Body Modification Professional Certificate Course Information
Are you passionate about the Tattoo and Piercing industry? Are you wanting to learn how to become a part of it?
Alberta College of Body Art offers a Body Modification Professional Certificate Course. Students that take this course have the option of branching off and specializing in either our Tattoo Program or Piercing Program!
The purpose of the Body Modification Professional Certificate Course is to provide our students with the Core Career Components (outlined below), and allows them to take the path that speaks to them to specialize in the career of their choice. It does not guarantee you a career within the industry; it takes passion, dedication and years of practice to hone skill and confidence.
Tattooing and Piercing is not a recognized skill or trade in Alberta or Canada at this time, so this is not to be considered an “apprenticeship”.
Body Modification Core Component Details
Students will receive important information relevant to the tattoo and piercing industry right from the professionals themselves!
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- Some Classes Include:
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- Alberta Health Services
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- WHMIS
- Infection Control/PPE
- Emergency First Aid + CPR
- Photography
- Portfolio Building
- Insurance
- Legal
- Bookkeeping
- Social Media Marketing
- Etc.
These Core Career Components are related to both Tattooing and Piercing. Students that take our Body Modification Professional Certificate Course will all receive the same core component information before starting their journey into the specialization of their choosing (Tattooing or Piercing).
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Tattoo Specialization Details
This is a 24-week Structured Program, class times are Monday to Friday. Saturdays can be utilized for any missed classes to catch up, graduation events, and public student tattoo days. Holidays may extend course dates, to allow for the required amount of weeks, please refer to your enrolment confirmation email for start and end dates.
Training will be provided in a classroom using a computer, visual aids, and other learning materials. The lab setting is composed of tattoo “beds”, Station tables, a consultation area, bottle center (liquid tattoo product prep station) and multiple handwashing sinks as required by AHS. Here, students will practice on synthetic “skin”, and move on to live volunteer models when the desired level of competency is reached.
COURSE SUBJECTS INCLUDE (but are not limited to):
- Tattoo Terminology
- Not only is it important for our students to know HOW to tattoo, it’s important for them to know what they (or others) are talking about when it comes to talking about Tattoos/Tattooing.
- History, composition and styles
- Where tattoos came from and the Cultural Progression of them, statistics, and what a tattoo is, and the different styles tattoos come in.
- Psychological and Social impact of Body Modification
- Students will learn the many reasons why people get Body Modifications and Social impact they have had through the years!
- Tattoo Products and supplies
- Various products and supplies required by tattoo artists for day to day/appointment to appointment use.
- Tattoo Specific: Profession and Industry information
- Art class (perspective, highlights, and shadow review)
- Procreate,
- Color packing, shading, stippling etc.
- Synthetic practice
- To give students an idea of what live skin tattooing will be like on manufactured material first
- Live skin practice (Volunteers)
- Models will help students prepare for the real world in tattooing; what to expect in a shop setting, how to handle customers, client care and follow-ups, etc.
And so many more components to this specialization!
Piercing Specialization Details
This is a 24-week Structured Program, class times are Monday to Friday. Saturdays can be utilized for any missed classes to catch up, graduation events, and public student tattoo days. Holidays may extend course dates to allow for the required amount of weeks, please refer to your enrolment confirmation email for start and end dates.
Training will be provided in a classroom using a computer, visual aids, and other learning materials. The lab setting is composed of Piercing “Beds”, trolleys and multiple handwashing sinks as required by AHS. Here, students will practice on synthetic body parts, and move on to live volunteer models when the desired level of competency is reached.
COURSE SUBJECTS INCLUDE (but are not limited to):
- Terminology
- Not only is it important for our students to know HOW to pierce, it is important that they know what they (or others) are talking about when they talk about piercing(s).
- History, Psychology of Body Modification, Why people get Pierced, Etc.
- Where Piercings came from and the Cultural Progression of them, statistics, and what a Piercing is, and the different types of piercings you can do/get.
- Skin, Infections, Allergies Etc.
- Jewelry types
- Client Care
- Synthetic practice
- To give students an idea of what live skin piercing will be like on manufactured material first
- This is to help them understand certain techniques before piercing real volunteers.
