If you’re new to licensing, New Jersey’s rules can feel confusing. This guide breaks the process into simple steps so you know exactly what to do.
In New Jersey, the state health department (NJDOH) does not issue a single statewide “tattoo license” to individuals.
Instead, you get approved to tattoo in a licensed shop through the local health department.
Key Points
- The local health department must approve you before you can start tattooing.
- The local health department must license the tattoo shop where you will work.
- Tattooing at home or in an unlicensed space can put you and your clients at risk and violate state rules.
1. Choose How You Will Learn
You can start your tattoo career in New Jersey in two ways:
Training Options
- Go to a tattoo school (if approved and available in your area), or
- Apprentice side-by-side with a licensed practitioner at an approved body art establishment.
Most artists in New Jersey begin with an apprenticeship. You will learn how to set up safely, improve tattooing skills, work with clients, and follow health rules while being supervised.
2. Understand Who Approves Shops and Artists
How Approval Works
- Tattoo shops are licensed and inspected by the local health department.
- Tattoo artists are approved by the local health department after a review of their training and experience.
- Tattooing rules for New Jersey are written in the State Sanitary Code, N.J.A.C. 8:27-7.
3. Know the Difference: Apprentice vs. Practitioner
1
Apprentice
If you have less than 2,000 hours of documented tattoo experience, you will work as an apprentice in New Jersey. An apprentice:
- Works under the direct supervision of a practitioner in an approved shop
- Learns regulatory requirements, tattooing techniques, client care, and infection control
- Builds hours toward the 2,000-hour requirement
2
Practitioner
New Jersey defines a completed tattoo apprenticeship as at least 2,000 hours of tattooing in a tattooing establishment under the direct supervision of a practitioner.
To qualify as a practitioner, you need:
- Proof of a completed apprenticeship (tax records, letters from employers, certificates, etc.)
- At least 10 client applications, 10 photos of tattoos you personally performed, and 3 client consent forms or testimonials
- Any additional documents local health departments may require
4. Complete Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Training
All apprentices and practitioners must complete Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) training in compliance with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030. This training teaches you how to protect yourself and your clients from diseases carried in blood and other body fluids.
Get BBP Training
5. Apply to Your Local Health Department for Approval to Do Tattooing
What to Do
- Find contact information for your local health department here.
- Ask for their current application or checklist for tattoo apprentices and practitioners.
- Submit the completed application and any required documentation.
6. Stay Compliant and Keep Records
- Work only in licensed, inspected body art establishments.
- Follow all health and safety rules in N.J.A.C. 8:27, especially Subchapter 7.
- Keep clear, complete client records and consent forms.
This guide is a plain-language summary to help new artists understand the process. It is not legal advice. Always review the current New Jersey State Sanitary Code (N.J.A.C. 8:27) and check with your local health department for exact requirements where you plan to work.
