Copies of rules are provided here as a courtesy and are not the official versions. Though every effort is made to ensure that the text provided here is identical to the official, legally effective versions of rule, if any discrepancies exist between the text at this website and the official version of the rules, the official version will govern.

In order to perform body piercing, you can either go to a school or learn side-by-side with a practitioner at a body art establishment. In NJ, the state health department (NJDOH) doesn't issue a piercing license to individuals, but rather an approval, and that's through the local health department where your body art establishment is located. The local health department will verify your credentials, as well as any other artists in your firm. The body art establishment itself is licensed and inspected by the local health department. The piercing regulations can be found in Subchapter 6.

The level of piercing that you will be doing is dependent upon how many hours of experience that you can document, by employment records, business records, references from previous employers, etc. If it's less than 1000 hours, then you would have to work as an apprentice under the supervision of a licensed practitioner until you get to the 1000 hour milestone. You will also need 10 client applications and 10 photographs or digital images of piercings that you have personally performed. Copies or original consent forms or testaments from 3 clients are also required in order to be qualified as a practitioner. All apprentices and practitioners must obtain bloodborne pathogen training that is compliant with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030.

If you do not meet the above standards, then you will need to apprentice under a licensed practitioner until you obtain the experience/documentation to become a practitioner and/or operator.

Please note that generally, all body art procedures must be performed in a commercial body art establishment, approved by the local construction, zoning, and health departments.

In order to perform body tattooing, you can either go to a school or learn side-by-side with a practitioner at a body art establishment. In NJ, the state health department (NJDOH) doesn't issue a tattoo license to individuals, but rather an approval, and that's through the local health department where your body art establishment is located. The local health department will verify your credentials, as well as any other artists in your firm. The body art establishment itself is licensed and inspected by the local health department. The tattooing regulations can be found in Subchapter 7.

The level of tattooing that you will be doing is dependent upon how many hours of tattooing experience that you can document, by employment records, business records, references from previous employers, etc. If it's less than 2000 hours, then you would have to work as an apprentice under the supervision of a licensed practitioner until you get to the 2000 hour milestone. You will also need 10 client applications and 10 photographs or digital images of tattoos that you have personally performed. Copies or original consent forms or testaments from 3 clients are also required in order to be qualified as a practitioner. All apprentices and practitioners must obtain bloodborne pathogen training that is compliant with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.1030.

If you do not meet the above standards, then you will need to apprentice under a licensed practitioner until you obtain the experience/documentation to become a practitioner and/or operator.

Please note that generally, all body art procedures must be performed in a commercial body art establishment, approved by the local construction, zoning, and health departments.

Establishments that perform piercing of the lobe ONLY are no longer exempt from the Body Art Regulations. As of July 18, 2022, they are now subject to licensure and inspection by local health departments. For establishments that perform any type of ear piercing, the following requirements apply:

Ear piercing apprentices must complete a training program, either provided at a piercing school, by their body art establishment operator, or by a practitioner. Proof of successfully completing a training program must be maintained by the operator on the premises.

The apprentice must then perform three ear lobe and three cartilage procedures under the direct supervision of the operator before performing ear piercings independently.

This Rule Interpretation and Policy Statement document was developed as a response to questions concerning the acceptability of microdermal anchors (otherwise known as surface anchors, microdermals, microdermal implants, microdermal piercings etc.) – small transdermal devices inserted by single point piercings – for use in New Jersey body art establishments. The Public Health and Food Protection Program (PHFPP) has determined that microdermal anchors do not differ significantly from traditional surface piercings and that the current Body Art Procedures rules do not exclude their use.

Download the full Rule Interpretation and Policy Statement [PDF]

Microblading is the practice of using a hand-held instrument, tipped with a grouping or configuration of needles, utilized for penetrating into the lower epidermal layers and/or dermis, so that pigments are introduced and implanted into the lower epidermal layers and/or dermis. It is also known by a variety of names such as eyebrow embroidery, micro-stroking, feather touch and hair like strokes as a form of permanent makeup that provides a means to partially or fully camouflage missing eyebrow hair with the appearance of simulated hair using fine deposits of pigments, colors, and/or dyes. While some refer to microblading as “semi-permanent cosmetics” because the colorants eventually fade, there is no conclusive, consistent, and reliable proof that the pigments, colors, and/or dyes will be completely eliminated from the dermal and epidermal layers of skin.

In N.J.A.C. 8:27-1.3, "Permanent Cosmetics," "Micropigmentation," or "Dermal Pigmentation" are defined as the implanting of inert pigments, colors, and/or dyes intradermally which results in permanent alteration of tissue to gain a cosmetic effect." By definition, Microblading is Micropigmentation. Therefore, operators, practitioners, and apprentices of microblading are subject to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 8:27, and in particular subchapter 8.

The course can be taught by a trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org

Scalp micropigmentation falls under the same requirements as general permanent cosmetics guidance. Permanent cosmetics apprentices and practitioners, regardless of which specialty they wish to perform, must successfully complete a 100-hour basic permanent cosmetics course.

Apprentices and practitioners must gain the required experience by perfmorning 5 procedures for lips, 5 for eyebrows, and 5 for eyeliners. They must also successfully pass either the AAM, SPCP, or SofTap examination. 

Once the applicant has completed these requirements, they shall notify the local health department, if they're already working for an existing licensed body art establishment. Applicants can also apply for a body art establishment license with the local health department, if they desire to operate independently.

The course can be taught by a trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org

The applicant must meet all of the requirements of a general permanent cosmetics practitioner and successfully complete a training program in areola restoration of at least 16 hours in length.

Once the applicant has completed these requirements, they shall notify the local health department, if they're already working for an existing licensed body art establishment. Applicants can also apply for a body art establishment license with the local health department, if they desire to operate independently.

The course can be taught by a trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org

According to N.J.A.C. 8:27-1.3, "camouflage" is definied as a body art procedure that a permanent cosmetics practitioner performs to restore by pigment insertion the appearance of skin that has been altered by: 

1. An injury (such as scarring resulting from an accident, a burn, or a communicable disease, such as varicella or measles);
2. A clinical condition (such as pigment loss resulting from vitiligo); and/or
3. The clinical treatment of an injury, an illness, or a clinical condition (such as scarring that results from surgery or the application of hair transplants, and hyperpigmentation that results from chemotherapy).

Applicants must meet all of the requirements of a general permanent cosmetics practitioner and acquire six months of experience as a full-time permanent cosmetics practitioner. Timesheets, paystubs, an employer or operator certification under the penalty of perjury, or other documentation must be provided for the health authority to confirm the length of the practitioner's practice experience.

Applicants must successfully complete a training program in camouflage of at least 16 hours in length.

Once the applicant has completed these requirements, they shall notify the local health department, if they're already working for an existing licensed body art establishment. Applicants can also apply for a body art establishment license with the local health department, if they desire to operate independently.

The course can be taught by a trainer or instructor from any of the following:

SofTap, Inc. (SofTap) - www.softaps.com

Society for Permanent Cosmetics Professionals (SPCP) - www.spcp.org

American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM) - www.micropigmentation.org