Body Piercing Studio Business Information
Body Piercing Technicians in West Virginia are responsible for registering with the Public Health Sanitation Division prior to doing business in West Virginia. Technician Registrations must be renewed annually.
The West Virginia Body Piercing Studio Business Rule 64-80, Section 9 requires that all Body Piercing Technicians attend an approved Exposure Control Training course before they can receive their Registration. Training is valid for three years, after which time the course must be repeated.
The following are approved Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Training Programs for Body Piercing Technicians:
- The American Red Cross course - available at redcross.org
Click on the titles below for other equivalent online courses
- AboveTraining. com -
- ProCPR - BloodBorne Pathogen Course
- Pacific Medical Training
- Equivalent training provided by professional body art organizations or equipment manufacturers.
- Body Art Training Group
A Body Piercing Studio must obtain an operational permit in their respective county from the Local Health Departments. In order to establish a new, or remodel an existing Body Piercing Studio the owner/operator is required to submit a Plan Review Information Report to your Local Health Department.
All Body Piercing Technicians are required to keep records of every piercing given to every client. A sample client information form is provided below.
Every client must also be given oral and written notification providing detailed after care instructions for the piercing.
On-Line Application and Payment
To Complete an Online Application for New or Renewal Body Piercing Technician Certificate of Registration You will need:
- Social Security Number
- List of Body Piercing Studio(s) name, address and phone number at which you are currently working or intend to work.
- Credit Card: VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER
In Addition to the application and fee you must provide the following documents before your certificate of registration will be issued:
- A copy of Hepatitis B vaccination status:
- A certificate of a completed vaccination
- Laboratory evidence of immunity or
- A signed statement of vaccination declination
- A copy of Exposure Control Training
- Red Cross – Preventing Disease Transmission
- OSHA – Based Bloodborne Pathogen Control
- AboveTraining.com - Bloodborne Pathogen Course
- Professional Body Art/Equipment Manufacture Course
- Other Equivalent Course approved by the WV Bureau for Public Health
These documents can be:
- emailed to: Donna.R.Gorbey-Michael@wv.gov
- faxed to: 304-558-1071
- or mailed to:
- Office of Environmental Health Services
Public Health Sanitation Division
416 Adams Street, Suite 530
Fairmont, WV 26554
Attn: Body Piercing Certification
- Office of Environmental Health Services
Body Piercing Technician Certificate of Registration will be processed and mailed after all required documents are received.
Click Here to begin Online Application
You may also submit an application, fee and all required documentation for a Body Piercing Technician Registration by mail to:
- Office of Environmental Health Services
Public Health Sanitation Division
416 Adams Street, Suite 530
Fairmont, WV 26554
Attn: Body Piercing Certification
Body Piercing Studio Business Rule
Body Piercing Studio Business Forms
- SG-49 - Application for Body Piercing Studio Permit from Local Health Department
- SG-86 - Plan Review Information Report (for new or remodeled studios)
- SG-88 - Application for Technician Registration from State Health Department
- SG-89 - Client Information and Notification Form (Sample)
- SG-90 - Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Statement
- 68-80A - Public Notice: Body Piercing Disclosure Statement
Body Piercing Links
- OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration
- US Department of Labor OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
- West Virginia Tattoo Studio Information
- CDC - Body Art
This page contains links to external agencies. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Public Health Sanitation Division is not responsible for the content of the those sites.