Body Art
Body Art Card applicants can apply for their card and take the Body Art Sanitation Exam by appointment at our main location, Fremont Public Health Center and Henderson Public Health Center. Applicants can prepare for the Body Art Sanitation Exam by downloading the Body Art Card Training Book (English / Spanish).
The exam ensures that artists practice safe infection control procedures to eliminate the risk factors for disease and covers hygiene, glove use, waste disposal, equipment cleaning, and information about substantial health hazards. Body Art Cards are required for tattoo artists, permanent make-up artists, people who practice microblading, as well as body piercing practitioners.
For more information regarding this program, please visit the Health District’s Body Art Card Requirements page or call (702) 759-1099.
The Southern Nevada Health District Environmental Health Division regulates, permits and inspects all body art establishments. Body art is defined as tattoo, permanent makeup and body piercing. Tattoos have become mainstream and are viewed by enthusiasts as expressive forms of body art. From eagles inked onto biceps to perfectly arched ‘permanent’ eyebrows, tattooing has become big business in Clark County. There are more than 425 tattoo, permanent makeup and piercing establishments permitted by the Health District.
In 2022, the Health District completed a revision of the regulations it uses, consolidating two regulations into one and providing necessary updates to ensure that the industry is using the best practices to prevent the spread of diseases. One of the changes in the 2022 regulations was a revision of the Body Art Card Program. The purpose of the body art card remained the same, to make sure that all who work in the industry have a basic understanding of how bloodborne pathogens are spread and what steps can be taken to prevent the spread of disease. Additional cards were created to address the changing industry. The Health District now issues five types of body art cards. The five cards are Body Art Card, Body Art Apprentice Card, Microblading Card, Microblading Apprentice Card and Mentor Card.
More information about the cards and other aspects of the body art program can be found on the webpages below:
Updated on: December 5, 2023