Tattooing can seem impossible to navigate on your own, especially when you’re new to the industry. Learning from experienced tattoo artists can significantly speed up your learning process and kickstart your tattoo career.
Without the proper guidance, progressing in the tattoo industry is challenging. However, simply searching for “tattoo schools near me” might not lead you to the ideal education you need.
This article explores the different types of tattoo education available and guides you on finding the right path to successfully learn tattooing.
We will cover:
- The various types of tattoo schools you can consider.
- How to identify and avoid potential tattoo school scams.
- What to do if your state requires formal tattoo school.
3 Types of Tattoo Schools
There are generally three different approaches to tattoo education. The best option for you will depend on your individual circumstances, location, and financial investment capacity.
Tattoo Apprenticeship: The Traditional Tattoo Education
The tattoo apprenticeship is the age-old, traditional method of entering the tattoo industry, historically the only form of “tattoo school” available.
In a traditional apprenticeship, a seasoned tattoo artist mentors a single apprentice within a tattoo shop.
Apprentices typically dedicate around two years of full-time, unpaid work in the shop in exchange for learning the craft. Some apprenticeships also involve a tuition fee, often ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
How a Tattoo Apprenticeship Works
Ideally, a licensed tattoo artist imparts all the essential skills needed for a thriving career to their apprentice. Once the apprentice demonstrates proficiency, they transition into a full-time tattoo artist, often within the same studio as their mentor.
Apprenticeship Caveats:
Unfortunately, apprenticeships are often associated with harsh initiation practices. Many aspiring tattoo artists face mistreatment while learning. Furthermore, some so-called “mentors” neglect teaching altogether, instead exploiting apprentices for free labor in their shops.
In-Person Tattoo School
An in-person tattoo school operates like a classroom setting where you learn to tattoo.
A tattoo instructor guides a class of around 15 or more students through a structured curriculum emphasizing proper sanitation and practical tattooing exercises. Classes are scheduled for specific times and dates, typically in the evenings or on weekends.
Tuition for tattoo schools varies, generally falling within the $5,000 to $15,000 range.
How an In-Person Tattoo School Works
Ideally, experienced tattoo artists instruct groups of students, covering subjects like color theory and tattooing sanitation before overseeing students tattooing real skin under close supervision.
In-Person Tattoo School Caveats:
In-person tattoo schools often suffer from understaffing and may be run by artists with limited tattooing experience. While sanitation protocols are usually thoroughly taught, actual tattooing technique instruction can be minimal.
Similar to apprenticeships, hazing practices can sometimes be present in in-person tattoo schools.
Important Note:
If you’re evaluating an in-person tattoo school, try to find examples of student work. A lack of student portfolios or low-quality work is a strong indication that the school might not provide adequate training.
Online Tattoo School
Images from Tattooing 101’s Artist Accelerator Program
An online tattoo school typically consists of a pre-recorded program that you can study from home at your own pace.
A reputable online tattoo course should be taught by experienced professional tattoo artists and cover the same core skills you’d expect to learn in a quality apprenticeship or in-person tattoo school.
How an Online Tattoo Course Works
Online programs offer the flexibility to learn at your own schedule and in your own environment. However, a crucial element of a good online tattoo school is access to direct interaction with professional tattoo artists for questions and personalized feedback on your progress.
Online Tattoo Course Caveats:
Many online tattoo courses are unfortunately incomplete, some lasting only a few hours in total. This leaves students without the comprehensive skills required to become a professional tattoo artist.
Furthermore, some online courses are simply video recordings sold by tattoo artists without any opportunity for student interaction or questions.
How to Avoid Tattoo School Scams
As you’ve likely noticed, each type of tattoo education has potential downsides, often leading to wasted time and money in scam scenarios.
Pursuing a tattoo career doesn’t have to be financially risky, provided you know what to look for in legitimate tattoo education. Alongside tattoo technique training, trustworthy tattoo schools will offer all of the following:
Professional Tattoo Artists as Instructors
Tattooing 101 Instructors
Whether you’re seeking a mentor for an apprenticeship or evaluating the instructors at a tattoo school, it’s vital to learn from successful, working tattoo artists. (Learning from someone who hasn’t achieved success themselves is unlikely to lead you to success.)
