Getting into tattooing Tattoo apprenticeships in Birmingham
Birmingham has a busy tattoo scene, but studios with room for an apprentice are hard to find. This guide covers how apprenticeships work, how to go after one, and how structured training can get you started in the meantime.
How a tattoo apprenticeship works
An apprentice learns by working under an experienced artist in their studio. The first months are mostly cleaning, setting up stations, drawing and watching. Tattooing comes later, often on practice skin before real clients. Most apprenticeships last a year or more, and many are unpaid.
Why places are hard to get
- A studio might take on one apprentice at a time, and many take none.
- Most studios want to see a strong drawing portfolio before they'll talk to you.
- A year or more without pay rules it out for a lot of people, career changers especially.
Training as a starting point
Our Tattoo Training Course runs for 10 teaching days in our studio in Birmingham city centre. You learn hygiene, machine set up, skin, stencils, linework and shading, then tattoo real skin with a trainer supervising. You finish with a CPD accredited certificate, which helps you get insured.
Some people use a course like this to build skills and a portfolio before approaching studios. Others treat it as the first step towards working for themselves.
Side by side
| Apprenticeship | Tattoo Training Course | |
|---|---|---|
| How long | Usually a year or more | 10 teaching days |
| Getting in | Very few places, portfolio expected | Open to complete beginners |
| Where | The studio that takes you on | Our studio in Birmingham city centre |
| Certificate | Up to the studio | CPD accredited certificate |
Getting an apprenticeship in Birmingham
- Put a portfolio together. Draw every day. Show finished pieces, your own designs and a range of styles.
- Go in person. Messages are easy to ignore. Visit studios across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, be polite, and ask whether they take apprentices.
- Arrive with the basics. If you already understand hygiene and how a studio runs, there's less a studio has to teach you from scratch.
- Keep at it. It can take a lot of visits. Improve your portfolio between each one.
For the full route, from sketchbook to council registration, read our guide on how to become a tattoo artist in Birmingham.
FAQ
Questions about apprenticeships
Is an apprenticeship the only way to become a tattoo artist?
No. UK law doesn't require one. In Birmingham you do need to register with Birmingham City Council's Environmental Health team before you work, and you'll need insurance. Insurers look for proof of training in hygiene and infection control.
How long do tattoo apprenticeships last?
It depends on the studio. Many run for a year or longer, and a lot of them are unpaid.
How do I find a tattoo apprenticeship in Birmingham?
Put together a strong drawing portfolio, visit studios in person, and be ready to start with cleaning and set up. Training in hygiene and studio practice shows a studio you're serious.
Is the Tattoo Training Course the same as an apprenticeship?
No. It's a 10 day course in a working studio covering what an apprenticeship begins with: set up, hygiene, skin, linework, shading and supervised tattooing on real skin. It gives you skills and a starting portfolio to take to studios.
Can a course guarantee me a job?
No course can. You leave with real skills, supervised experience and a CPD accredited certificate, which put you in a stronger position when you approach studios.
Small classes. Places go quickly.
Your tattoo career starts here.
Book your place →Questions first? Call 07341 067281 or email hello@birminghamtattooacademy.co.uk