The New York State Department is currently working on a statewide permit/license program, but for now, you must follow local regulations. This guide will outline the requirements in New York City. For other areas, contact your local health department.
A Tattoo Artist License is required for an individual tattoo artist working in NYC. A tattoo license costs $100 and is issued by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. If submitting your application online, you will be charged a 2.49% convenience fee as well.
New York City Tattoo Licenses are valid for two years from the end of the month in which it was applied for. Licenses may be renewed online. It costs $100 to renew your license.
Tattoo Artist License Application
To obtain a tattoo artist license in New York City, there is no tattoo apprenticeship paperwork, but you must submit the following: |
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Application (The paper application may be found here or you may apply online here.) |
$100 fee (by credit card, money order, or check to “DOHMH”) |
Proof of home address (one of the following) a 70% score is required. Valid driver’s license or non-driver ID Current lease or mortgage statement Utility bill, bank or credit card statement dated within the last 90 days |
Photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport |
Valid original NYS Certificate of Sales Tax Authority Obtain here Complete Form DTF-17 online or mail it to New York State Tax Department Sales Tax Registration Unit W A Harriman Campus Albany, New York 12227. Takes 4-6 weeks |
After your application with the required documents is submitted and your fee is paid, you will take the NYC Health Academy Infection Control Course for Tattoo Artists. |
To obtain a tattoo artist license in New York City, there is no tattoo apprenticeship paperwork, but you must submit the following:
- Application (The paper application may be found here or you may apply online here.)
- $100 fee (by credit card, money order, or check to “DOHMH”)
- Valid driver’s license or non-driver ID
- Current lease or mortgage statement
- Utility bill, bank or credit card statement dated within the last 90 days
- Photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport
- Obtain here
- Complete Form DTF-17 online or mail it to
New York State Tax Department
Sales Tax Registration Unit
W A Harriman Campus
Albany, New York 12227.
- Takes 4-6 weeks
After your application with the required documents is submitted and your fee is paid, you will take the NYC Health Academy Infection Control Course for Tattoo Artists.
New York City Infection Control Course
NYC law requires tattoo artists must take the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s infectious diseases course:
If your county has additional regulations, you can find them here.
Turn in Your Application
You may submit your application online or in person. |
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To apply online: |
Visit this website |
Make sure to have electronic copies (PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, XLS, XLSX, DOC, DOCX, VSD, or TXT) of your required documents listed below. |
Pay your $100 fee by credit card before submitting your application A 2.49% convenience fee will be added to online payments |
To apply in person: |
Schedule an appointment by calling 212-436-0441 or emailing LicensingAppointments@dca.nyc.gov |
Bring your completed application, the $100 fee (credit card, check, or money order), and the required documents listed below |
Documents to submit with your application & fee: |
Proof of home address (one of the following) Valid driver’s license or non-driver ID Current lease or mortgage statement Utility bill, bank or credit card statement dated within the last 90 days |
Valid government ID, such as driver’s license or passport |
Valid original NYS Certificate of Sales Tax Authority |
Your will have a tattoo artist license issued to you after completing the three-hour Infection Control Course and all your documents are turned in. |
The Application
You may submit your application online or in person.
To apply online:
Visit this website
Make sure to have electronic copies (PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, XLS, XLSX, DOC, DOCX, VSD, or TXT) of your required documents listed below
Pay your $100 fee by credit card before submitting your application
A 2.49% convenience fee will be added to online payments
To apply in person:
Schedule an appointment by calling 212-436-0441 or emailing LicensingAppointments@dca.nyc.gov
Bring your completed application, the $100 fee (credit card, check, or money order), and the required documents listed below
Documents to submit with your application & fee:
Proof of home address (one of the following)
Valid driver’s license or non-driver ID
Current lease or mortgage statement
Utility bill, bank or credit card statement dated within the last 90 days
Valid government ID, such as driver’s license or passport
Valid original NYS Certificate of Sales Tax Authority
Your will have a tattoo artist license issued to you after completing the three-hour Infection Control Course and all your documents are turned in.
Permanent Makeup Artists:
Because permanent make up (PMU) is a form of tattooing, you must be a licensed tattoo artist (see information in the “Application” section of this article), take the 3 hour infection control course, and successfully complete the written examination.
If You Are Also Interested in Body Piercing:
At this time, there is no application for body piercing operators available online for NYC. New York is undergoing major changes in their tattooing and body piercing requirements, and many NY counties currently require new tattoo and piercing artists to complete an application for a new license in person at their local department of health.
You will need to take the NYC Health Academy Infection Control Course for Tattoo Artists.If You Are Opening a Tattoo Studio And/Or Body Piercing Studio:
Any piercing or tattoo shop must submit a license application. Due to the state creating new regulations surrounding its tattoo and body piercing laws, at the time of writing, there is no application available online. You will need to go in person to your local department of health to apply.
NY law requires every artist working in a tattoo business to be independently licensed.
Things You Should Know:
It is illegal to tattoo minors under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent.
DCA licensing center tattoo license application: https://nyc-business.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/description/tattoo-license
New York City body art industry regulations: https://www.health.ny.gov/community/body_art/
New York City drinking water regulations: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/doh_pub_contacts_map.htm
New York City body art individual permit requirements: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/permit/address-affidavit.pdf
New York City tattoo license application: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/hany/tattoo-license-app.pdf
New York City tattoo license appointment contact info for further assistance: LicensingAppointments@dca.nyc.gov
New York City licensing citizen portal: https://a816-hlst.nyc.gov/CitizenAccess/
New York City tattoo manual: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/hany/tattoo-manual.pdf
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene blood borne pathogens / infectious diseases course for tattooing and body piercing https://nyc-business.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/description/infection-control-course-for-tattoo-artists
Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program
Learning the steps you need to take to get licensed is an important step in your journey, but it can also be pretty eye-opening to how difficult tattooing can be. Without the right knowledge, it’s impossible to level up your skills and become a professional tattoo artist.
However, finding the straight-forward information you need to progress is difficult. And with so much out there online, it’s hard to avoid picking up bad habits from incorrect and outdated resources.
This is one of the biggest struggles new tattooers face, and too many talented artists have given up their goal of getting into tattooing because of the years it would take to unlearn their bad habits.
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Over 7000 students have already gone through the course, with many of them opening up their own studios. If you want to join them and learn the skills you need to start tattooing full time faster…
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