"Do you need a license to spray tan?" is one of the most common questions new technicians ask — and the honest answer is: it depends on where you live, and the rules are genuinely inconsistent across the country. This guide explains how spray tan regulation actually works in the U.S., the difference between a license and a certification, and where to confirm your own requirements.
License vs. certification: they're not the same thing
This is the distinction that clears up most of the confusion:
- A license is government permission to perform a service. It's issued by a state or local authority, often tied to cosmetology or esthetics, and is legally required where it applies.
- A certification is a professional education credential proving you've been trained. NSTPA's spray tan certification is a certification — it builds client trust and demonstrates competence, but it does not replace any government license that may be required where you work.
How spray tan regulation works in the U.S.
There is no single federal "spray tan license." Instead, requirements fall into a few broad patterns, and which one applies depends on your location:
- No specific license required. Many states do not specifically license spray tanning. In these areas, certification is the strongest professional credential you can hold.
- Regulated under cosmetology or esthetics. Some states require a cosmetology or esthetics license to perform spray tanning, because it's grouped with skin-care services.
- Facility or booth permits. Some jurisdictions regulate the location (a tanning facility permit) more than the individual, or have DHA-related disclosure rules.
Because two neighboring states — or even counties — can fall into different buckets, there's no reliable national list that stays accurate. The only dependable answer comes from your own state board.
Spray tan license requirements by state (all 50 + DC)
Compiled by checking each state's cosmetology/barbering board, health-department tanning rules, and statutes individually, as of May 23, 2026. Spray-tan rules are set at the state and local level and change frequently. This is general information, not legal advice — NSTPA does not write or interpret the law. Always confirm current requirements directly with your state's licensing board (linked in the table) before offering services.
What the research shows: in nearly every state there is no spray-tan-specific license. Almost all states regulate UV indoor tanning facilities and operators — a separate matter from sunless spray tanning, and the two are constantly confused. Several states (Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Utah, Florida, Texas, California) go further and expressly exclude or exempt spray/airbrush tanning from licensing. Only a couple indicate a spray-tan-related requirement, and a few leave it ambiguous.
Quick summary — Requirement indicated: Ohio (facility + operator certification) and Oregon (reported). May fall under broader licensing — verify: New York, Tennessee, West Virginia, New Hampshire. Everywhere else: no spray-tan-specific license found. Every row links to that state's official board or statute so you can confirm at the source.
| State | License indicated? | What sources show | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | Spray tanning is not regulated by any state board. | Alabama Board of Cosmetology & Barbering |
| Alaska | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | AK Board of Barbers & Hairdressers |
| Arizona | No | Airbrush/spray tanning expressly exempt from licensure (A.R.S. §32-506). | AZ Board of Cosmetology |
| Arkansas | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | AR Dept. of Health, Cosmetology |
| California | No | Board of Barbering & Cosmetology does not regulate spray tanning — no license required. | CA Board of Barbering & Cosmetology |
| Colorado | No | Spray tanning not regulated; DORA cosmetology licensing does not apply. | Colorado CDPHE |
| Connecticut | No | Spray tanning is not a regulated profession in the state. | CT Dept. of Public Health |
| Delaware | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Delaware DHSS |
| Florida | No | FL Dept. of Health does not regulate airbrush or spray tanning (UV only). | Florida Dept. of Health |
| Georgia | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Georgia DPH |
| Hawaii | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Hawaii Board of Barbering & Cosmetology |
| Idaho | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Idaho Barber & Cosmetology Board |
| Illinois | No | UV tanning facilities are permitted by IDPH; spray tanning is not separately licensed. | Illinois IDFPR / IDPH |
| Indiana | No | A tanning-facility license can apply to a salon; spray tanning is not a separate individual license. | Indiana PLA |
| Iowa | No | Iowa tanning-facility rules expressly exclude spray tanning. | Iowa DIAL |
| Kansas | No | UV tanning facility/operator rules apply; spray tanning not separately licensed. | Kansas Board of Cosmetology |
| Kentucky | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Kentucky Board of Cosmetology |
| Louisiana | No | Hand-applied/airbrush spray tanning is excluded from the state tanning guidelines. | Louisiana Dept. of Health |
| Maine | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Maine OPOR (Title 32 §14224) |
| Maryland | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Maryland Board of Cosmetologists |
| Massachusetts | No | No state board licenses spray-tan technicians specifically. | Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology |
| Michigan | No | Spray tanning techs can serve clients without a license (LARA). | Michigan LARA / Board of Cosmetology |
| Minnesota | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners |
| Mississippi | No | Offered as a standalone service, spray tanning is deregulated (no license). | Mississippi State Dept. of Health |
| Missouri | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Missouri Board of Cosmetology & Barber Examiners |
| Montana | No | Montana has no state regulations for spray tanning. | Montana Board of Cosmetologists |
