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Oregon Health Authority

Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners

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IntroText

Upcoming HLO Closures Due to State Holidays

​Mark your calendar and note that the Health Licensing Office (and all State of Oregon agencies) will be closed on the following days:

  • Monday, November 11, 2024, for Veterans Day
  • Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29, 2024, for the Thanksgiving holiday​

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Practitioner information

The following regulated professions are overseen by the Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners. Learn more about applying for a license, associated fees, laws, rules and more by following the links below:

About the board

The Oregon Board of Electrologists and Body Art Practitioners oversees the practices of tattoo artists, electrologists and body piercers, including specialty piercers and earlobe-only piercers.

The Board of Body Art Practitioners consists of seven members appointed by the governor:

  • Two licensed to perform body piercing
  • Two licensed to perform tattooing
  • One licensed to perform electrolysis
  • One public member
  • One health care provider member licensed under ORS Chapter 677, 678 or 685

The term of office of each member of the board is four years, but a member serves at the pleasure of the governor. Vacancies are filled by the governor by appointment for the unexpired term. A member serves until the appointment and qualification of a successor.

Board members

Audrey Jones

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 3/14/2025
Lake Oswego


Audrey Jones (she/her) is a full time Electrologist based out of Oregon and Washington. Audrey received her electrolysis education in Oregon at the Aesthetics Institute of Portland and she enjoys helping her clients create the change they wish to see within themselves.

In addition to working full time as a permanent hair removal specialist in her Electrolysis clinic, Audrey enjoys working on expanding education opportunities for electrologists both locally and abroad. She aspires to help others learn the art and science of electrolysis so that we can better serve our communities.

Paul Thomas

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 6/29/2027
Portland


Paul Thomas is co-owner of Aardvark Tattoo Company. He has been tattooing since 2004 and has been piercing since 2007.

Paul has had a passion for art since childhood. He became interested in the art of body modification while studying computer science in college and has been passionate about multiple aspects of body modification since. When he has free time, he enjoys working on online gaming and is also a helicopter pilot.

Matthew Holmes

Term: 2nd Full
Term end: 2/21/2025
Portland


Matthew Holmes took an interest in being a piercer after leaving the army, and became a tattoo artist a couple years later. He has enjoyed working as a piercer and tattoo artist and believes the profession is made possible through continued, attentive education of those wishing to join the occupation, as well as those continuing to provide these services to the public. Because of this, he chose to work as a piercing supervisor for apprentices, and has worked in two separate shops that also run tattoo schools.

Matthew feels great pride knowing that several of his former apprentices are doing quality work for the community. He also works as a proctor for the piercing practical exam, because he truly cares about the quality of work produced by those licensed in the state of Oregon.
 
Outside of work, Matthew enjoys volunteering for a world-wide nonprofit education organization, the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). The main focus of which, is teaching the modern world about life in the Middle Ages. He believes that continuing to learn new things, no matter one's age, is key to health and happiness. This is a big part of why he enjoys volunteering with the SCA, because it embraces people of all ages and walks of life.

Nathan Morelli

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 3/28/2027


Nathan Morelli started his piercing career in Portland, Oregon, in 2009. ​He is a devoted husband and father of two. In addition to his career, he enjoys staying busy and devotes time to competing in bodybuilding as well. This is a career that he truly loves. "I am very excited to be on the board and to help keep our industry safe".

John Dickerson

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 4/30/2027
Newport




Rebecca Flaum

Term: 1st Partial
Term end: 6/30/2025
Portland


Rebecca Flaum, also known as Bex, is the owner of Oak Iris Tattoo in North Portland. She's been tattooing since 2019, and before that, earned a BA in art and an MFA in graphic design. She has been an artist for as long as she could hold a pencil and still does traditional art on the side when her busy tattooing schedule allows.

Bryan Goodin

Term: 1st Full
Term end: 6/30/2028
Portland


Bryan has an RN and MPH with a focus on health policy and is nationally certified in Infection Control.  He currently works as a director overseeing occupational health for a large hospital system. His career background includes a variety of community outreach, health equity programs, and working to improve both patient and employee safety.

Bryan has lived in the SE Portland area for over twenty years after growing up in New Mexico. Outside of work, he enjoys gardening, cooking, keeping mason bees, old microscopes, and reading or watching sci-fi. As a volunteer, Bryan offers CPR, Stop the Bleed, and Naloxone courses in high-risk communities.

Along with a background in non-profit management, Bryan is an investor with several small businesses. This gives him the balance needed to support the practitioners of electrolysis and body art, who are often also running a small business.​​

Board Recruitment

Are you interested in serving as a volunteer citizen board member? HLO-regulated boards seek new members as current board member terms expire.

Current vacancies and how to apply

For board recruitment questions or the appointment process, contact the Oregon Governor's Office of Executive Appointments at 503-378-6829.