Tattoo and Body Piercing Program
The Tattoo and Body Piercing Program establishes procedures and standards to prevent infection and the transmission of disease in tattoo/body piercing establishments.
All persons performing tattooing and/or body piercing in Oklahoma must be licensed in the State of Oklahoma, operate out of a licensed shop, and must maintain current training certification in bloodborne pathogen, first aid and CPR.
“Tattooing” is the practice of producing an indelible mark or figure on the human body by scarring or inserting a pigment under the skin using needles, scalpels, or other related equipment. It shall be unlawful for any person to perform or offer to perform tattooing on a child under eighteen (18) years of age.
“Body piercing” is a procedure in which an opening is created in a human body solely for the purpose of inserting jewelry or other decoration. The term does not include ear lobe piercing. It shall be unlawful for any person to perform or offer to perform body piercing on a child under eighteen (18) years of age unless the parent or legal guardian of the child is present during the procedure.
- Online Payments for Tattoo & Body Piercing Artist License Renewal
- Online Payments for Tattoo & Body Piercing Establishment License
- Basic Guidelines for Getting a Safe Tattoo
- Rules and Regulations (O.A.C. 310:233)
- Oklahoma Statute O.S. §21-842.3
- Tattoo Aftercare
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The ADA and Service Animals
- Full-Time Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist License Application
- Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment License Application
- Temporary Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist License Application
- Apprentice Sponsor Application
- Apprentice Program Application
- Apprentice License Application
- Apprentice to Full Artist License Application
- Affidavit of Lawful Presence
- Hepatitis B Form
- Quarterly Progress Reports for an Apprentice
- Weekly Employee Time Sheet for an Apprentice
- Tattoo Disclosure Form
- Change of Information Form
- Low-Income Individual License Fee Waiver
Fees: Tattoo Artist Licensing Fees are as follows:
$250.00 for an initial license
$250.00 for a renewal license
$350.00 for a late renewal when the license is not renewed within thirty
(30) days after expiration.
$50.00 for a temporary license; not exceeding 7 days.
Body Piercing Artist Licensing Fees are as follows:
$250.00 for an initial license
$250.00 for a renewal license
$350.00 for a late renewal when the license is not renewed within thirty
(30) days after expiration.
$50.00 for a temporary license; not exceeding 7 days.
Tattoo Establishment Permit Fees are as follows:
$1000.00 for an initial license
$500.00 for a renewal license
$750.00 for a late renewal when the permit is not renewed within thirty
(30) days after expiration.
$500.00 for a temporary event license; not exceeding three (3) days.
Body Piercing Establishment Permit Fees are as follows:
$500.00 for an initial license
$250.00 for a renewal license
$350.00 for a late renewal when the permit is not renewed within thirty
(30) days after expiration.
$250.00 for a temporary event license; not exceeding three (3) days.
Please provide as much information as possible concerning:
- Artist name, address, and phone number
- Shop name, address, and phone number
- When the procedure was given
- Where on the body the procedure was given
- Pictures of the procedure
- Copies of any forms signed related to the procedure
- Method of payment/was there a receipt
- Names and contact information of any witnesses present
A complaint against an artist or a shop may be filed by mailing us:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Consumer Health Service
123 Robert S. Kerr. Ave Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age. A temporary artist license is valid for no more than seven (7) consecutive days. A temporary artist license is only valid when used in a licensed facility.
Applicants must submit proof of at least two (2) complete years of licensure experience as an artist from another state OR proof of completion of an approved apprenticeship. If the licensure experience requirements cannot be met, the applicant will not be issued a temporary license.
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed Temporary Artist Application
- Notarized copy of photo ID
- Notarized copy of birth certificate
- Completed Affidavit of Lawful Presence
- Proof of licensure experience
- Current Bloodborne Pathogen training
- Current First Aid training
- Current CPR training
- $50 license fee
To allow time for processing, applicants should submit their payment, application, and all required documents to the Consumer Health Service at least 2 weeks prior to the requested license dates. Please be advised, backlogs in mail and scheduled events may further increase this processing time up to 30 days so submitting complete and timely applications will help to expedite license processing.
