Your Tattoo Career Starts With Strong Foundations
Alchemy Tattoo Apprenticeship is a structured artist development program created through Alchemy Tattoo Collective, an established St. Louis tattoo studio founded in 2015.
This program is designed for serious emerging artists who want a responsible, professional path into tattooing. Students begin with foundational education in art, design, tattoo history, sanitation awareness, shop expectations, and client communication before being considered for hands-on training.
This is not a shortcut into tattooing. Each phase must be earned through completed coursework, professionalism, skill development, and mentor approval.
Our 3-Part Tattoo Apprenticeship Program
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Phase 1: Tattoo Foundations (Online Course) – COMING SOON
Build the foundation before you ever touch skin.
Phase 1 introduces students to the knowledge, discipline, and creative skills needed to begin pursuing tattooing responsibly.
Students will learn:
tattoo history and industry context
drawing and design fundamentals for tattooing
sanitation awareness and shop safety basics
client communication and professional expectations
tools, terminology, and tattoo studio workflow
This phase is flexible, self-paced, and designed to help students understand whether tattooing is truly the right path for them.
Completion of Phase 1 does not guarantee advancement into in-person training.
📩 Join the waitlist to be the first to enroll!
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Phase 2. Practical Tattooing Application (In-Person Training)
Phase 2 is for students who have successfully completed Phase 1 and are ready to apply foundational knowledge in a professional studio setting.
Students begin learning the practical skills of tattooing under guidance from experienced tattoo artists, including:
machine setup
stencil placement
linework practice
shading and color application
station setup and breakdown
professional shop standards
This phase takes place in person at Alchemy Tattoo Collective in St. Louis.
Prerequisite:Completion of Phase 1.
📍 12 weeks | 2 classes per week | St. Louis, MO
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Phase 3: Supervised Tattooing (Mentor-Guided) – Limited Spots Available
Phase 3 is the final supervised training phase for students who have shown the skill, responsibility, and professionalism needed to begin tattooing real clients.
Students may work on walk-ins and scheduled appointments under direct mentor supervision while continuing to refine technical skills, client communication, and professional habits.
This phase is limited based on mentor capacity, student readiness, and studio availability.
Prerequisite:Completion of Phases 1 & 2.
🚨 Limited availability per year based on program success and mentor capacity. 👉
A Selective Pathway, Not a Shortcut
Alchemy Tattoo Apprenticeship was built to raise the standard of tattoo education by making expectations clearer, training more structured, and mentorship more intentional.
Not every student will become a tattoo artist. Not every student will advance through every phase. The goal is to develop skilled, responsible, professional artists who understand the seriousness of tattooing before they begin working with clients.
Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible to apply for future opportunities with Alchemy Tattoo Collective.
Current and Alumni Apprentices
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![A woman with dark hair, tattoos on her arm, and a floral dress sitting in a cluttered workspace or art studio, smiling at the camera.]()
Licensed Artist
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![A young person with dark, shoulder-length hair sitting at a desk in a room decorated with various art pieces and stuffed animals on the wall. They are wearing a black shirt, a patterned red and black short-sleeve shirt, and jewelry, with visible tattoos on their arms.]()
Licensed Artist
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![A young woman with tattoos on her arms and dreadlocks sitting at a bar or counter inside a tattoo studio, with framed art, keys, and flowers in the background.]()
Licensed Artist
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![A man with glasses and a red cap tattooed arm is getting a tattoo on his leg. He is using a tattoo machine with blue ink. He is wearing gloves and is focused on his work.]()
Licensed Artist
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![A woman with black hair and gray shirt tattooing a person's arm with a tattoo needle.]()
Licensed Artist
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![Woman with long, curly dark hair, glasses, wearing a brown T-shirt, standing in front of a wall decorated with various black and white tattoo-style illustrations.]()
Licensed Artist
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Licensed Artist
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Licensed Artist