Thoroughly research the instructors. They should have accessible online portfolios and active social media showcasing their tattoo work. If they lack an online presence, or their displayed work is subpar, it’s a red flag to look elsewhere.
Important Note:
Some online tattoo courses are created by professional tattoo artists, but interaction is limited. Ensure the program guarantees direct access to professional tattoo artists for questions and guidance.
Tattoo Design Training
Images from the Artist Accelerator Program and the Tattooing 101 Sketchbook Vol. 1
Drawing tattoos is a specialized skill set, distinct from general drawing. Even if you’re a skilled artist in other mediums, specific training in designing art for tattooing is crucial. Any credible tattoo school should incorporate comprehensive tattoo design instruction.
Tattooing is fundamentally a creative profession. Even with perfect tattooing technique, limited design skills will restrict the types of tattoos you can create and the clientele you can attract.
When evaluating a tattoo course or program, confirm that design training is a significant component.
Important Note:
Traditional tattoo apprenticeships are often an exception to this. Mentors usually expect apprentices to already possess a solid foundation in tattoo design, drawing, and flash art before starting.
Connections to the Tattoo Industry
Even with an impressive tattoo portfolio, breaking into your first tattoo shop can be challenging.
A worthwhile tattoo school should have established connections with tattoo shops or provide networking opportunities with other tattoo artists, ideally through an online community. This facilitates networking with other artists and can even assist with shop placement after training completion.
Important Note:
Apprenticeships often lead directly to full-time positions in the mentoring shop after training. Some apprenticeship agreements even include contracts committing the apprentice to work at the shop for a set period post-training.
Pro Tip:
Want to start building connections with tattoo artists worldwide? Tattooing 101’s free forum boasts over 9,000 members and a wealth of resources for both aspiring and experienced tattoo artists.
Business Advice for Your New Career
Accounting and Business for Artists Module from the Artist Accelerator Program
To build a sustainable career in the tattoo industry, passion for tattooing alone isn’t sufficient.
Tattooing is a business – and a highly competitive one. To attract clients and differentiate yourself, you need to develop not just your artistic skills, but also essential business skills.
A comprehensive apprenticeship or tattoo course should include guidance on entering the tattoo industry, managing finances, pricing your artwork and tattoos, and other crucial business aspects.
What to Do When Tattoo School is Required
Snapshot of Oregon’s Tattoo License Application
Only a few states mandate tattoo school attendance. However, some states with stricter regulations, like Oregon, have state-mandated tattoo curriculums. These curriculums primarily focus on sanitation in detail, often lacking in-depth design or technical skill instruction.
For many aspiring artists, the only licensed tattoo schools available locally may only teach sanitation and basic technique.
In a recent interview with one of our Oregon tattoo students, he mentioned that most tattoo shops are hesitant to hire artists straight out of state-licensed tattoo schools due to the lack of artistic and technical tattooing skills typically developed in those programs.
In such cases, aspiring artists might attend a state-licensed tattoo school to meet licensing requirements and then seek supplementary training (online courses, self-study, apprenticeships, etc.) to gain the practical skills needed for professional tattooing.
Become a Professional Tattoo Artist with the Artist Accelerator Program
Understanding the importance of quality tattoo education is just the first step towards becoming a tattoo artist. The next crucial step is engaging with learning resources that will help you build your career.
While abundant information online claims to teach tattooing, much of it is outdated or inaccurate. This often leads aspiring tattoo artists learning online to develop bad habits that can take years to correct.
If you’re committed to learning tattooing the right way, it is possible to do so online and at your own pace.
We developed the Artist Accelerator Program to provide aspiring artists with all the necessary lessons and techniques in an accessible, 9-step roadmap. This program is designed to take individuals from complete beginners to professional tattoo artists in as little as 90 days.
Within the program, you’ll acquire the practical skills tattoo artists use daily, receive personalized guidance from industry professionals, and build a professional portfolio that will help you get hired.
Skip the years of inefficient trial and error and start building your dream career today.
Click here to check out the Artist Accelerator Program.
