Body Art

Our Body Art Program permits and inspects body art studios. We also offer the Body Artist Certification Exam. The term “body art” refers to tattooing, piercing and microblading.

For body art clients

Before obtaining a body art service, be sure to check near the studio entrance for the studio’s permit, the certification for each artist, and our recent inspection report. Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides this information on body art risks.

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For body art studios: applying for a body art studio permit 

To open or make structural changes to a body art studio, you must apply for a permit prior to the start of construction.

• Review the Body Art Studio Plan Checklist
• Complete the Body Art Studio Application
• Prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). You may create your own or use the following templates:
  • All Disposable Body Art Studios SOP
  • Non-Disposable Body Art Studios SOP

Email the completed application, an 8 ½” x 11” or larger detailed, to-scale floor plan of the body art studio, SOPs and all other supporting documents to DeKalb.eh@dph.ga.gov with the subject line: “Body Art Studio Application.”

Once the studio is permitted, you must display:

• The studio’s permit
• Each artist’s certification
• The most recent body art inspection report
• The sign about tattoos and military service

You must keep a file on each artist and client. The studio will be inspected twice a year.

For all of the requirements, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s body art web page.

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For body artists: certification exam 

DeKalb Public Health’s Environmental Health Department offers Body Artist Certification Exams at 10:00 a.m. every first and third Friday of the month. If a date falls on a holiday, the exam will be offered the following Friday.

Since this is a state-wide certification, exams may be taken at any county environmental health office that is offering the exams. A list of additional county environmental health offices can be found here.

Body Artist Certification Exam Registration Form
Body Artist Certification Steps
Body Artist Certification Renewal

For all of the requirements, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health’s body art web page.

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For temporary studios & guest (out-of-state) artists

To operate a temporary studio outside of your permitted location, you must apply for a temporary permit. Click here for the Temporary Body Art Studio Application.

To practice at a temporary studio, you must apply for a permit using the Temporary Artist Application.

If you want to temporarily practice in Georgia as a guest (out-of-state) artist, you must apply for a permit using the Guest Artist Application. You must also submit a Guest Artist Supervisor Letter.

For all of the requirements, visit Georgia Department of Public Health’s Rules and Regulations for Body Art.