Becoming a Modder
Contents:
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
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.
State-specific info:
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.