| Test Center | Address | City | Telephone |
| Autry Technology Center | 1201 W. Willow | Enid | (580) 242 2750 ext. 116 |
| Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center | P.O. Box 190 | Fort Cobb | (405) 643-5511 ext. 244 |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center | 1401 Michigan Avenue | Chickasha | (405) 222-7557 |
| Canadian Valley Technology Center | 6506 E. Highway 66 | El Reno | (405) 422-2263 |
| Central Technology Center | 1720 S. Main | Sapulpa | (918) 227-0331 ext. 43 |
| Chisholm Trail Technology Center | Route 1, Box 60 | Omega | (405) 729-8324 |
| Eastern OK County Tech Center | 4601 N. Choctaw Rd. | Choctaw | (405) 390-9591 |
| Francis Tuttle Technology Center | 12777 N. Rockwell | Oklahoma City | (405) 717-4270 |
| Gordon Cooper Technology Center | One John Bruton Blvd. | Shawnee | (405) 273-7493 ext. 259 |
| Great Plains Technology Center | 4500 W. Lee Blvd. | Lawton | (580) 250-5504 |
| Green Country Technology Center | P.O. Box 1217 | Okmulgee | (918) 758-0840 ext. 224 |
| High Plains Technology Center | 3921 34th Street | Woodward | (580) 571-6159 |
| Kiamichi Technology Center | 301 Kiamichi Drive | McAlester | (918) 426-0940 |
| Kiamichi Technology Center | 1509 S. McKenna | Poteau | (918) 647-4525 ext. 224 |
| Kiamichi Technology Center | Route 2, Box 1800 | (918) 567-2264 ext. 17 |
|
| Meridian Technology Center | 1312 S. Sangre Road | Stillwater | (405) 377-3333 ext. 249 |
| MetroTech | 1720 Springlake Drive | Oklahoma City | (405) 605-4770 |
| Mid-America Technology Center | P.O. Box H | Wayne | (405) 449-3391 |
| Mid-Del Technology Center | 1621 Maple Drive | Midwest City | (405) 739-1724 |
| Northeast Technology Center | P.O. Box 219 | Afton | (918) 257-8324 ext. 3115 |
| Northeast Technology Center | P.O. Box 825 | Pryor | (918) 825-5555 |
| Pioneer Technology Center | 2101 N. Ash | Ponca City | (580) 762-8336 ext. 304 |
| Pontotoc Technology Center | 601 W. 33rd | Ada | (580) 310-2236 |
| Red River Technology Center | P.O. Box 1807 | Duncan | (580) 255-2903 ext. 225 |
| Southern Techonolgy Center | 2610 Sam Noble Pkwy. | Ardmore | (580) 223-2070 ext. 259 |
| Southwest Technology Center | 711 W. Tamarack | Atlus | (580) 477-2250 |
| Tri-County Technology Center | 6101 Nowata Road | Bartlesville | (918) 331-3226 |
| Tulsa Technology Center | 3850 N. Peoria | Tulsa | (918) 828-2037 |
| Wes Watkins Technology Center | 7892 Highway 9 | Wetumka | (405) 452-5500 ext. 292 |
| Western Technology Center | P.O. Box 1469 | Burns Flat | (580) 562-3181 ext. 2247 |
If personal information or artist details need to be updated, please fill out the Change of Information Form and submit to:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Consumer Health Service
P.O. Box 268815
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-8815
No, an artist cannot give a tattoo or body piercing if they are under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. A person cannot receive a tattoo or body piercing if they are under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance.
No, eating or drinking by anyone is prohibited in the area where tattoo or body piercing procedures are being performed.
No, smoking is not allowed by anyone in any licensed establishment.
Yes, you will need to fill out a brief medical history form, as well as a consent form with your name, date of birth, address, a copy of your photo ID, your signature, date of the procedure, identification and location of the procedure, and the artist’s name and license number. The shop will provide you with these forms.
No, you must be at least 18 years old to receive a tattoo in Oklahoma.
Only if your parent or guardian is present for the procedure and consents, then yes, you may receive a body piercing if under the age of 18.
No, it is unlawful for any artist to perform tattoo or body piercing procedures outside of a licensed establishment.
Call the Consumer Health Service for information: (405) 426-8250.
No, the tattoo and body piercing licenses are separate. A tattoo license does not allow you to body pierce; a body piercing license does not allow you to tattoo.
No, you cannot. It is unlawful to perform any procedure without a current license in the appropriate category. There is a 30 day grace period for license renewals before a $100 late fee is assessed. However, the grace period only applies to the late fee; it does not permit an artist to practice with an expired license.
If your license is less than one (1) year expired, you will need to pay for the renewal and the late fee. You also need to have current Bloodborne Pathogens, CPR, and First Aid trainings. If your license is more than one (1) year expired, you will need to follow all of the steps to apply for a new license. Call Consumer Health Service to verify when your license expired: (405)-271-5243.
No, the 1500 hours are to be accumulated in no less than one (1) year and no more than two (2) years.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Consumer Health Service
P.O. Box 268815
Oklahoma City, OK 73126-8815
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Phone: (405) 426-8250
Fax: (405) 900-7557
Email: CHSLicensing@health.ok.gov
