Permanent Makeup & Tattoo Licensing Practice Exam
1. Which federal standard governs occupational exposure to bloodborne
pathogens in tattoo and permanent makeup studios?
A. FDA Food Code
B. EPA Clean Air Act
C. CDC Travel Advisory
D. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires exposure control
plans, training, PPE, and vaccination availability for workers exposed to blood.
2. Standard precautions require the technician to treat which of the following as
potentially infectious?
A. Only the blood of clients who disclose an illness
B. All blood and body fluids of every client
C. Only visibly bloody fluids from new clients
D. Only fluids from clients over age 60
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard precautions assume any client may carry a bloodborne
pathogen, so the same protections are used for everyone.
3. Which bloodborne virus can survive on dry surfaces for up to about seven
days?
A. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
B. Influenza virus
C. Common cold rhinovirus
D. Norovirus only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: HBV is very hardy and can remain infectious on environmental surfaces for
a week, making surface disinfection critical.
,4. Which bloodborne disease has NO vaccine available?
A. Hepatitis B
B. Tetanus
C. Hepatitis C
D. Hepatitis A
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A vaccine exists for hepatitis B, but none exists for hepatitis C, so
prevention depends on strict infection control.
5. What is the minimum recommended duration for handwashing with soap and
warm water?
A. 2 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 5 seconds
D. 10 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Scrubbing for at least 20 seconds with friction removes transient
microorganisms effectively.
6. Which process destroys ALL microbial life, including bacterial spores?
A. Sanitation
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Antisepsis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sterilization (e.g., autoclaving) kills all microorganisms including spores;
disinfection does not reliably kill spores.
,7. Which method is the most reliable way to verify that an autoclave is
sterilizing properly?
A. Visual inspection of the instruments
B. Checking that the lid is hot
C. Using a stopwatch only
D. A biological indicator (spore test)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Spore tests use highly resistant bacterial spores; if they are killed, the cycle
achieved sterilization.
8. Typical autoclave steam sterilization requires approximately which
temperature and pressure?
A. 121°C (250°F) at about 15 psi
B. 60°C (140°F) at 1 psi
C. 80°C (176°F) at 5 psi
D. 100°C (212°F) at 0 psi
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Saturated steam at 121°C and ~15 psi for the required time is the standard
gravity-displacement cycle.
9. What is the purpose of an ultrasonic cleaner in the sterilization process?
A. To sterilize instruments completely
B. To remove debris from reusable instruments before sterilization
C. To dry instruments after autoclaving
D. To store sterile instruments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ultrasonic cleaning loosens organic material so that the sterilizer can work
effectively; it does not sterilize.
, 10. Which type of disinfectant is generally required for cleaning surfaces
contaminated with blood?
A. Hospital-grade, EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant
B. Household glass cleaner
C. Scented air freshener
D. Plain tap water
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only EPA-registered, tuberculocidal (or equivalent bloodborne-pathogen
claim) products are appropriate for blood contamination.
11. Why must the label's contact time for a disinfectant be followed?
A. It makes the surface smell better
B. It prevents the product from evaporating in storage
C. It is required only for floors
D. The surface must stay wet for the full time for the product to kill pathogens
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Disinfectants only work if the surface remains visibly wet for the
manufacturer's specified contact time.
12. Which item must NEVER be reused on another client?
A. A stainless steel work table
B. A client chair after disinfection
C. A needle or needle cartridge
D. A reusable pigment-free mirror after cleaning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Needles are single-use, sterile, and must be discarded in a sharps
container after one client.
1. Which federal standard governs occupational exposure to bloodborne
pathogens in tattoo and permanent makeup studios?
A. FDA Food Code
B. EPA Clean Air Act
C. CDC Travel Advisory
D. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires exposure control
plans, training, PPE, and vaccination availability for workers exposed to blood.
2. Standard precautions require the technician to treat which of the following as
potentially infectious?
A. Only the blood of clients who disclose an illness
B. All blood and body fluids of every client
C. Only visibly bloody fluids from new clients
D. Only fluids from clients over age 60
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard precautions assume any client may carry a bloodborne
pathogen, so the same protections are used for everyone.
3. Which bloodborne virus can survive on dry surfaces for up to about seven
days?
A. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
B. Influenza virus
C. Common cold rhinovirus
D. Norovirus only
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: HBV is very hardy and can remain infectious on environmental surfaces for
a week, making surface disinfection critical.
,4. Which bloodborne disease has NO vaccine available?
A. Hepatitis B
B. Tetanus
C. Hepatitis C
D. Hepatitis A
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A vaccine exists for hepatitis B, but none exists for hepatitis C, so
prevention depends on strict infection control.
5. What is the minimum recommended duration for handwashing with soap and
warm water?
A. 2 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. 5 seconds
D. 10 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Scrubbing for at least 20 seconds with friction removes transient
microorganisms effectively.
6. Which process destroys ALL microbial life, including bacterial spores?
A. Sanitation
B. Disinfection
C. Sterilization
D. Antisepsis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sterilization (e.g., autoclaving) kills all microorganisms including spores;
disinfection does not reliably kill spores.
,7. Which method is the most reliable way to verify that an autoclave is
sterilizing properly?
A. Visual inspection of the instruments
B. Checking that the lid is hot
C. Using a stopwatch only
D. A biological indicator (spore test)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Spore tests use highly resistant bacterial spores; if they are killed, the cycle
achieved sterilization.
8. Typical autoclave steam sterilization requires approximately which
temperature and pressure?
A. 121°C (250°F) at about 15 psi
B. 60°C (140°F) at 1 psi
C. 80°C (176°F) at 5 psi
D. 100°C (212°F) at 0 psi
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Saturated steam at 121°C and ~15 psi for the required time is the standard
gravity-displacement cycle.
9. What is the purpose of an ultrasonic cleaner in the sterilization process?
A. To sterilize instruments completely
B. To remove debris from reusable instruments before sterilization
C. To dry instruments after autoclaving
D. To store sterile instruments
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ultrasonic cleaning loosens organic material so that the sterilizer can work
effectively; it does not sterilize.
, 10. Which type of disinfectant is generally required for cleaning surfaces
contaminated with blood?
A. Hospital-grade, EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant
B. Household glass cleaner
C. Scented air freshener
D. Plain tap water
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Only EPA-registered, tuberculocidal (or equivalent bloodborne-pathogen
claim) products are appropriate for blood contamination.
11. Why must the label's contact time for a disinfectant be followed?
A. It makes the surface smell better
B. It prevents the product from evaporating in storage
C. It is required only for floors
D. The surface must stay wet for the full time for the product to kill pathogens
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Disinfectants only work if the surface remains visibly wet for the
manufacturer's specified contact time.
12. Which item must NEVER be reused on another client?
A. A stainless steel work table
B. A client chair after disinfection
C. A needle or needle cartridge
D. A reusable pigment-free mirror after cleaning
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Needles are single-use, sterile, and must be discarded in a sharps
container after one client.
