Category Archives: Tattoo License

How To Get Started With a Tattoo Apprenticeship

March 07, 2012   Admin   No comments
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We wrote a number of posts on how to get a tattoo license. We blogged about if you need a tattoo license in order to tattoo others (click here to read the post) and how to get a tattoo license so you can being tattooing others (click here to read the post). So now we are going to write about how to actually get started with a tattoo apprenticeship and where to look for them.

You can easily start by yourself but no one wants a tattoo from someone that just started tattooing others. People take pride in their tattoos now a days, its a big trend and very popular. You want to start getting some experience in so you can build a good portfolio and then the clients will pour in when you can show your skills off. You might think your the best artist in the world and think you can be a great tattoo artist right away, wrong. It takes time, skill to build, and patience. You will get there with time and practice. Even veteran tattoo artists learn something new every day, so stick with it and you will get there.

Here is some tips to help land you that apprenticeship you are looking for:

1. If you are extremely new and are just inspired to be a tattoo artist then start reading our site to become a great tattoo artist. Draw a lot of different things people would want to get tattooed on their body. Build up your portfolio of drawings so you can show the tattoo shop what you are able to do. If you aren’t really new and bought some tattoo equipment, practice your skills on fruit to get better and also draw some images on paper to build your portfolio.

2. Buy something to put your portfolio in like a binder or some kind of portfolio case. You can pick these up anywhere, just look at some local office supply store like staples. You want to show off all your nice artwork and skills in a neat and organized way.

3. Keep building your portfolio up and make sure you separate all your drawings and pictures into separate categories. You don’t want to be sloppy because the tattoo shop will just think your another kid thinking you can tattoo anyone and be good at it. If you already tattooed others and it wasn’t at a tattoo shop, don’t add this in there. Professionals will frown upon this and your chance of getting an apprenticeship just went out the door. Adding pictures of fruit and such is a plus, it shows the tattoo shop you are serious about trying to learn and doing it the right way. TIP: Make sure you have your “tag” or signature on your artwork to prove its yours, it helps a lot.

4. You got your portfolio ready, so lets find you a tattoo shop! When searching for an apprenticeship I usually search online. I usually type in google: “tattoo shop in “. Most of the time these shops have a website so you can either contact by email or phone. Or you can just show up and ask about their shop and if they are accepting any apprentice at this time. Showing up is a huge plus, it shows you want to take action right away.

5. Now you should have an interview for your apprenticeship set up. Make sure you try to act professional and dress normal. You don’t have to go all out and dress extremely nice, I mean it is a tattoo shop after all. But make sure you aren’t sloppy and you look clean. Tattoo artists take health very seriously. They need their shop and equipment to be top notch so no one gets any diseases, so don’t show up like a slob.

6. When you are at the interview make sure you ask questions like will you be getting paid, what will I be doing, how many hours will you be working, when will you be able to get hands on and start tattooing others, how long does the apprenticeship last so you can move on to the next step. These are just a few suggested questions you should be asking when you finally get your interview set up. Asking these questions shows how committed you are.

7. Hopefully by now you got hired and are on your way to becoming a tattoo artist! Good luck and leave any comments below if you have any questions!

Another reminder: DO NOT tell the tattoo shop you have been tattooing from home! It’s unprofessional and they will throw your application right out the window!

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How To Get a Tattoo License To Begin Tattooing!

March 06, 2012   Admin   No comments
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There isn’t a lot of information out there that helps you get your tattoo license so we figured we would write some tips and the ways to get your tattoo license! First, it’s extremely important to try and get professional right away and always have a clean business. You don’t want to be known as a “scratcher”, someone that just began tattooing and bought some cheap tattoo equipment and thinks they are a legit tattoo artist. Here is the process of getting certified in tattooing before opening your shops doors:

1. The most important thing to do before you consider any of our suggestions is to do some research on your state and what they require because each state is different.

2. Depending on your state, you might need to be certified in performing CPR and first aid. You can look up some classes to take at your local college. You might need this in case something goes wrong while you are tattooing another person. Maybe the equipment you use doesn’t go well with the other person and you need to perform CPR. You might make a mistake and accidentally harm the person you are tattooing so you need to be sure you are able to perform first aid.

3. After you are taking your classes for CPR and first aid and you have your certification card, start getting your portfolio together. It’s a huge plus if you are already a good artist and have some designs already pre made. You can also practice your tattooing on a fruit if you are just starting out. A portfolio will help when submitting your application for tattooing apprenticeship and your license.

4. Many states require you to have a certain amount of hours under someone that has a tattoo license in order to get your own. The average amount is usually around 2000 hours. You must be 18 years or older and sometimes a bloodborne pathogens certificate.

5. Obtain the proper documents/applications from your local government for your tattooing business. Most of the time you can either fill them out online or print them and mail them in. The biggest thing they look for is to make sure you meet the health laws and regulations, it should be listed on the site.

We highly recommend researching your local governments laws on opening your own tattooing business because each state is different. Good luck and leave any questions below if you have any questions.

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Do I Need a Tattoo License To Tattoo Others?

March 04, 2012   Admin   No comments
ChinaSea4

Many new tattoo artists ask this question, “Do I NEED a tattoo license in order to ink others up?”. It’s not a yes or no answer, it depends on the situation. If you are just starting out and know nothing about tattooing but are interested then you should read up on what type of equipment you need and the safety precautions you need to take. Make sure you are being safe if you decide you want to get into tattooing others.

Depending in which state you live in, you don’t need a license if you are working for a shop that already has a certification. Usually the owner of the tattoo shop has his license and certification and you are allowed to tattoo others under his license. But in other states you are not allowed and you need to get your own tattoo license even if you are working under someone else that has a license.

You can also buy your own equipment and tattoo others on your own in your house or at their house. Obviously no one is going to find out unless you start advertising yourself as a business. But if you do tattoo others on your own without the proper training and certifications, make sure you are very careful because you could be putting your customers at risk. There are a lot of companies out there that will sell tattoo equipment to just anyone with money, even if they don’t have a tattooing license. Think about others before you think you can just tattoo anyone and no harm will be done. Make  sure you take the proper safety precautions.

The smart thing is to get in an apprenticeship program and learn the trade. Search your town for local tattoo shops and ask if they are accepting any new tattoo artists that want to try and make it. Usually that is the best place to get started and you can get helpful tips and hints and head into the right direction.

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