Tattoo License
A Tattoo License is required for an individual Tattoo Artist working in New York City and is designed to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in New York City.
To obtain a Tattoo License an individual must successfully complete a three hour Infection Control Course conducted by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DOHMH) Health Academy.
Submission of an application for the Tattoo Artist License and registration for the Infection Control Course must occur at the same time. The license will be mailed to the specific person named in the application after he or she has taken the course and passed the written examination. This license is non-transferable.
Gather all supporting documents required to apply for this permit. Review and complete the application for a Tattoo License.
You will need to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer ID.
If someone other than the business owner will be submitting the application, a completed Power of Attorney / Authority to Act form is required. The person submitting the application on behalf of the business owner must also show a form of acceptable photo identification.
After you apply for your license, you will take the NYC Health Academy's Infection Control Course for Tattoo Artists. You should prepare for the class by reading the Infection Control Course Study Manual.
List of Permit Fees.
- Tattoo License Fee: $100.00 for two years, valid from the end of the month in which the applicant applied for the license.
- Infection Control Course: $26.00.
- Online Application fee: $126.00 (for both the Tattoo License and Infection Control Course). Please note that an Online Convenience Fee of 2% is added to all online payments.
List of accepted payment methods.
- Personal Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, accepted for in-person payments, only)
- Certified Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, accepted for in-person payments, only)
- Government Check (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, accepted for in-person payments, only)
- Money Order (made payable to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, accepted for in-person payments, only)
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Discover
- American Express
LEARN MORE
Gather all supporting documents required to apply for this permit. Review and complete the application for a Tattoo License.
Schedule an appointment.
In-Person Licensing and Collections Services Available by Appointment Only.
You must call or email the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) to schedule an appointment at their Manhattan or Queens locations. After you apply license and Infection Control course DCWP will issue you a receipt that will include the date and time of the class for which you registered.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. (PDF)
Renewals may be submitted online via the NYC Online Licensing system. Registration is required. You will not be permitted to renew a permit if you have outstanding fines. You can pay fines online before renewing.
To renew online for the first time, you will need the Personal Identification Number (PIN) found on your Renewal Notice for each permit or license you hold. The PIN will allow you to link your existing records to one single online account. You only need to use your PIN to link to each permit or license record once.
If you do not have access to your Renewal Notice, you may obtain your PIN(s) by completing an online PIN Request Form or by calling 311.
Note: If you need to upload any documents, you will be prompted to download the Microsoft Silverlight application.
You may renew your permit in person at the DCWP Citywide Licensing Center. If you send someone to renew for you, they must present an Authority to Act on your behalf.
Renewal applications may be submitted by a person other than the individual licensee, as long as the person submitting the renewal has a valid Authority to Act Form signed by the licensee. Representatives must show photo identification.