- Live skin practice
- Models will help students prepare for the real world of piercing; what to expect in a shop setting, how to handle customers, client care and follow-ups, etc.
And so many more components to this specialization!
Professional Certificate Course Costs
Costs may be subject to change – Please inquire for more detailed/accurate costs regarding our program.
Costs are equivalent for each specialization
Application Fee | Waived |
Enrollment Deposit | Waived |
Mandatory Professional Fees | $1,410 |
Books & Supply Fees | $2,090 |
Tuition | $13,500 |
**Tuition approval/payment is required at pre-determined points of the admissions process otherwise student will need to apply for the next available course date.
Required Items Upon Applying
- A copy of Official High School Diploma or GED if indicated as achieved on the application form. If a copy cannot be provided, the BSA Exam is required.*
- If English is not Primary: 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 will result in an automatic admission denial.
- Samples of Artwork submitted with application
- Preferred Specialization Questionnaire (completed)
*Emailed copies are acceptable for the purpose of determining eligibility; physical copies will be required for the first day of class. Students will not be permitted to continue with the course until acceptable physical copies are produced.
Required Items for First Day
- Indoor shoes
- Preferred School Supplies (if any – we supply most common items)
- Physical copies of Diploma/GED, TOEFL score, 2 pieces of Identification – one with photo, hand drawn artwork copy
Funding Options
Alberta Student Aid
Cree8iv Ink Training Ltd. is a post-secondary institution. The Tattoo Program is licensed for student loans from Canada/Alberta Student Aid. Students are ensouraged to start this process as soon as possible, as it can take up to 8 weeks to process.
Watch ‘How to Apply for Student Aid’ – HERE
- Alberta Student Aid – HERE
- OR apply through your home Province HERE
Other funding sources include:
*** Students are responsible for all loan repayments regardless if the program is completed. ***
Additional Payment Options:
- Debit or Credit (on-site)
- Cash (Application/Registration Fees Only)
- Email money transfer
- Money Order or Bank Draft, or Sponsor Business cheque (no postdates)
Provincial Designations (Outside Alberta)
IMPORTANT:
Please allow 4-6 weeks for this review process – this may mean you will have to apply sooner than the open registration dates. Contact us ([email protected]) to let us know if you are outside Alberta looking to apply for Student Aid through your Province and we can get your application started sooner!
What is a Program Designation form?
This form is required by first time applicants outside Alberta that are wanting to apply to Student Aid to take our program.
Note: Only the FIRST applicant applying from the province will need to fill out this form, once the form has been submitted/approved, each applicant from the province going forward will not be required to fill out this form. *MOST Provinces only require this form to be filled out once – some may require it for every application.
What does the Program Designation do?
This permits students from their home province to apply for funding through their provincial Student Aid branch just like Alberta residents can!
How does this affect You?
If you are the first applicant within your province to request funding to take our program, a form is provided to you and you will be required to fill out the fields that are specific to student information – then you submit this form to us and we’ll do the rest!
Note: Depending on the Province you are applying from, you may be the required party to submit the form.
Do you need to fill this form out if you are using Personal Funds?
No. This form is only required when you are requesting funding assistance through your Provincial Student Aid branch.
covid-19 & alberta college of body art
What are we doing to keep our staff and students safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
In the past we have implemented over the phone interviews, at home BSA Testing and even an online Application form. Now more than ever, it has come in handy for ensuring that those who inquire, apply and are continuing through our process, can do so safely from their home.
When it comes to our in-class procedures, due to our 6 student max capacity, we are able to space students out to abide by our 6 foot social distancing guideline when/where it is necessary. If students are ill we encourage that they stay home until we know whether or not it is safe they return. We provide disposable masks if our students don’t have any and we require hand washing/sanitizing upon entering and exiting our facility.
For our live skin portion of the program, all models are encouraged to stay home if they are feeling ill. All models must arrive to their appointment alone in keeping with the limited amount of people we have inside our facility. Masks, hand washing/sanitizer are required prior to the appointment as well as afterwards.
We have always strived to keep our facility clean in keeping with the standards of AHS, and just like every other school/business, we have been required to implement these new restrictions and guidelines in order to further maintain the safety of our staff and students during this time.