how long before it is considered an expired license? -
ANSWER-3 years
How many hours of continuing education does a licensee have to complete in 1 year? -
ANSWER-10 hours
How many hours of continuing education can be self-study? - ANSWER-5 hours
CPR, First Aid, and Blood borne pathogens training can be counted as continuing
education in which instance? - ANSWER-Never, this is a condition of renewal
How many hours of continuing education can be carried forward to the next renewal
cycle? - ANSWER-8 hours
How long does a licensee have to submit proof of continuing education if they receive
an audit letter from the Health Licensing Office? - ANSWER-30 calendar days from the
date of issuance
, In what instance can you use expired ink in a tattoo procedure? - ANSWER-This is
always prohibited
Where must a tattoo artist buy inks, dyes, or pigments from? - ANSWER-A commercial
supplier
If not using disposable stencils, how must one clean a plastic or acetate stencil? -
ANSWER-If the plastic or acetate stencil is being reused the licensee must thoroughly
clean, rinse, and immerse in a high-level disinfectant according to the manufacturer's
instructions
Prior to beginning the procedure, a client's skin must be thoroughly clean with what type
of chemical? - ANSWER-An Antiseptic
Once a tattoo procedure is complete, what must be used to clean the skin? - ANSWER-
A single use paper product saturated with an antiseptic solution
What must be used to cover the tattoo once the procedure is complete? - ANSWER-A
clean absorbent material or bandage intended to cover wounds to prevent the spread of
blood or other potentially infectious materials
In what instance can a person under the age of 18 get a tattoo? - ANSWER-The person
must have a physician's statement for a medical tattoo procedure (example: scar
camouflaging)
When should you do a tattoo on a person showing signs of being inebriated or appears
to be incapacitated from the use of drugs or alcohol? - ANSWER-This is never to be
done
In what instance would it be permitted to tattoo someone that comes into the facility with
a sunburn? - ANSWER-Only if the sunburn is not at all in the area of the tattoo
placement
When is it permitted to tattoo a person under the age of 18 that does NOT have a
physician's statement? - ANSWER-Never
If a client comes in wanting for the licensee to remove a tattoo, in what instance is this
permitted? - ANSWER-Only if the tattoo artist is licensed in the appropriate field of
practice
When the Health Licensing Office comes into the facility for an inspection, if they find
something worthy of being cited for, who is responsible and receives the citation? -
ANSWER-All license holders within the facility may be cited for violations found in the
common area
AND ANSWERS
What is the ideal width of the springs used on the machine? - ANSWER-The springs
should be just as wide as the part that they are attached to
What types of screws should you use to hold the coils to the frame? - ANSWER-Always
use a magnetic screw that sits flush to the frame
What is the function of the tube vise? - ANSWER-Firmly hold the tube in place and
properly align the tube while the machine is in use
How should a tube vise hold a tube in comparison to the machine? - ANSWER-
Squarely front to back and side to side
What is the most important part of a tattoo machine? - ANSWER-Coils
What is the purpose of the coils of a tattoo machine? - ANSWER-To run consistently
and not lose power
What is a possible reason for the machine to not work at all? - ANSWER-There is debris
between the contact screw and the front spring
What can cause the coils to be in a constant "on" position? - ANSWER-A coil wire,
soldering lug, or any of the electrical circuit is touching the frame
What does your frame act as for the coil circuit? - ANSWER-The ground
What is not a purpose of the binding posts? - ANSWER-Electrical contact from the
soldering lugs to the contact screw
What is a safety feature of the cartridge needles? - ANSWER-If the cartridge is not
installed in the machine or tube, then the needles are not exposed; this limits the
possibility of a needlestick
What does EPA stand for? - ANSWER-Environmental Protection Agency
What does FDA stand for? - ANSWER-Food and Drug Administration
What does "high level disinfectant" mean? - ANSWER-A chemical agent, registered
with the EPA, which has demonstrated tuberculocidal activity
"Office" in the tattoo laws refers to what? - ANSWER-Health licensing Office
,What attributes does a container have to have to be considered a "Sharps" container? -
ANSWER-Puncture-resistant, leak proof, labeled with a biohazard symbol
How many hours are part of the tattoo licensing program? - ANSWER-360 hours
consisting of 210 theory hours and 150 practical hours
What does a completed procedure mean? - ANSWER-A tattoo which has been finished
on a live human being, including any touchups or additional work following initial
healing, and the client is released from service
How long is a tattoo license active for? - ANSWER-1 year
What documents does one have to have to apply for a tattoo license? - ANSWER-
Completed application, bloodborne pathogen training certificate, CPR/first aid training
certificate, government issued id, second form of id, high school diploma or GED
equivalent, and training from a tattoo program approved by the Higher Education
Coordinating Commission
How long is a temporary tattoo license good for? - ANSWER-Not to exceed 30
consecutive calendar days
How many times in a 12-month period can one person apply for a temporary tattoo
license? - ANSWER-2
How often does a license tattoo artist need to renew their license? - ANSWER-Once a
year
A license can be inactive for how long before it is considered an expired license? -
ANSWER-3 years
How many hours of continuing education does a licensee have to complete in 1 year? -
ANSWER-10 hours
How many hours of continuing education can be self-study? - ANSWER-5 hours
CPR, First Aid, and Blood borne pathogens training can be counted as continuing
education in which instance? - ANSWER-Never, this is a condition of renewal
How many hours of continuing education can be carried forward to the next renewal
cycle? - ANSWER-8 hours
How long does a licensee have to submit proof of continuing education if they receive
an audit letter from the Health Licensing Office? - ANSWER-30 calendar days from the
date of issuance
, In what instance can you use expired ink in a tattoo procedure? - ANSWER-This is
always prohibited
Where must a tattoo artist buy inks, dyes, or pigments from? - ANSWER-A commercial
supplier
If not using disposable stencils, how must one clean a plastic or acetate stencil? -
ANSWER-If the plastic or acetate stencil is being reused the licensee must thoroughly
clean, rinse, and immerse in a high-level disinfectant according to the manufacturer's
instructions
Prior to beginning the procedure, a client's skin must be thoroughly clean with what type
of chemical? - ANSWER-An Antiseptic
Once a tattoo procedure is complete, what must be used to clean the skin? - ANSWER-
A single use paper product saturated with an antiseptic solution
What must be used to cover the tattoo once the procedure is complete? - ANSWER-A
clean absorbent material or bandage intended to cover wounds to prevent the spread of
blood or other potentially infectious materials
In what instance can a person under the age of 18 get a tattoo? - ANSWER-The person
must have a physician's statement for a medical tattoo procedure (example: scar
camouflaging)
When should you do a tattoo on a person showing signs of being inebriated or appears
to be incapacitated from the use of drugs or alcohol? - ANSWER-This is never to be
done
In what instance would it be permitted to tattoo someone that comes into the facility with
a sunburn? - ANSWER-Only if the sunburn is not at all in the area of the tattoo
placement
When is it permitted to tattoo a person under the age of 18 that does NOT have a
physician's statement? - ANSWER-Never
If a client comes in wanting for the licensee to remove a tattoo, in what instance is this
permitted? - ANSWER-Only if the tattoo artist is licensed in the appropriate field of
practice
When the Health Licensing Office comes into the facility for an inspection, if they find
something worthy of being cited for, who is responsible and receives the citation? -
ANSWER-All license holders within the facility may be cited for violations found in the
common area
