Skin Piercing Activities

The special procedures defined in Section 57 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 are:

• acupuncture (including dry needling)
• body piercing (including ear piercing)
• electrolysis
• tattooing (including semi-permanent make up / microblading)

Each practitioner must have their own Special Procedure Licence, and they can only operate in a premises/vehicle that has been approved with an Approved Premises Certificate.

The scheme has mandatory requirements/conditions within the regulations for practitioners and premises/vehicles. You must comply with these requirements/conditions to receive a Special Procedure Licence and/or Approved Premises Certificate.

A Special Procedure License and Approved Premises Certificate will last for 3 years from the date the licence is granted.

Temporary licences will be valid for no more than 7 days.

You will need to apply to the Local Authority within which you conduct your special procedures. If you practice in more than one Local Authority area in Wales, you should apply to the Local Authority where you conduct the majority of your special procedures.

The special procedure licence, when issued, is valid for the whole of Wales, as long as there is a premises approval certificate granted and that these premises are listed/referenced on the practitioner's Special Procedures Licence.

Temporary Special Procedure Licences will be limited to a specific event and/or timeframe. This will mean that a new application must be made for each separate event (unless the practitioner has a 3-year licence).

Practitioners who live outside of Wales but work in Wales, will need either a Temporary Special Procedure Licence (if infrequent and no more than 7 days) or a three-year Special Procedure Licence.

Supporting Documentation for a Practitioners Licence Application

• One full face coloured photograph of the applicant (passport style)
• Evidence of valid insurance cover in respect of the performance of a special procedure.
• A valid Basic Disclosure Certificate (DBS) obtained within 3 months or less of the application date.
• Declaration of relevant offences (as set out in the Act).
• Evidence of the successful completion of a regulated Level 2 Award in Infection, Prevention & Control for Special Procedures (an award that is regulated by Qualifications Wales)
• Verification of name and date of birth (e.g. passport, driving licence etc.).
• Verification of current residential address (e.g. driving licence, council tax letter, utility bill etc.).

An application for a temporary licence must be made at least 28 working days prior to the intended start date of the temporary licence. Examples of where a temporary licence can be used include:

• Doing a ‘guest spot’ at an approved premises or vehicle.
• Performing special procedures at an industry/trade event or convention.
• Undertaking special procedures at a festival (music, arts or community).

The application process for a temporary licence follows the same process outlined for a special procedure licence and all supporting documents required for a 3-year licence are required for a temporary licence.

A licence holder is required to renew their licence every 3 years. Renewals must be made at least 28 working days prior to the expiry of the licence. The renewal application process follows the same process outlined for a special procedure licence.

During the 3-year period that the licence is valid, a licence holder may wish to vary the details of their licence.

Variations could include:

• Adding or removing a special procedure to the licence.
• Adding or removing an approved premises or vehicle to the licence.
• A change to the licence holder’s name e.g. a change of name after marriage.

Variations do not include:

• Transferring the licence from the licence holder to another individual.
• Extending the period of the licence.

Applications for a variation to a special procedure licence must be submitted to Gwynedd Council using the following application form: 

Practitioner Variation Licence Application

Licence Fee

Additional Fees

Supporting Documentation for a Premises Licence Application

• One full face coloured photograph of the applicant (passport style)
• Evidence of valid insurance cover held by the applicant in respect of the premises or vehicle.
• Evidence of the successful completion of a regulated Level 2 Award in Infection, Prevention & Control for Special Procedures (an award that is regulated by Qualifications Wales) 
• Verification of name and date of birth (e.g. passport, driving licence etc.).
• Verification of current residential address (e.g. driving licence, council tax letter, utility bill etc.).
• A premises/vehicle layout plan (must include points of entry/exit into the premises and into any rooms, measurement, and shape of any room within the premises and the location of equipment sinks, sharps bins, staff rooms, storage areas/facilities/rooms for products & equipment, toilets, waiting areas/rooms, wash hand basins, waste bins, windows and workstations).

• A recent colour photograph of the vehicle (if applicable)

An application for a temporary approval certificate must be made at least 28 working days prior to the intended start date of the temporary approval certificate. Examples of where a temporary approval certificate can be used include:

• A temporary event such as an exhibition, convention, trade show or open-air festival where an event organiser is responsible for the organisation, operation and management of that temporary event.
• A temporary event where an individual wishes to hire space/accommodation, use their vehicle or set up a temporary structure at a festival or event to perform a special procedure.

In the case of a temporary event like a convention or exhibition, the event organiser is:

• Considered as the person carrying on a special procedures business for the duration of the event, and
• Responsible for ensuring that the premises/vehicle is approved by the Local Authority and that the premises/vehicle can comply with the mandatory approval conditions.

The application process for a temporary approval certificate follows the same process outlined for a premises/vehicle approval certificate and all supporting documents required for a 3-year approval certificate are required for a temporary approval certificate.

An approval certificate holder is required to renew their certificate every 3 years. Renewals must be made at least 28 working days prior to the expiry of the approval certificate. The renewal application process follows the same process outlined for an approved premises certificate.

During the 3-year period that the approval certificate is valid, a certificate holder may wish to vary the details of their approval certificate.

Variations could include:

• Adding or removing a special procedure to the approval certificate.
• Increasing or decreasing the number of workstations.
• Significant changes to the structure or design of the premises.
• A change to the certificate holder’s name e.g. a change of name after marriage.

Variations do not include:

• Transferring the approval certificate from the certificate holder to another individual.
• Extending or shortening the period of the approval certificate.
• Terminating the approval certificate.

Where the variation relates to structural or design changes to the premises or vehicle:

• The application should include full details of those changes.
• An updated plan to reflect the intended changes, and
• The certificate holder will need to satisfy the Local Authority at an inspection that the variations reflect the proposed variations made in the application.

Applications for a variation to an approved premises certificate must be submitted to Gwynedd Council using the following application form: 

Premises Variation Approval Certificate Application

Licence Fee

Additional Fees

View the Special Procedures Wales Public Register

Guidance

• Welsh Government: Special procedures
• NHS Wales: Special Procedures

Training

• Level 2 Infection Prevention and Control

Basic Disclosure Certificate (DBS)

• Request a DBS check

Visual resources

• Hand washing guidance poster