How to Get a Tattoo License – Oklahoma

All persons performing tattooing in Oklahoma must be licensed. A standard license costs $250. A temporary license costs $50.

Licenses must be renewed annually from the date they are issued. For example, if you got your tattoo artist license on April 4 2021, you need to renew it by April 4, 2022. Renewing a license costs $250. If you are trying to renew it 30 days after it has expired, the cost is $350.

Tattoo Apprentice Application 

If you will be going through a tattoo apprenticeship in Oklahoma, you will need to fill out the following forms:

Apprentice Sponsor Application (Your apprentice sponsor will fill this out; they must be licensed)

After a year as an apprentice, you can fill out the Apprentice to Full Artist Application.

If you will be going through a tattoo apprenticeship in Oklahoma, you will need to fill out the following forms:

Tattoo Artist Application

If you are moving from another state or received training outside of Oklahoma, you will fill out a tattoo artist application. To get a tattoo license in Oklahoma, you must submit the following:

A complete license application.

A notarized copy of any state or federally issued ID. (Find a notary near you.)

Proof of two years of licensed experience OR proof of completion of an approved tattoo apprenticeship. (Find apprenticeship program information here.)

Current First Aid training certificate.

Current CPR training certificate.

If you are moving from another state or received training outside of Oklahoma, you will fill out a tattoo artist application. To get a tattoo license in Oklahoma, you must submit the following:
  • A notarized copy of any state or federally issued ID. (Find a notary near you.)
  • A notarized copy of your birth certificate.
  • Proof of two years of licensed experience OR proof of completion of an approved tattoo apprenticeship. (Find apprenticeship program information here.)

Find the full list of BBP, first aid, and CPR training requirements here

After submitting the necessary paperwork, you will be mailed a Test Letter. You must then schedule a test, and receive a score of 70% or higher. There is a $200 testing fee.

If your county has additional regulations, you can find them here

Oklahoma recognizes artist licenses from other states, but proof must be provided (i.e. copy of licensure, tax records).

Temporary Tattoo Artist Application

If you will be tattooing in Oklahoma for a short period of time (like a tattoo convention), you can get a temporary tattoo license here.

Turn in Your Application

All paperwork and documentation should be sent to:

Oklahoma State Department of Health
Consumer Protection Division
PO Box 268815
OKC, OK 73126-8815

You will receive your license approximately 30 days after your payment has been posted.

Things You Should Know:

It is illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18.

It is illegal to tattoo anyone under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Additional rules and regulations can be found here

Frequently Asked Questions can be found here 
Links

https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing.html
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/how-to-get-a-tattoo-or-body-piercing-artist-license.html
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/fee-schedule.html
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/how-to-get-a-tattoo-or-body-piercing-artist-license.html
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/annual-training-requirements.html
https://www.ok.gov/triton/modules/health/map/county_map.php
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/frequently-asked-questions.html
https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/CPD-OS%20Title%2021%20Section%20842.1%20et%20seq.pdf
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/documents/ols-affidavit-of-lawful-presence.pdf
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/apprenticeship-information.html
https://www.redcross.org/local/oklahoma/take-a-class/cpr-oklahoma-city-ok
https://www.redcross.org/local/oklahoma/take-a-class/first-aid
Bloodborne pathogen training course / infectious diseases course https://courseforbbp.com/states/OK#:~:text=Course%20For%20Bloodborne%20Pathogens%20provides,potentially%20infectious%20materials%20(OPIM)                        
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/protective-health/consumer-health-services/forms/cpd-body-piercing-tattoo-regular-license-application.pdf                   
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/protective-health/consumer-health-services/tattoo-and-body-piercing/cpd-body-piercing-tattoo-regular-license-application.pdf 
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/documents/ols-affidavit-of-lawful-presence.pdf 
https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/protective-health/consumer-health-services/forms/ols-affidavit-of-lawful-presence.pdf 
https://oklahoma.gov/health/protective-health/consumer-health-service/body-piercing-and-tattooing/tattoo-applications-and-forms.html

Prepare for a Tattooing Career with the Artist Accelerator Program

examples of students own tattoo

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. 

That’s why aspiring artists are learning to tattoo with the Artist Accelerator Program’s structured course. As a student, you learn every step of the tattooing process from professional artists with the experience and advice you need to build your skills and create incredible tattoos. 

With the Artist Accelerator, you can stop wasting time searching through incorrect information. You just get the clear, easy-to-understand lessons you need to start improving fast… along with support and personalized feedback from professional artists in our online Mastermind group.

Over 2500 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…

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.

Looking for a tattoo apprenticeship?

Tattooing 101's Artist Accelerator 90 day program is the closest thing to a real apprenticeship

  • 500 video modules
  • Professional tattoo artist coaches
  • Private mastermind community
AUTHOR
Nathan Molenaar

Nathan is a licensed professional tattoo artist with over 8 years’ experience working at studios across the globe, including Celebrity Ink, the world's largest tattoo studio chain.

When he's not tattooing, he spends his free time sharing his experience and knowledge with aspiring artists who dream of pursuing a career in the tattooing industry.

write a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

SUGGESTED ARTICLES FOR YOU

MORE FREE CONTENT FOR YOU

How to Use Borders on Tattoo Flash Sheets

November 22, 2022

Borders on your tattoo flash sheets are a great way to make ...

How to Use Borders on Tattoo Flash Sheets

How to Apply for a Tattoo License – PA

July 13, 2022

Pennsylvania is one of the states in the US that does not ...

How to Apply for a Tattoo License – PA

How to Make Money as an Artist in 2022

January 28, 2022

If you’ve thought about trying to make it as a full-time artist, ...

How to Make Money as an Artist in 2022

Our Community

Join the Tattooing 101 Community today and get free, instant access to tools and resources that take you behind the curtain of all things tattooing. From apprentice to shop owner, we've got you covered.