How to Become a Permanent Makeup Artist in California & New York
In both California and New York, permanent makeup is regulated as body art — not as cosmetology — and it is licensed at county level rather than by the state board. In California that means registering as a body art practitioner with your county health department under the Safe Body Art Act. In Nassau County, New York, it means holding a Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification from the county Department of Health. Neither requires a cosmetology licence, and neither is a substitute for actual hands-on training.
This page sets out the regulatory path in both states, and is written for people considering this as a career. Banou Academy trains PMU artists at both our studios, so treat this as an interested party’s account — the regulatory facts below are cited to the agencies themselves so you can check them.
California: the Safe Body Art Act
California regulates tattooing, body piercing and permanent cosmetics under the Safe Body Art Act (Assembly Bill 300, signed October 2011, codified at Health & Safety Code §§119300–119328). Enforcement is delegated to county environmental health departments, so the exact forms and fees differ by county even though the standard is statewide.
What is required
- Practitioner registration with the local county health department, renewed annually.
- Proof you are 18 or older.
- Annual bloodborne pathogens training from an approved provider.
- Hepatitis B vaccination status documented — vaccinated, declined, or in progress.
- A facility permit for the premises where you work, held and renewed annually by the owner.
If you intend to work in Los Angeles County, the county’s Body Art Program page sets out the local process. Other counties publish their own. The statute itself is on the legislature’s site as AB 300 as chaptered.
New York: county certification
New York also regulates this at county level, and New York City operates its own scheme separately from the surrounding counties. If you plan to work on Long Island, Nassau County’s requirements are the ones that matter.
Nassau County
Per the Nassau County Department of Health’s Tattoo & Body Piercing Program, anyone performing tattoo, microblading or permanent makeup services in the county must hold a valid Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification. The process runs as follows:
- Review the county’s Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification class recording.
- Call the Department of Health on (516) 227-9717 to schedule an in-person examination. Examinations are held monthly and seats are first come, first served.
- Attend at 200 County Seat Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 with the completed application, photo identification, and a certified check or money order for $200 — cash and personal cheques are not accepted.
The certification is valid for three years and it is the artist’s own responsibility to renew it. Studios must be licensed separately.
New York City
Within the five boroughs, tattooing is licensed by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which runs its own infection control training for tattoo and permanent makeup artists. A Nassau County certification does not carry into NYC, and vice versa — check the rules for the specific county you intend to work in.
Regulation is the floor, not the finish line
Everything above can be completed in a matter of weeks. None of it teaches you to do the work. Permanent makeup is a physical skill: pigment depth, skin stretch, needle angle and colour theory behave differently on oily skin than on mature skin, and the only reliable feedback is what the work looks like healed, six weeks later.
| Step | Realistic time | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodborne pathogen training | A few hours | A prerequisite certificate |
| County registration / certification | Days to weeks | The legal right to practise |
| Foundation hands-on training | Several days | Core technique on practice skin and models |
| Supervised practice to consistency | Months | Predictable healed results |
| Building a portfolio and client base | Ongoing | A working career |
A note on online-only courses
Theory travels well online. Technique does not. Be cautious of any programme that issues a certificate without in-person practical work on practice skin and then supervised work on live models — a certificate is not the same thing as a county registration, and neither is the same thing as competence.
Training with Banou Academy
Banou Academy runs hands-on PMU training with Nancy Akbari at both the Beverly Hills, CA and Oceanside, NY studios, including a beginner eyebrows course. Artists already working also buy professional pigments, needles and machines through our shop.
Contact us to ask about upcoming course dates at either location.
This page summarises publicly published agency requirements as of August 2026 and is not legal advice. Requirements change and vary by county — always confirm directly with the county health department where you intend to work before relying on anything here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a cosmetology licence to do permanent makeup in California?
No. California regulates permanent makeup as body art rather than as cosmetology. Under the Safe Body Art Act, practitioners register with their local county health department, complete annual bloodborne pathogen training and document their hepatitis B vaccination status. Registration is renewed annually and the facility needs its own permit.
What do you need to do permanent makeup in Nassau County, New York?
Nassau County Department of Health requires a Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification for anyone performing tattooing, microblading or permanent makeup. You review the county training class, schedule and sit an in-person examination at 200 County Seat Drive in Mineola, and submit the application with a $200 certified check or money order. The certification is valid for three years.
How long does it take to become a permanent makeup artist?
The regulatory steps are quick, often a matter of weeks. Becoming genuinely competent takes far longer. Foundation training is usually measured in days, but building consistent healed results takes months of supervised practice and real client work.
Is online-only permanent makeup training enough?
No. Theory can be taught online, but pigment depth, skin stretch and needle angle are physical skills that need hands-on supervision on practice skin and then on live models. Treat any course that offers certification with no in-person practical component with real caution.
Does Banou Academy train beginners?
Yes. Banou Academy runs hands-on training with Nancy Akbari at both the Beverly Hills, CA and Oceanside, NY studios, including a beginner eyebrows course.