Admissions

Your journey to becoming a tattoo artist or piercer starts here.

Before You Apply

What should you consider before applying?
Tattooing and piercing are rewarding careers, but they’re not for everyone, and that’s okay.

We want you to succeed, not struggle, and part of that means being honest about the realities of the industry and the program. While we’re proud to be the first licensed tattoo and piercing post-secondary institution in Canada, not al artists or studios may yet understand or support formal schooling. In fact, some may still prefer traditional apprenticeships or hold personal biases about formal education.

That said, our mission is to raise industry standards by offering professional, ethical, and safe training and to give students the structure and support many of us never had starting out.

What You Should Know
The Program

Your progress depends heavily on your effort, attitude, and willingness to grow.
We give you the tools, knowledge, and guidance but the commitment must come from you.
Your first tattoos or piercings might not be great and that’s okay! You’ l be learning and practicing on synthetic skin/body parts before working on real clients.
Instructors will monitor your model-readiness and only clear you when you’re ready.
We provide lessons, demos, and a practicum but we can’t prepare you for every possible real-world scenario. Your ability to adapt and grow will determine your long-term success in this industry.

The Career

This is a competitive, client-based industry and success doesn’t happen overnight.
Completing this program doesn’t guarantee instant success, job offers, or high income.
Many artists still need to “earn their stripes” by starting with walk-ins, small pieces, or piercings like nostrils before progressing to more complex work.
You will only get back what you put in. Passion, consistency, and professionalism will shape your career more than anything else.

Do you have what it takes?

Beneficial Traits for Tattoo and Piercing Artists:

Patience & Understanding: You’ l need to work with a wide range of people, styles, and comfort levels.
Positive Attitude: Staying grounded and open-minded will take you far in a people-focused industry.
Persistence & Dedication: Progress requires time, humility, and constant practice.
Flexibility & Adaptability: Clients will have different needs, styles, and expectations.
Creativity & Vision: Not every client brings in a perfect reference. Can you create something from nothing?
Stamina & Endurance: Long hours, demanding clients, and detailed work require physical and mental endurance.
Cleanliness & Sanitation Awareness: Hygiene is not optional. Lives are literally in your hands.
Attention to Detail: Small mistakes might have big consequences. Precision matters.
Mature Mindset: If you can’t take criticism, stay calm under pressure, or handle responsibility, this may not be the field for you.

This program is for serious learners ready to commit to the work, not just the image. If you’re unsure about your fit for this industry, that’s okay — but we encourage you to reflect honestly before applying.

We want to train artists and piercers who are ready to show up, work hard, and grow into the professionals this industry needs

Admission Requirements

The age of majority differs across Provinces/Territories in Canada. To ensure inclusivity and compliance with provincial laws, we offer two clear admission pathways:

General Admission:

This pathway applies to applicants who:

Have reached the age of majority in their province at the time of application (18 or 19, depending on the province/territory); AND
Possess a High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Mature Admission:

This pathway applies to applicants who:

Have reached the age of majority in their province at the time of application (18 or 19, depending on the province/territory); AND
Do not possess a High School Diploma or GED equivalent but achieve a passing score on the Basic Skills Assessment Exam.

Both General and Mature applicants must: Provide proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident & Government issued Photo ID (e.g., Status card, passport, birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or permanent residency card).

If English is not your first language: proof of English Skills for ESL: 15+/30, IELTS 4.5+, TOEFL iBT 40+, current within 3 months. ***This is the Applicants responsibility to provide. Failure to provide may result in an automatic Admission Denial.***

***International Applicants:

Our institution is currently focused on serving Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This allows us to prioritize local communities and simplifies compliance with government regulations, such as visa requirements and Designated Learning Institution (DLI) status. We also want to ensure we have the resources to fully support all students before expanding to include international applicants in the future. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding.

Step 1: Apply

** Please ensure that your application and all required items are submitted together, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed. **

Submit Application AND
Required Documents:
- Diploma/GED (or Request to book a BSA)
- Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residence + Government Issued Photo ID
- Proof of English Skills for ESL, current within 3 months (If applicable)
- Portfolio (Tattoo program applicants only – please refer to our “Portfolio Preparation Guide” for more details)

**We recommend applying for funding during this step as funding approvals may take up to 8 weeks.

Step 2: Notice of Admission Status

If Accepted:

You will receive:

Acceptance Letter
$250 Enrollment fee payment instructions for Student Aid or Third-Party Institution Funding (due no later than 10 days after receiving your acceptance letter – not applicable to privately funded students)
Invoice/Payment Deadlines (if applicable)
Enrollment Contract (to adhere to Enrollment timelines, please submit your enrollment contract promptly)

** Please Note: Acceptance into the program does not guarantee enrollment. Enrollment is only confirmed once all required steps, including payment and submission of the enrollment contract are completed, and you receive an official Enrollment Confirmation Letter.

If Denied:

You will receive:

Letter of Denial
Advice to gain acceptance in the future

Step 3: Enrollment Confirmation

To receive your Enrollment Confirmation Letter, you must:

Enrollment Fee has been paid (If applicable)
Settle your invoice (if privately funded) OR
- Provide proof of Funding Approval (Student Aid or Third -Party funded students)
Have returned your enrollment contract

**Please note: Your enrollment is contingent upon final funding approval & signing the enrollment contract is one step in the process, but you are not officially enrolled in the program until all required steps are completed, and you have received an Enrollment Confirmation Letter from our institution.

Step 4: Orientation

Receive Orientation Contract, First Day Steps and Online Orientation Materials to prepare for the program start.
- Submit the Online Orientation Contract promptly to confirm your participation.