Laser licence for tattoo removal in Australia: a state-by-state guide

Do you need a laser licence for tattoo removal in Australia?

It depends on the state or territory you work in. Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania require a licence to use a laser for tattoo removal (in WA, a licence or an exemption from licence). They also regulate the business that owns the laser and the premises where it is used. NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and the Northern Territory do not currently require a licence to use a laser for cosmetic purposes under their radiation laws.

ARPANSA, the national radiation protection agency, confirmed this in October 2025: at a state level, only Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia have regulatory controls, and even then only for certain procedures (ARPANSA, 1 October 2025). We found no exemption for cosmetic tattoo in these rules, so treat the removal of brow, lip or eyeliner pigment as tattoo removal. That means cosmetic tattoo removal needs the same licence as body tattoo removal.

Licences in the regulating states are granted for specific procedures. Queensland lists tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation as separate cosmetic services, and Western Australia issues separate tattoo removal and non-ablative cosmetic exemptions. If you also plan to offer carbon peel treatments, ask your regulator which category they fall under.

State and territory table

The table shows whether you need a licence, registration or accreditation to operate a cosmetic laser, such as a Q-switched Nd:YAG tattoo removal laser, and which regulator to contact.

Queensland: cosmetic laser licence

Under the Radiation Safety Act 1999, a person must not use a radiation source unless a use licence allows it. Queensland Health says you need a Cosmetic Laser Use Licence if you use laser apparatus to provide a cosmetic service. Cosmetic purposes are hair reduction, skin rejuvenation, superficial capillary reduction and tattoo removal. The rules cover lasers above the Class 3B emission limit, which in practice means Class 4. Queensland Health lists laser technicians, dermal technicians, beauty therapists, nurses and medical practitioners among the people who use lasers in the cosmetic industry.

The business needs its own approvals. A Possession Licence must be in place before the business acquires a laser or provides any cosmetic service. The possession licensee must also:

• apply for an Approval to Acquire each time it buys or otherwise obtains a laser
• have an approved radiation safety and protection plan
• appoint a Radiation Safety Officer
• have an accredited compliance tester assess the laser and premises
• obtain a certificate of compliance for each cosmetic laser every year.

To get the use licence, you must show theoretical and practical training. If you complete a course with a provider on Queensland Health’s approved list, you can apply when you finish. If your practical training in Queensland is with any other trainer, you need a trainee licence and must train under a licensed supervisor, keeping a training record and getting a statement of competency. The application must include evidence of infection control training, laser safety training and procedure-specific training. As a general guide, Queensland Health says reaching competency in tattoo removal may take about 100 hours. A use licence runs for one, two or three years.

Western Australia: laser registration and licence

The Radiological Council’s Guidelines for Cosmetic use of Lasers (revision 2.0, January 2026) state that registration and a licence or exemption from licence are required to use Class 3B and Class 4 lasers. Operators who are not medical practitioners or nurses can work under an exemption from licence for one of three cosmetic purposes: hair removal, non-ablative cosmetic or tattoo removal. People without their own licence or exemption can only operate a laser under the supervision of a WA licensee or exemption holder.

• Registration: the premises and every Class 3B and Class 4 laser must be registered, even if the laser is in storage.
• Medical involvement: when non-medical operators remove tattoos, a medical practitioner must be involved in setting up the protocols. If no medical practitioner is directly involved in the clinic, the registration application needs written confirmation from an Ahpra-registered medical practitioner. They must endorse your policies and procedures and be available to give medical support, which does not need to be in person.
• Skin check: for every cosmetic laser procedure except hair removal, the client needs an in-person consultation with a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner. This checks for skin cancers or other underlying conditions before each new course of treatment.
• Training for tattoo removal: you need a laser safety course recognised by the Council, a tattoo removal course and at least 100 hours of practical training under the immediate personal supervision of a WA licensee. At least 50 of those hours must be in tattoo removal, and you must be signed off as competent in both consultation and beam-on work.
• Interstate licences: a Queensland or Tasmanian cosmetic laser licence can be used to gain the equivalent WA licence.

Tasmania: cosmetic laser licence and registration

Tasmania’s Radiation Protection Act 2005 says a person must not use, sell, acquire, possess, store, transport, install or otherwise deal with a radiation source except under a licence. The Radiation Protection Regulations 2026 took effect on 24 May 2026. They apply this rule to Class 3B and Class 4 lasers, and also to intense pulsed light (IPL) used for cosmetic purposes above set exposure limits. ARPANSA notes that Tasmania is the only jurisdiction that regulates cosmetic IPL.

