Skin piercing treatments

What you need to know about special procedures licensing

Tattoo Artist

The Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 – Part 4

From 29 November 2024, new licensing rules are in place for the following special procedures in Wales:

acupuncture (including dry needling)• body piercing (including ear piercing)
electrolysis
tattooing (including semi-permanent makeup and microblading)

It is important to have effective infection prevention and control measures in place for these procedures to mitigate the risk of infections for both clients and licence holders. A failure to do so could result in legal action being taken.

The purpose of the licensing scheme is to:

improve hygiene and safety standards
promote consistent standards across Wales
provide more robust protection to the health of clients
enable customers to easily identify licensed individuals operating from approved premises and vehicles

A person who performs any of the 4 designated special procedures must apply to their Local Authority for a special procedure licence, unless they are exempt. This applies to all individuals who were previously registered to perform such procedures, and all new applicants.Individuals must apply to their local authority for an approval certificate if they:

are responsible for a premises or vehicle used for these procedures
manage a special procedure business

Individuals must meet specific criteria before applying for a personal licence or an approval certificate if they are an individual practitioner and/or in charge of premises or vehicles

Infection Prevention and Control for Special Procedures Practitioners

Mandatory Conditions – Special Procedures Licence

Mandatory Conditions – Premises Approval Certificate

Transition period for practitioners and businesses registered with their local authority under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982

There will be a period of transition when the licensing scheme comes into force. This will allow practitioners and businesses who were previously registered under the old registration scheme to continue to practise in the short term. Local authorities have notified those individuals if they are granted a transitional licence or a transitional approval certificate.Individuals will need to submit their application form under the new scheme by 28 February 2025 so it can be assessed and processed. Local Authorities will notify individuals of the outcome.

If Local Authorities have not determined applications submitted by 28 February 2025, individuals will still be able to continue to practice until their Local Authority provides them with a decision on their application. It could take several months for all applications to be assessed in this change to a new licensing scheme since Local Authorities will also be dealing with applications from new applicants for a licence or approval certificate.

The transition period date cannot be extended, so any existing practitioner or business operator failing to submit their new application by 28 February 2025 will no longer be able to benefit from the transitional arrangement.

People, premises and vehicles which have never been registered

Individuals who have never been registered, will need to apply for:

a personal licence to carry out one of more of the listed special procedures.
an approval certificate for the premises/vehicle they will be operating from if they are responsible for a premises or vehicle used for these procedures (or manage a special procedure business)

You cannot begin to practice, or use the premises/vehicle, to provide special procedures until the relevant Local Authority has completed processing their application. The transitional arrangements do not apply to individuals who have never been registered.

Applying for a Special Procedures Licence or Premises / Vehicle Approval in Bridgend, Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan

You can submit your application to the Local Authority where your business will be operating from by following the links below.

Bridgend - Special procedures: acupuncture, electrolysis, body piercing and tattooing

Cardiff - Leisure and personal treatment licences

Vale of Glamorgan - Special Procedures: Acupuncture, Electrolysis, Body Piercing and Tattooing

Licence holders must display their licence at their main place of work or wear their lanyard licence. Approved premises and vehicles must also display their approval certificate.

A national register has been created to publicise all valid licence holders in Wales. This will include approved premises and vehicle certificate holders.

The aim of the register is to give confidence to the public that all individuals appearing on the register will be licenced or approved to operate in Wales. Local authorities will update this register as they grant licences and approval certificates.