| Nebraska | No | Airbrush tanning is expressly exempt from licensing requirements. | Nebraska DHHS |
| Nevada | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Nevada Board of Cosmetology (NRS 644A) |
| New Hampshire | Possibly | Tanning-facility registration and board-approved operator training may apply — verify for spray-only. | NH OPLC |
| New Jersey | No | UV/age rules apply (under-14 ban); no spray-tan-specific individual license. | New Jersey Dept. of Health |
| New Mexico | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | NM Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists |
| New York | Possibly | No spray-tan-specific license, but salon services may fall under NY Appearance Enhancement licensing. | NY Dept. of State |
| North Carolina | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | NC Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners |
| North Dakota | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | ND State Board of Cosmetology |
| Ohio | Yes | Tanning facilities are licensed and operators must complete a board-approved tanning certification — confirm for spray-only. | Ohio State Board of Cosmetology |
| Oklahoma | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Oklahoma Board of Cosmetology & Barbering |
| Oregon | Reported | Industry sources report an additional certification is required to apply spray tans — verify with the Oregon Health Licensing Office. | Industry report (verify with state) |
| Pennsylvania | No | Cosmetology rules address UV tanning units only; spray tanning not separately licensed. | PA State Board of Cosmetology |
| Rhode Island | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | RI Dept. of Health |
| South Carolina | No | SC regulates indoor UV tanning; spray tanning not separately licensed. | South Carolina DES |
| South Dakota | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | SD Cosmetology Commission |
| Tennessee | Possibly | Sources conflict — mobile/salon operators may need a cosmetology or esthetician license; verify. | Tennessee Board of Cosmetology |
| Texas | No | Outside TDLR jurisdiction — no cosmetology license required (regulated by Dept. of State Health Services). | Texas TDLR |
| Utah | No | Spray tanning units are not under barbering/cosmetology/esthetics licensing. | Utah DOPL |
| Vermont | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Vermont Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists (OPR) |
| Virginia | No | Spray tanning is not among the services Virginia law requires a license to practice. | Virginia DPOR |
| Washington | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Washington DOR / DOL |
| West Virginia | Possibly | Aesthetics requires a license; spray tanning may fall under esthetics/cosmetology — verify. | WV Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists |
| Wisconsin | No | DSPS permits UV tanning facilities; spray tanning not separately licensed. | Wisconsin DSPS |
| Wyoming | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | Wyoming Board of Cosmetology |
| District of Columbia | No | No spray-tan-specific license. State regulates UV tanning facilities separately. | DC Health |
Federal layer (applies everywhere): the U.S. FDA approves DHA for external application only — not for the eye area, lips, mucous membranes, or inhalation (including booth "misting"). The "License indicated?" column reflects what each state's published board, health-department, or statute sources show as of May 23, 2026; only the linked sources are authoritative, and rules change — always verify locally.
Please verify before you rely on this. This page is general educational information, not legal advice. Spray-tan and tanning laws vary by state, county, and city and can change daily. It is your responsibility to independently confirm the current rules with your state cosmetology board and local health department, and you should not use this page as the basis for a business decision without checking the source yourself. NSTPA are educators, not attorneys — we do not write or interpret the law, and we accept no liability for any errors, omissions, outdated information, or decisions made in reliance on this content.
What the FDA says about DHA
Federal rules don't license technicians, but the FDA does regulate the active ingredient. DHA (dihydroxyacetone) is approved as a color additive for external application only. It is not approved for use in the area of the eyes, on the lips or other mucous membranes, or for inhalation/ingestion — the industry has not submitted safety data to the FDA for those exposure routes, including "misting" in spray booths. That's why proper protocol matters: protective eyewear, lip balm or barrier cream, nose filters, disposable undergarments, and a well-ventilated space with filtration. Our course covers this compliance in full. (Source: U.S. FDA — Sunless Tanners & Bronzers.)
How to confirm the rules where you work
- Search "[your state] cosmetology board spray tan" and check the board's official site.
- Call your state cosmetology or barbering board and ask specifically about sunless/spray tanning.
- Check your county and city for facility permits or business licensing (separate from a professional license).
- Confirm any DHA disclosure or signage requirements that apply to booths.
A general business license (to operate any business) is different from a professional license to perform the service — you may need one, both, or neither depending on your area.
Why get certified even if your state doesn't require a license
Even where no license is required, certification is what separates a professional from a hobbyist. It teaches the skin science, DHA safety, and technique that protect your clients (and your insurance), and it gives clients a credential they can verify online. In states that do regulate spray tanning, certification complements your license by proving service-specific training.
Get the credential clients trust: enroll in the Sunless Master Course — $75, online, with a verifiable certificate — and then confirm your local licensing before you open your books.