The occupier of the place where the laser is usually used or stored must hold a certificate of registration for that place. An application for a use licence must include a current certificate of compliance for the laser. Accredited persons test and certify the apparatus and the premises. The Department of Health’s Radiation Protection Unit publishes the qualifications it accepts for a licence to use radiation sources. Check with the unit which training applies to cosmetic lasers before you apply.

NSW, Victoria, SA, ACT and NT

New South Wales. The NSW EPA states that it does not regulate the possession or use of lasers, and it refers cosmetic laser providers to ARPANSA’s advice. The EPA points to SafeWork NSW for lasers used in workplaces, and complaints about cosmetic laser treatments go to NSW Fair Trading.

Victoria. We found no licensing requirement for cosmetic lasers. The Department of Health refers providers to ARPANSA’s advice and to the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Part C of the infection prevention and control guidelines for the hair, beauty, tattooing and skin penetration industries covers lasers and IPL, including tattoo removal. Check with your local council whether your premises must be registered.

South Australia. The Radiation Protection and Control Act 2021 can require a licence for non-ionising apparatus “of a prescribed class”, but the current regulations prescribe none.

ACT and Northern Territory. Neither currently regulates cosmetic lasers under its radiation laws. In both, the only non-ionising source those laws deal with is the commercial solarium tanning unit, which can no longer be operated.

Wherever you work, workplace health and safety duties, infection control rules and Australian Consumer Law apply.

Rules that apply when you buy a laser

In the three regulating states, the law also covers the sale:

• Queensland: a supplier must not supply a radiation source to anyone who does not hold a possession licence and an approval to acquire it. A laser brought in from another state must also be formally acquired through Queensland’s process.
• Western Australia: a seller must ask the buyer for evidence of a licence or exemption and notify the Radiological Council in writing.
• Tasmania: selling, acquiring, transporting and storing a Class 3B or Class 4 laser are dealings that need a licence.

Before you order a laser, work through these steps:

1. Confirm the laser class on the manufacturer’s label and documentation. Every state rule depends on it, and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers used for tattoo removal typically sit in Class 4.
2. Check which licence, registration or approval your state needs before delivery, and who in your business will hold it.
3. Line up training that your regulator accepts for each procedure you plan to offer.
4. Plan the treatment room: a lockable space, warning signs and eyewear rated for every wavelength the laser emits.

If you are comparing models, our Lunar comparison lists the specifications side by side.

TGA, the ARTG and ARPANSA

Whether a laser is a medical device depends on its intended purpose. The TGA works this out from the manufacturer’s labels, instructions for use, advertising and technical documents. A product that meets the medical device definition must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before it is supplied. The TGA’s guidance shows that the way a product is labelled or advertised can bring it into scope (TGA, Regulatory basics on medical devices).

ARPANSA notes that devices used for cosmetic treatments are not necessarily approved by the TGA, because cosmetic use is not considered medical. In 2019 the TGA consulted on bringing beauty lasers and IPL into the medical device framework. In 2020 it said it would hold further discussions with stakeholders before considering any change, and we found no later decision to bring them in. Some Q-switched Nd:YAG systems are included in the ARTG as Class IIb medical devices. Ask any supplier about a device’s regulatory status, and get regulatory advice if your services go beyond cosmetic use.

ARPANSA does not license cosmetic clinics. It publishes national, non-binding advice for providers. The advice covers consultation, written consent, contraindication checks, patch tests, protective equipment and medical referral after any injury, and says not to treat clients under 18 without a legal guardian’s consent. On national rules, ARPANSA said in October 2025 that there is interest in nationally consistent regulation. However, the state and territory regulators want more evidence on how often these treatments cause harm and how serious it is.

Standards: AS/NZS IEC 60825 and AS/NZS 4173

• AS/NZS IEC 60825.1:2014 defines laser classes. Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania define the lasers they regulate by reference to it. ARPANSA says the manufacturer should classify the laser and show the class clearly on a label fixed to the housing.
• AS/NZS IEC 60825.14:2022 is a user’s guide to safety measures when operating lasers.
• AS/NZS 4173:2018 covers the safe use of lasers and intense light sources in health care. Queensland Health expects laser safety training to cover the topics in its attachment 1, and ARPANSA says the standard may help with the safe use of most strong light sources used for cosmetic treatments.
• AS/NZS 1337.4:2011 sets requirements for laser eye protectors. ARPANSA refers to it for choosing eyewear.

