Becoming a Modder

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.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming