Career Blog Post: Tattoo Artist

The name is pretty self explanatory, but a tattoo artist tattoos people. Unlike other artistic professions, there is a lot more responsibility attached to being a tattoo artist due to its permanent nature, such as ensuring your clients are of age to receive a tattoo, and ensuring your clients will like the product and that your craft is of a high enough standard. Also, you must pay attention to sterilization, differing coloration due to skin tone, and allergens. As a result, all tattoo artists(in Virginia) must have a Tattooer License to legally perform tattoos, which can be acquired from the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology. Additionally, if you want to open a tattoo parlor, you will need a license to open a tattoo establishment.

There is no specific college major required for all tattoo artists, however, all tattoo artists are required to undergo a training program. Tattoo school is one of these approved training programs. Tattoo School courses will often focus on not only the actual tattooing process, but also emphasize cleanliness and sterilization along with correct procedures for tattooing. Another possible routes is doing a tattoo apprenticeship, with many tattoo establishments offering these. Similarly to tattoo School, an apprenticeship will require extensive knowledge and education on anatomy, sterilization, disease prevention and proper procedure along with laws and regulations on tattooing others. It is also required that an apprentice spends 1000 hours practicing and applying their knowledge, with a minimum of 100 performed tattoos. However, none is objectively better than the other and it all depends on your preferred learning style, a person could even do both for more experience. After your course, you are required to take a Tattoo Examination exam to receive your official license.