Training, laser safety officers and eye protection

Outside Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, no course is mandated. Even so, structured training that follows AS/NZS 4173 is good practice wherever you work. ARPANSA notes that nationally approved qualifications in laser and light-based treatments exist, so check training.gov.au for the current units. Ask your regulator whether a course is approved or recognised for licensing. Every Lumova laser includes an online training course, with in-person training on request. This training builds your skills, but it is not a licence and does not replace a course your regulator requires.

A laser safety officer is the person responsible for laser safety in a clinic: keeping the safety plan current, controlling access and keys, and checking eyewear and signage. In Queensland, the possession licensee must appoint a Radiation Safety Officer; elsewhere, naming one person for the role is sensible.

Eye protection is the control you will rely on in every session. ARPANSA advises that the operator, the client and anyone else who may be exposed wear safety eyewear with an optical density suited to the wavelength in use. For a Lunar laser, that means eyewear rated for 1064, 532 and 1320 nm. ARPANSA also warns that treatments near the eyes can cause eye injury, so take particular care when removing eyeliner tattoo. Treat in a dedicated room with a laser warning sign at the entry, the door closed, and reflective surfaces and jewellery removed.

Results of tattoo removal vary, and several sessions are usually needed. Our Nd:YAG wavelengths guide explains which wavelength suits which ink.

Questions

Do you need a licence to do laser tattoo removal in Australia?

It depends on where you work. Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania require a licence (in WA, a licence or an exemption) to use a laser for tattoo removal, and they also regulate the business and premises. NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and the NT do not currently license cosmetic laser use under radiation law, although workplace health and safety, infection control and consumer law still apply.

Which states require a cosmetic laser licence?

Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. ARPANSA confirmed in October 2025 that only these three have regulatory controls on cosmetic laser use, and only for certain procedures. Queensland covers Class 4 lasers; Western Australia and Tasmania cover Class 3B and Class 4.

How do I get a cosmetic laser licence in Queensland?

Complete theoretical and practical training, then apply to Queensland Health for a Cosmetic Laser Use Licence. Your application shows evidence of infection control, laser safety and procedure-specific training. If your practical training in Queensland is not with an approved provider, you need a trainee licence and must train under a licensed supervisor. The business that owns the laser also needs a Possession Licence, an Approval to Acquire, a radiation safety and protection plan, a Radiation Safety Officer and a compliance certificate every year.

Do I need a licence for laser tattoo removal in NSW or Victoria?

Not under radiation law at present. The NSW EPA states that it does not regulate the possession or use of lasers, and Victoria's Department of Health refers cosmetic laser providers to ARPANSA's advice. Workplace health and safety duties still apply, Victoria's infection prevention and control guidelines cover laser tattoo removal, and consumer law applies everywhere. Check with the regulator before you start, because rules can change.

Does WA require laser registration for cosmetic clinics?

Yes. The premises and every Class 3B and Class 4 laser must be registered with the Radiological Council of Western Australia, even if the laser is in storage. Operators need a licence or an exemption from licence. For tattoo removal in a clinic without a medical practitioner directly involved, the registration needs written endorsement from an Ahpra-registered medical practitioner who is available to give medical support.

Does a tattoo removal laser need to be on the ARTG?

It depends on the laser's intended purpose. A device that meets the medical device definition, for example because of how it is labelled or advertised, must be included in the ARTG before supply. ARPANSA notes that devices used for cosmetic purposes are not necessarily approved by the TGA, although some Q-switched Nd:YAG systems are included in the ARTG as Class IIb medical devices. Ask your supplier about a device's regulatory status and get advice if you are unsure.

What training do laser operators need in Australia?

There is no single national requirement. ARPANSA says there are no nationally consistent requirements for mandatory qualifications or training. Queensland requires theoretical and practical training, and says tattoo removal competency may take about 100 hours as a general guide. Western Australia requires a recognised laser safety course, a tattoo removal course and at least 100 hours of supervised practical training. Tasmania publishes the qualifications it accepts for a licence. Elsewhere, training in line with AS/NZS 4173:2018 is good practice.

Can beauty therapists or cosmetic tattoo artists use a Class 4 laser?

Yes, where they meet the local requirements. Queensland Health lists beauty therapists, laser and dermal technicians, nurses and medical practitioners among the people who use lasers in the cosmetic industry under a use licence. In Western Australia, operators who are not medical practitioners or nurses can work under an exemption from licence, and tattoo removal needs medical practitioner involvement. We found no exemption for cosmetic tattoo, so treat its removal as tattoo removal.