How to Become a Licensed Permanent Makeup Artist?
Most states require permanent makeup training as well as licensing to perform the services legally. These requirements differ state by state (also by county) and it is the responsibility of the artist to check the state/county regulations thoroughly and be properly licensed.
In the state of Colorado, you must have an esthetician or cosmetologist license (equaling to 600-1500 hours) before you can take the state-approved 132-hour Permanent Makeup training program. You will also need a bloodborne pathogen certification and body art facility licensing if you are opening up a studio of your own.
Most, if not all, accredited esthetician / cosmetology courses are in-person and will require hands-on sessions to properly prepare you to take your licensure exams. I listed some of the local schools below:
SBMA (School of Botanical & Medical Aesthetics) - offers a 600-hour esthetician course that is the most flexible that I’ve seen in Colorado. While they provide the in-person training for a portion of their curriculum, as required by the state, they also provide an option for students to complete a portion of their hours at-home (online) and is a fantastic option for people who need flexibility of hours due to school, career, etc.
IBMC (Institute of Business & Medical Careers) - offers both cosmetology & esthetician courses. They have multiple locations in the state of Colorado which makes it a great option for those who do not want to travel far to complete their education.
Aveda (Aveda Institute of Denver) - offers both cosmetology & esthetician courses. Post-graduates are also offered advanced classes for continued education.
I highly recommend calling your prospective schools and visiting them if possible. This will help you get a better feel for your learning environment as well as meet your future instructors that will be guiding you through this part of the journey. They will also be able to provide you with comprehensive information regarding the specific program you are inquiring about and provide you with the exact pricing/tuition as that can also be a big factor in which program you choose to go with.
After completing your esthetician/cosmetology program and passing your licensing exam, you’ll have to find a state-approved 132-hour permanent makeup program. Research some that are in your area and ensure they are accredited and chat with the instructors as well as check out some of their reviews. It’ll help you get a better idea of what the course is like and how hands-on your instructor will be.
Once you have your esthetician/cosmetologist license & permanent makeup license, you’re ready to start practicing your new artistry. You will have to choose how you want to continue your profession. Will you be working under an artist or will you be opening up a studio of your own? If you are working under someone, you’ll just need your resume, licensure, and blood borne pathogen certification to start working. If you are opening up a spot of your own, you will need to meet your local public health department regulations to be able to open up a body art facility. We are located in Boulder County, so we follow regulations under the Body Art regulations of BCPH (Boulder County Public Health).
Some states only require a bloodborne pathogen certification before being able to perform on clients. Getting your licensing through a state like Colorado can be beneficial for both the artist and the clients they’re serving because your artist will have a much more thorough understanding of the skin anatomy, contraindications, and how to mitigate risks. If you are located in any other states, I highly recommend checking out the state board & licensing section from ASCP (Associated Skin Care Professionals). They have a complete & summarized section dedicated to each state and their regulations as well as accredited schools you can check out. This can be a great first step to researching what is required for you to become a licensed permanent makeup artist in your specific state.
Having the right type of training is also extremely important. Some programs are accredited and approved by the state, while others may provide a more condensed learning experience or advanced learning for those who already have an established practice. In my experience, the accredited program was by far, more informational as they are required to provide specific learning topics and tie hourly requirements to the necessary information. That said, I loved my experience with a program from a smaller studio that was not accredited. I felt like they had a more hands-on approach and offered industry advice that came from experience.
There are also options for advanced learning opportunities which are extremely valuable as an artist. The permanent makeup industry is constantly evolving and making changes to improve the client experience & results. Having the continued education can ensure you stay on top of trends and elevate your work.
