BACKGROUND: Reliable measurements of behavior are crucial to evaluating health promotion efforts. The goal of this reliability study was to examine the consistency of recalled tanning behaviors in a population with a potentially high use. METHODS: We used the test-retest reliability of a self-administered survey to examine the consistency of reporting behavior patterns regarding artificial ultraviolet (UV) tanning, sunburns and sun sensitivity among sorority- and fraternity-affiliated university students. RESULTS: High reliability on test-retest for questions evaluating the number of artificial UV tanning sessions and the number of sunburns during specific time periods was found. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study suggests that this sub-population of 18-23-year-olds, with a wider range of exposures than other 18-23-year-olds and older subjects, report lifetime artificial UV tanning consistently when required to recall time period-specific exposures before estimating their lifetime exposure.