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Who We Are > Miscellaneous Education
Contents:
- Canada
- The United Kingdom
- The United States
The Association of Professional Piercers highlights these basic qualifications that a person needs to become a piercer. They may be slightly varied in your region, so check below to find the specifics and then double check with your local health agencies for specific regulations.
- Locate a suitable apprenticeship in a reputable studio under a well-respected, highly skilled and experienced professional.
- Attend a bloodborne pathogens training class, such as that given by OSHA, Red Cross, or The National Safety Council.
- Attend a First Aid/CPR class, such as that given by Red Cross or the YMCA.
- Spend a minimum of three months full time as a trainee, learning sterilization, disinfection, cross-contamination and other health and safety issues before piercing.
- Spend a minimum of six months to one year in full-time supervised training as an apprentice before achieving the title of piercer. Location, volume and studio standards will help to determine the duration of an apprenticeship.
- Observe all procedures before attempting them, and only attempt a new procedure with close supervision by a senior/training piercer.
- Learn customer service, appropriate jewelry quality and selection, aftercare procedures, and troubleshooting.
- Attend a reputable training seminar of four days or longer. The course should combine lectures on anatomy, safety, hygiene, techniques, and hands-on piercing experience. Some states have passed legislation requiring courses in anatomy, etc. in order to be licensed for piercing.
Canada
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
The United Kingdom
England
- Apply for a Tattoo, Piercing and Electrolysis Licence with the local government.
- Display licence on the wall of the premises along with any related regulations.
Greater London
- You must get a Special Treatments Licence from your council instead.
Northern Ireland
- No information available.
Scotland
- Apply for a Tattoo, Piercing and Electrolysis Licence with the local government.
- Display licence on the wall of the premises along with any related regulations.
Wales
- Apply for a Tattoo, Piercing and Electrolysis Licence with the local government.
- Display licence on the wall of the premises along with any related regulations.
The United States
Alabama
- Become an apprentice.
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- No CPR/First Aid class requirement.
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
Alaska
- Become an apprentice (1000 hours required)
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Take a CPR/First Aid class.
- Apply to the State Board of Barbers & Hairdressers for $80.
- Take exam for $60.
American Samoa
- No information available.
Arizona
- No information available.
Arkansas
- Have GED.
- Become an apprentice (6 months & 375 hours required).
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- No CPR/First Aid class requirement.
- Get vision, including colour, and STDs checked by a doctor.
- Take exam for $50.
California
- Become an apprentice (6 months required).
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- No CPR/First Aid class requirement.
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
Colorado
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Provide STD and immunization records.
Connecticut
- No license is required for body piercing.
- Tattooing may only be performed by "...a physician or advanced practical nurse, registered nurse or technician under the supervision of a physician."
Delaware
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- No CPR/First Aid class requirement.
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
District of Columbia
- No information available.
Florida
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Establishments must be permitted.
Georgia
- No information available.
Guam
- No information available.
Hawaii
- No information available.
Idaho
- No information available.
Illinois
- No information available.
Indiana
- No information available.
Iowa
- As of April 2, 2014 "...there is no oversight of the body piercing and modification industry in Iowa..."
Kansas
- Be 18 years old.
- Have GED.
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Become an apprentice (50 procedures required).
- Apply with the Board of Cosmetology for $50.
- Take exam.
Kentucky
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department for $20.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
Louisiana
- Become an apprentice.
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Take a CPR/First Aid class.
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department for $100.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
Maine
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department for $200.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
Maryland
- No information available.
Massachusetts
- Be 18 years old.
- Become an apprentice.
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Take a college level anatomy course.
- Apply for a practitioner permit with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Michigan
- No information available.
Minnesota
- Be 18 years old.
- Become an apprentice (temporary technician) (200 hours and 250 piercings).
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Apply for Body Art Technician License
- Pay $110 to the Minnesota State Treasurer.
Mississippi
- Be 18 years old.
- Become an apprentice (9 months).
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Apply for Regular Certificate of Registration for $150.
Missouri
- Become an apprentice (300 hours and 50 piercings).
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Take a CPR/First Aid class.
- Apply for body modification practitioner's license.
- Pay $100.
Montana
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Take a CPR/First Aid class.
- Complete "formal training".
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
- Become an apprentice (12 months & 1000 hours required).
New Mexico
- Become an apprentice (1500 hours and 10 photos of piercings required).
- Apply to the State Board of Barbers & Cosmetologists for $100.
- Take exam.
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Mariana Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
- Have GED.
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- Take a CPR/First Aid class.
- Go through piercing training (250 hours of theory, 900 hours of practical training, and 400 body piercing procedures).
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
U.S. Virgin Islands
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
- Be 18 years old.
- Apply for permit for $250
- Take a blood-borne pathogen-training class.
- No CPR/First Aid class requirement.
- Obtain a Body Art Health Permit from your county's Health Department for $250.
- State regulations do not require you to register with the Department of Environmental Health, but your specific county may.