Licensed body piercers in Oregon answer to the Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners. This board oversees every license renewal for professional piercers and sets specific requirements that must be met each year.
Because body piercer licenses renew annually, your continuing education (CE) has to be wrapped up before your renewal date every single year. There’s no multi-year cycle to fall back on.
At Exam Insiders, we’ve been helping adult learners study and stay licensed since 2023. If you’re unsure where to begin, here’s a clear breakdown of what Oregon expects from body piercers when it comes to CE.
How Many CE Hours You Need: 10 Every Year
Each licensed body piercer in Oregon must complete 10 hours of continuing education before renewing their license each year. You’ll list these hours on your renewal application, and you’re also responsible for keeping records of the education you completed.
Up to Half of Your Hours Can Come From Self-Study
Of your 10 yearly hours, five may be earned through self-study. That means you pick the learning materials yourself, which gives you a good deal of flexibility.
The board accepts these self-study formats:
- Online courses
- Films and videos
- Presentations and individual slides
- Textbooks and audiobooks
- Any printed publication related to body piercing
If you choose online courses, keep in mind they must come from an approved national home study organization.
Which Topics Qualify for Oregon Body Piercer CE
Self-study is a great chance to dig into the parts of body piercing that interest you most. To be counted, though, your hours need to relate to body piercing as a profession or as a business practice.
Acceptable subject areas include:
- Client safety
- Medical emergencies that occur during piercing sessions
- Body piercing laws and regulations
- Client consultations
- Business ethics
- Business management and regulations
These are examples, not a complete list. Other body piercing topics, such as laws, regulations, health and safety, and client interactions, will likely count toward your five self-study hours as well.
Heads Up: CPR and Bloodborne Pathogens Training Are Separate
Your mandatory CPR and bloodborne pathogens training or certifications can’t be applied toward your annual CE hours.
Those requirements stand apart from the 10-hour renewal requirement. Regardless of what you cover in self-study, you still need to complete approved training to earn certification in these two areas.
How to Report Your CE Hours at Renewal
Oregon has you self-report your CE hours on your renewal application each year. This process is known as attestation, but it still comes with rules attached.
Keep thorough documentation of your hours close at hand. The board may ask to see your CE records at any point during the required documentation period.
How Long to Keep Your Records
Oregon body piercers must hold on to their CE documentation for at least five years after the renewal period. To make tracking easier, the board offers an online self-study continuing education verification form you can use to log your hours.
Staying on Top of Your Renewal
Completing your CE online is one of the most convenient ways to meet Oregon’s yearly requirements. Just make sure any course you choose comes from an approved national home study organization, covers a relevant body piercing topic, and that you save your completion records for the full five years.