Pennsylvania State Tattooing Regulations and Licensing

There are no state regulations on tattooing in the State of Pennsylvania you only have to be licensed to own a shop. You do not have to be certified to do tattoos. As of July 28th, 2008 the only law regarding tattoos in PA is:

Pennsylvania Statutes
TITLE 18 CRIMES AND OFFENSES (P. S.)
CHAPTER 2 THE PENAL CODE OF 1939
ARTICLE VII. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON
18 P. S. §§ 4729. Tattooing minors

Whoever tattoos any person under the age of eighteen (18) years without the consent of the living parents, or of the legal guardian thereof, if such minor is under the care of a guardian, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not, more than one hundred dollars ($100), or to undergo imprisonment of not more than three (3) months, or both.

1939, June 24, P.L. 872, §§ 729. As amended 1972, June 16, P.L. 421, No. 122, §§ 3.

Many individual counties require you to have a Blood Borne Pathogens and C.P.R. certificate and monthly inspection of your tattoo studio.  Some Pennsylvania Cities have their own laws.  Philadelphia, for example, you not only have to take health classes, and blood borne pathogen training but you must also be under professionals supervision for the state allotted time frame so that you can safely learn important procedures such as how to run the sterilizer, how to run the ultra-sonic, what to do in an emergency situation, how to properly maintain your equipment, aftercare procedures etc.